Lewis apologizes to fans for disappointing season

Even as Bengals coach Marvin Lewis this afternoon anticipated a new team in 2007, free agents Justin Smith and Kelley Washington had removed their nameplates from their locker-room cubicles.

They are just two of 13 unrestricted free agents.

“We anticipate, hopefully, signing all of our guys,” Lewis said.

But bringing them all back is highly unlikely.

Lewis held his post-season news conference this afternoon at the stadium.

“We didn’t finish the way we would like,” Lewis said of his third 8-8 season in four seasons in Cincinnati. “I apologize to our fans. We are disappointed for them.”

Lewis touched on a variety of topics in a free give-and-take with reporters.

He said all of his assistant coaches and coordinators are under contract and that he did not anticipate any changes.

Criticized widely for his performance as head coach, Lewis also was critical, saying he had done “bad, average to worse.”

He disputed the claim that the team’s spate of off-field problems and arrests affected his team on the field, other than the three games missed by wide receiver Chris Henry and one missed by cornerback Deltha O’Neal.

But Lewis did promise to return to running a tighter ship and being more demanding of player behavior.

“I tried to allow guys to grow as men and players,” he said, adding that they “need to constantly be coached, policed and corrected. … I’ve got to be a hard-ass all the time and make sure I give them what they want. They do crave discipline.”

Fines do not work as a form of punishment, Lewis said, so he will resort to cutting a man’s playing time.

“Maybe that saves the other 53 guys,” he said.

Asked about suspended linebacker Odell Thurman, Lewis said, “He is not a member of this football team. I don’t see (his return) on the horizon.”

Up to 12 players are expected to have “clean-up” surgery in the next few weeks, said Lewis, though he would not reveal any of them by name, except linebacker David Pollack.

Pollack will have surgery on his fractured C-6 vertebra and will have a recovery time before making a decision about whether to resume his football career.

The offseason strength and conditioning program is tentatively scheduled to begin April 2, Lewis said, and he expected all of his players – with the exception of tailback Chris Perry (ankle) – to be ready for on-field work in May.

Asked about the team’s on-field performance, Lewis said he was heartened by the development of players such as young offensive linemen Eric Ghiaciuc, Stacy Andrews and Andrew Whitworth – all forced to play considerable time because of injuries to starters – as well as the performances of defensive players Domata Peko, Johnathan Joseph and Ahmad Brooks.

Lewis said tailback Kenny Watson, tight end Tony Stewart and safety Kevin Kaesviharn “raised their level of play.” He said Henry could develop into an excellent player “if he can continue to improve socially.”

Defensively, the team “has got to develop an identity,” Lewis said. It’s disappointing. We had a good start, a blip in the middle but didn’t finish good. It’s not where we want to be.”

Pressed for specific changes he might consider on defense, Lewis said he and his coaches would look at “everything.”