Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis discusses trade deadline

The NFL trade deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday, and it’s clear the Cincinnati Bengals could use some help on an offensive line that continues to struggle.

But head coach Marvin Lewis made it sound unlikely the team will make a deal.

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“I don’t know of anybody with an extra guy standing beside them on the sideline like that who is going to come in and upgrade your football team,” Lewis said. “Or (a team that’s) willing to sacrifice your own quarterback for that situation.

“Generally guys that are traded are (ones) people feel are disgruntled or underachieving in some way,” Lewis added. “A new address may be good. And they’re also clearing off cap in an opportunity for the next year or whatever it may be to provide for a young player. There’s a lot that goes into those things.”

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The Bengals rarely made trades in the middle of the season.

The last time they did it was Oct. 18, 2011 when they dealt quarterback Carson Palmer, who was intent on retiring if the Bengals wouldn’t trade him, to Oakland for a first- and second-round pick.

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The last time the Bengals acquired a player via trade in the middle of the season was Nov. 1, 1972, when they received future Hall of Fame wide receiver Charlie Joiner and linebacker Mike Pritchard from Houston for running backs Paul Robinson and Fred Willis.

While it’s rare and Lewis made it sound unlikely, he didn’t completely rule it out.

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“Someone will surprise you maybe,” he said. “But that’s not my worries. My worry is the 53 guys, or 63 guys that we’ve got in this building.”

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