The Cincinnati Bengals finally decided to move on from head coach Marvin Lewis after a dismal 2018 season, ending his 16-year reign with the organization.
For the unraveling, disastrous, mismanaged and downright dysfunctional Bengals, firing Lewis was the first step of what will be a major retooling process. This was definitely the right move in both the short and long term, but Bengals fans shouldn't be celebrating it too hard.
Parting ways with Lewis is anywhere from three to five to even 10 years too late. A man who couldn't manage a single postseason win during his 16-year tenure shouldn't have gotten this many chances.
Yes, Lewis deserves plenty of credit for making the Bengals a relevant franchise once again. They won four AFC North division titles and made the playoffs seven times. But on the flip side, the Bengals didn't win a playoff game (there's that stat again), and endured six losing seasons.
And yet, Bengals owner Mike Brown gave Lewis chance after chance to build this team into a Super Bowl contender. Lewis probably could have been fired after an 8-8 season in 2006. Or a 7-9 season in 2007. Or a 4-11-1 record the following year.
The Bengals could have fired Lewis after a 4-12 season in 2010, considering they won the AFC North with a 10-6 record the year before. Lewis could have been fired anywhere following the 2011 or 2015 seasons - when the Bengals made the playoffs but went one-and-done each time.
But Brown kept giving Lewis the opportunity to fix a mismanaged team. And though Lewis cannot be blamed for this franchise's annual shortcomings, any other team would make a change after a decade and a half of misery.
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Why was Lewis retained after losing seasons in both 2016 and '17? Did ownership and management really think he was going to turn this flawed roster into a playoff contender? Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens were miles ahead of them?
Lewis had more than enough chances to show his ability to lead the Bengals to the promised land. But all the organization could do is make the playoffs and go home in round one. Hardly spectacular.
It took three more losing and non-playoff years - plus a major decline in attendance - for the Bengals to finally decide Lewis wasn't going to help this team much longer. How it takes 16 years is beyond anybody, but it goes to show just why the Bengals have been a mess for the last three decades now.
Lewis was certainly not the only problem in Cincinnati. But when progress isn't being made, teams need to make a drastic change after all. The Bengals kept telling themselves Lewis was going to change that eventually. But after five, seven, 10 and 15 years, they still couldn't take the hint.
Lewis was always out-coached in the playoff games. He never guys like Vontaze Burfict and Adam 'Pacman' Jones accountable for their actions. Those two players took careless penalties in the 2015 AFC Wild Card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, costing the Bengals their first playoff win in a quarter of a century.
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Rather than discipline his players and/or tell the front office to get rid of them, Lewis kept a troubled locker room together. Few players under his watch were truly all-in. Why else do you think a very talented team kept finding ways to fall short of expectations?
The Bengals fired Lewis some years too late, and guess what? The Baltimore Ravens are only getting started with an elite defense and young quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't going away any time soon. And with Baker Mayfield leading the way, the Cleveland Browns are no longer a laughing stock.
Cincinnati finally decides to fire Lewis just as the Ravens and Browns start to trend up again. Where was this change when the Bengals were a consistent playoff team and hopeful Super Bowl contender?
The Bengals are probably further behind than any other team in terms of building up a championship contender now. They didn't shake up the roster. They gave Lewis every chance in the world to lead this team to a championship. It's not all on Lewis, but after a decade or so of constant shortcomings, a change should always be made.
Many Bengals fans have spent years waiting for Mr. Brown to make changes. In this case, it's too little, too late. The Bengals will be at the bottom of the AFC North standings for a long time now.
All because ownership and management waited way too long. Bengals fans simply deserve better than this.
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