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Bengals ink defensive coordinator

Mike Zimmer proved himself calling the shots for top Dallas defenses.

Staff Writer

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

> What do you think of the choice?

The Bengals' coaching staff just got a breath of fresh air with the hiring of Mike Zimmer as defensive coordinator on Tuesday.

Known for his fiery, tough, emotional style, Zimmer will attempt to bring the same kind of success to the Bengals that he experienced as the Dallas Cowboys' coordinator from 2000-06.

Extras

Zimmer, who takes over for the fired Chuck Bresnahan, spent the 2007 season with Atlanta. But he was set free to pursue other opportunities after a miserable 4-12 season in which former Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino quit with three games remaining.

Zimmer's goal: Jump-start a Cincinnati defense that ranked 27th out of 32 teams, yielding 348.8 yards a game. It's the fourth time in five years the defense was 27th or lower.

"Mike has coordinated defenses at a high level in the NFL for a number of years," said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, "and this is obviously a very important hire for me and for our organization. I'm excited about utilizing Mike's ability to develop our young players and our defensive scheme."

Zimmer, 51, joined the Cowboys in 1994, working six seasons primarily as secondary coach before he was elevated to coordinator.

In his 13 years with Dallas, the defense earned seven top-10 rankings in fewest yards allowed, and the team advanced to the postseason seven times. His 2003 defense led the NFL at 253.5 yards allowed per game en route to a 10-6 record.

He was instrumental in the development of several Cowboys Pro Bowl players, including safety Roy Williams, cornerback Terence Newman and linebacker DeMarcus Ware.

Zimmer will be introduced today at an 11 a.m. news conference at Paul Brown Stadium.

> What do you think of the choice?

Comments

By Bengal for Life

January 19, 2008 2:39 AM | Link to this

Wow, I found a whole new list of browns jokes to crack on my girlfriend and her parents. I also so many good points from the Bengals fans, non from Browns fans, except one. We might as well just admitt it, we have rooted hardcore for the same crappy teams. We should be proud because we are true fans to our teams even through absolute disappointment. But Bengals fans, always remember that when you are taking a dump that you are “taking the browns to the super bowl!”

By Bengal for Life

January 19, 2008 2:38 AM | Link to this

Wow, I found a whole new list of browns jokes to crack on my girlfriend and her parents. I also so many good points from the Bengals fans, non from Browns fans, except one. We might as well just admitt it, we have rooted hardcore for the same crappy teams. We should be proud because we are true fans to our teams even through absolute disappointment. But Bengals fans, always remember that when you are taking a dump that you are “taking the browns to the super bowl!”

By Phil I Am

January 17, 2008 7:16 PM | Link to this

I wanted to stay out of this stupid discussion but couldn’t resist when I heard the wannabe Derrick Anderson poser post that the Browns have classy players and the Bengals don’t. Last time I looked you have a Roid head in Tucker, a Drunk in Steinbach, a Ring Leader of a major cocaine bust in Jamal Lewis and a rapist in Eric Wright. Man, what a classy team. Jamal Lewis should be in jail for life right next to his murdering friend R.Lewis. Cleveland has been and will always be the MistakeByTheLake

By Mr. Bojangels

January 17, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this

What did the 49ers do this year…hmmm? They couldn’t beat the Browns’ cheer leaders!

By 49ers Fan

January 17, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this

Being a 49ers fan I laugh at reading all the Bengals morons talk to Browns about how many Super Bowls they have been to. Sure, the Bengals have been to two Super Bowls, but how many did they win? A big fat 0! Thank you for helping make the 49er dynasty what it is. Too bad you couldn’t cover John Taylor or Jerry Rice. Or score from the 1 yard line on four attempts. CHOKE!!!!!!

By BRAD

January 17, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

HEY LITTLE BROWNIE, HERE LITTLE BROWNIE…. HOW MANY SUPER BOWLS HAVE YOU BEEN TOO…. OH WAIT - none …. AND WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY… YOU WON AN NFL CHAMPIONSHIP BACK IN…. AND WHO WAS THE COACH THEN? THE MAN WHOSE FAMILY NOW RUNS THE BENGALS? OH I SEE… YOU GUYS DROPPED FAR BEHIND THE BEARS, THE GIANTS AND THE PACKERS FROM THE glory DAYS AND NOW YOU ARE GOING TO FALL BEHIND US WITH THE SAME CONSISTENCY AS IN THE PAST DECADE… the BROWNS are BROWNS ALLRIGHT - BROWN streaks

By BRAD

January 17, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

HEY LITTLE BROWNIE, HERE LITTLE BROWNIE…. HOW MANY SUPER BOWLS HAVE YOU BEEN TOO…. OH WAIT - none …. AND WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY… YOU WON AN NFL CHAMPIONSHIP BACK IN…. AND WHO WAS THE COACH THEN? THE MAN WHOSE FAMILY NOW RUNS THE BENGALS? OH I SEE… YOU GUYS DROPPED FAR BEHIND THE BEARS, THE GIANTS AND THE PACKERS FROM THE glory DAYS AND NOW YOU ARE GOING TO FALL BEHIND US WITH THE SAME CONSISTENCY AS IN THE PAST DECADE… the BROWNS are BROWNS ALLRIGHT - BROWN streaks

By BRAD

January 17, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

HEY LITTLE BROWNIE, HERE LITTLE BROWNIE…. HOW MANY SUPER BOWLS HAVE YOU BEEN TOO…. OH WAIT - none …. AND WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY… YOU WON AN NFL CHAMPIONSHIP BACK IN…. AND WHO WAS THE COACH THEN? THE MAN WHOSE FAMILY NOW RUNS THE BENGALS? OH I SEE… YOU GUYS DROPPED FAR BEHIND THE BERS, THE GIANTS AND THE PACKERS FROM THE glory DAYS AND NOW YOU ARE GOING TO FALL BEHIND US WITH THE SAME CONSISTENCY AS IN THE PAST DECADE… the BROWNS are BROWNS ALLRIGHT - BROWN streaks

By BnOPanther

January 17, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

The one thing Browns fans do better than Bengals fans is smoke better stuff. How else do you explain this uneducated banter they spew from their mouths? Do they realize the injuries to the o-line and defense this year? Hey Derek Anderson, your stats were against an injured defense. I’ll take Carson for 401 and 6 TD’s against your “unstoppable” D. You couldn’t win when you needed to and we crushed every dream you had this year. Who do you think you will get in the first round of the draft?

By Tom

January 17, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

I say trade Chad to an NFC team for defense and then if Zimmer can get the defense to play smash-mouth football(Steelers style), then it’s playoffs and on to the Super Bowl.

By boxter

January 17, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

I would love to be a Browns fan. Problem is I am not an alcoholic and I have a very good job. What is a person to do?

By doesnt matter

January 17, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

bengals are still the same team, playing in an overpriced stadium, with an incompetent owner, overpaid coach in staff, and overpaid players, one man will not change anything. If they are going to do as they say ” clean house” then start with marvin at the top and go all the way down.

By Mark

January 17, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

To all Browns fans,

         Just shut up with all of your complaining.  Even thought the Bengals have had 1 winning season in 17 years we still have been to more super bowls than your sorry team.  As for the hire of Mike Zimmer I think it was a smart move and if the Bengals can get healthy and get O'Dell Thurman back the defense will be much improved.

By fish

January 17, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

I think this may be just what the Bengals need. I think the offense has enough talent to take care of itself. By the way there is great news out of cleveland……all the Browns are coming back next year, none of them are turning pro

By I pity the Browns

January 17, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

The Drive, The Fumble and now the Choke! Couldn’t beat the Bengals when you needed it the most. Another disappointing season is done, well, there’s always next year! (I feel like i’ve been saying that for the past 20 yrs).

By Mr. Bojangels

January 17, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

Every year the NFL gets together and all ask the same question; What are we going to do with all these football players.
After a short discussion it is always the same answer. “We’ll take the talented ones and send the rest to Cleveland!”

By Daddy Gabby

January 17, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

I like the change, I think he can help. They may not be the best team but they’re our team. I’m not complaining because I remember the 90’s. What do you think about Rudy? I would like to see them run more plays out of the same formation and use one of our backs that can catch the ball like Brooks used to. Maybe go for some of those shorter passes to the tight end, the way they used Dan Ross. Does Cleveland have a team? I thought they moved to Baltimore!

By Doggie

January 17, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this

Lots of talk about the Browns only having one winning record. Real educated smack talk by these Bungals fans considering the Bengals have ONE winning season in 17 years! Hell, the Browns did not have a team for three years, had to start over from scratch and still have more winning seasons and playoff appearances in that time frame. Real educated smack talk Bungle boys and girls

By Bob

January 17, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this

I was born in Cleveland but now live close to Dayton so I want to see both teams do well. I’d really like to comment on some things but I’m trying to keep my words small so I don’t make a spelling error and have Bill jump down my throat.

By Derek Anderson, QB

January 17, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

I, being Derek Anderson, can’t wait for this new coordinator to arrive in Cincinnati. There is nothing I like doing better than throwing for 328 Yards and 5 TDs to my Pro-Bowl Receivers, and I will love it even more when I prove that Zimmer isn’t going to change anything in Cincinnati. My fans in Cleveland are 100 times better than the trashy fans in Cincinnati. Get rid of Marvin and start drafting class like Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn, Braylon Edwards, Kamerion Wimbley, and even the Solja Boy!!!!!

By bill

January 17, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this

The Bengals need to get rid of Marving Lewis. One winning season in five?

By boxter

January 17, 2008 7:21 AM | Link to this

You have to love these Browns fans making comments on here. Their team has 1 winning season since Jimmy Brown and they want to talk. Give me a break. Couldn’t beat the Bengals late in the year when they HAD to win to get in. Nice choke job Brownies. The drive, the fumble, the choke, the whatever. It doesn’t matter. The Browns are losers and their drunk unemployeed fans are also.

By JB

January 17, 2008 5:52 AM | Link to this

Browns fans stay for the whole game because they are too drunk to leave at the start of the 4th quarter. They also don’t have to get up early the next day because they lost their jobs at the factory because the work was shipped-off to China.

By WhoDey

January 17, 2008 5:22 AM | Link to this

Theres no talent other than Peko in the front 7..period,you can be the best coach they ever was,but with no talent,no defense,why in this world you try to sign Landon Johnson,he plays soft and is injury prone,you wanna know why he leads the team in tackles,look for yourself,teams ran his side 80% of the time,cas he wouldnt tackle till they was atleast 6yrds from the scrimage,pathetic,put some money in a new group of the front 7 and watch this defense roll!!

By Jim

January 17, 2008 4:52 AM | Link to this

I’ll let you in December 2008.

By Jim

January 17, 2008 4:52 AM | Link to this

I’ll let you in December 2008.

By DJ

January 16, 2008 7:47 PM | Link to this

Being a Browns fan i was curious about one of their division rivals hiring a new Def. Cord.,and after the story i see all these idiotic posts that remind me,I dont dislike the Bengals,I cant stand their no nothing about football,get to the game midway thru the 1st qtr,martini drinking,leave at the start of the 4th Qtr (which hardly no bengal fans saw the Bengals beat the Browns because they left early)so called fans. Mike Brown,Marvin Lewis,enough said thats why they suck!oh yea,their fans too.

By Tim

January 16, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this

As a lifelong Bengal fan, I feel that the hiring of Coach Zimmer can have an immediate impact on the young players on the defense. He is a proven commodity in the NFL and I think he can settle the younger players down and help the veterans regain their focus. Will the guys in stripes make the playoffs? I don’t know, but I think their chances have increased dramatically with the signing of Coach Zimmer. Good hire, Coach Lewis. WHO-DEY!!!!!

By daug pound

January 16, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

i guess that was revenge from the browns knocking the beng-gals out of the play-offs a couple of years ago when the bengals was 8-8 like thats good enough to be in the playoffs. the bengals suck and they always will just a couple of lucky years that i believe was in a superbowl that was won by the 49’s and mr joe montana ha ha until the beng-gals et as many players in the hall of fame then they might say they ever had any football in cincinnati!!!!!!!!!!!

By Scott

January 16, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this

Coach Zimmeris a good hire.

Now it’s time for a new Off coordinator….need someone to toughen up the attitude of the line and run down the D’s throat. And someone who can tell Chad to concentrate on running the right route instead of trying to figure out which props to bring to the game…so far Marvin hasn’t been able to handle this.

I keep asking myself how Chad would behave with a Belichick or Parcells and I’m confident that the antics would be replaced by a focused professional.

By Mark

January 16, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

Hey Joe, what are you smoking in that pipe?

By Joe

January 16, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

I think its funny that the Bengals always make these moves in hopes for a better future and they always BOMB! There problem is Mike Brown and until hes gone they will always be mediocre. Players don’t want to come to the dirty Nati because it offers nothing outside of sports. Poor fans, poor owners, Poor fans and did i say Poor fans? So dirty Nati you keep making those changes because it doesn’t matter. My CLEVELAND BROWNS are going to reign supremacy in the AFC North for the next decade. L8Tr

By BnOPanther

January 16, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

I was going to avoid posting, but along came Craig. Time will tell with Zim but the future is now with Craig, he’s an idiot. What is this guy talking about? First these “. , ?” are punctuation marks, use them. Second, if the Bengals had a healthy “D” in the first matchup between the Bengals and the Browns, Who Dey Nation would have won that game by 20 because your “D” is worse than the Bengals. You have no idea who the QB is and you have no 1st round draft pick. Nice!

By Mark

January 16, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

Dem Bengals do gud gett’n a new D coach. Hopefully, he do gud next year. (Does that spelling just bug the heck out of you oh wild Bill). The Bengals have a long defensive road ahead, to get the respect of the TV announcer clan that thinks they are the world’s best experts. #15 on D and #7 on “O” would be a pretty good team. We still need linebackers this year and offense linemen. Get R Done for Cinci, we are due for the playoffs!

By Bob

January 16, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

They would probably be better with DON Zimmer!!!

By um...yeah

January 16, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this

Bill: At the very least, learn the proper use of parentheses prior to dissing someone else’s grammar. It just makes you look twice as stupid.

By tb

January 16, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

When are they going to hire a head coach?

By William

January 16, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

Craig, I hate to break the news to you but the only thing Cleveland is going to see next season is the back of Rudi Johnsons cleats.

By Chuck in Cincy

January 16, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this

Craig Foster, The Bengals knocked the Browns out of the playoffs this year, and they’ll do it again next year if need be. I’m shocked the Browns actually beat the Bengals once this year. I think that gives them 1 win against the Bengals in the last 3 years. Think about that before you start bashing the Bengals.

By andy b

January 16, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this

Umm, Craig Foster, umm…this is just too easy. He is going to suck because you are a Browns fan? Interesting how that idea works for ya. But, if the Bengals suck…well the Browns swallow because Cleveland is the cesspool of the Midwest. Also, why do Browns fans feel the need to ramble on with the BS without using proper grammar? Do they just not know any better? This isn’t the first time I’ve seen this happen; and it won’t be the last.

By Bucknut

January 16, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

Uh, can you say SUPER BOWL?! WHO DEY!

By Larry

January 16, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this

Bill Who do you think you are? I think it was a typo not a spelling mistake! Who and why would anyone have to explain there comments to you or anyone else. Your a self centered jerk.

By CRAIG FOSTER

January 16, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

he is going to suck like all of the bengals i hate the bengals with a passsion im a cleveland browns fan go browns we are going to come after u guy’s next season be ready!

By William

January 16, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

Not bad…for a start. More change is needed.

By boxter

January 16, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

No help with this hire. This team has bigger problems than who’s calling the defense. Lewis lost this team with his star treatment and the team will continue to underacheive until they get a new head coach that is willing to make the tough dicesions for the team. A new owner wouldn’t but don’t see that happening any time soon.

By Phil Herup

January 16, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

I think I would start to get nervous if I was Cleveland, Baltimore or Pittsburgh. I guarantee that Zimmer makes the Bengals into a Top 15 defense next year!! This guy ALWAYS gets the most out of his people.

By andy b

January 16, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

Dan, you contradict yourself moron. First, you say it’s much more than a coaching issue. Second, you say the players have no discipline. NO DISCIPLINE = COACHING ISSUE

By andy b

January 16, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

You can’t have a pass rush when you only rush 3 people on 3rd and long. Lets hope Zimmer doesn’t make the same mistake and blitzes more often. That’s what the great defenses do.

By Dan

January 16, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

There is much more than just a coahing issue. The Bengals seem to lack any if at all type of discipline. The staff can not control the players, How do you expect them to respect the staff enough to give their 110%. They will never be a ranked team until they respect a staff who can control them. Coaches teach, Players learn. You decide where the breakdown is…

By steve

January 16, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

Again, we’ll see if this makes a difference or not. I like the hire but the Brown Infrastructure is replete with delirium & ineptitude, not to mention nepotism, so I’m not holding my breath. One winning season in seventeen years!

Per the players on the field, can we please get a pass rush. Nothing happens until we win in the trenches. A very pathetic showing for a LONG time.

By howard

January 16, 2008 7:49 AM | Link to this

get rid of Marvin and all that so called defense start drafting and sign a few free agents. What they have now can’t stop a running game or a passing game against a quality team . They are pitiful .

By Bill

January 16, 2008 6:44 AM | Link to this

ummm boots55? I really need you to accept reality. Before you post, please learn how to spell the word “need”. I can deal with a typo, but you misspelled a simple word, (that anyone with a first grade education) would know how to spell. A change had to be made on the defense….mainly coaching. The talent is there, it just needs some motivation. That’s what coaching is for. As far as getting rid of Marvin Lewis as head coach? (please learn how to spell before making dumb comments like that)

By boots55

January 16, 2008 4:51 AM | Link to this

Seems they nead more than a defensive coach they nead a head coach as well

By jockorama

January 16, 2008 1:30 AM | Link to this

A change was needed. Lets hope they draft a little smarter this year.

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