Bengals: Fan mail for Marvin

Monday, October 15, 2007

Fan mail for Marvin

Mr. Curnutte,

To compare Marvin Lewis to Dick LeBeau or Bruce Coslet is ridiculous.

Sometimes you have to find positives in negatives. If you listen to that press conference Marvin offered no excuses or consolation in losing the football game, just in starting to do things the right way.

Next time you want to compare Marvin to previous Bengals coaches ask yourself a couple of questions:

How many winning seasons did Shula/Coslet/LeBeau have?

How many times did they make it to the playoffs?

How many times did they lose 4 or more games in a row (this marks the first time in 5 years for the Marvin)?

How many losing seasons does Marvin have?

Who would be a better coach for the Bengals right now than Marvin?

How many teams would be interested in hiring him if he were let go?

Maybe the media should just openly admit they don't like Marvin because he doesn't pander to their delusions of self-importance.

Sincerely,

Ben

31 Comments:

at 10/15/2007 2:30 PM

Allan said...

Dear Ben -

How many games has Marvin won after a bye week?

How many criminals has Marvin drafted?

How many times has Marvin said "we just have to cut down the mistakes," only to see his team screw up immediately the next week(See Madieu Williams' 15 yard facemask penalty on the opening kickoff)

How embarrassing is it to see a star player like TJ Houshmandzadeh scream at Marvin Lewis on National TV? How many other NFL coaches can't control their players?

How many fans think they can make better in-game adjustments than Marvin and his coaches?

Coslet and LeBeau were bad coaches with mediocre talent. Lewis, this season, is proving himself to be a bad coach with good talent. Which is worse?

at 10/15/2007 2:32 PM

Anonymous said...

Are fans to critical of NFL coaches? Probably, but they also get paid a couple of million dollars so it comes with the job. And let's not confuse non-losing seasons (i.e. 8-8) with winning seasons. Marvin has one winning season, that's it. We all appreciate Marvin's efforts in getting the team to respectability but I think this franchise is at a point where 8-8 or worse is considered a disappointing season. Let's keep our standards high and not go back to the "at least we're not 3-13" mindset.

at 10/15/2007 2:32 PM

Anonymous said...

at 10/15/2007 2:36 PM

Anonymous said...

With the media too cowardly to accurately criticize Lewis, the best that can be said is that Lewis would be "in demand" if he left the Bengals and that Lewis's 2007 year is an aberration.

But 2007 is no aberration for Mike Brown.

We don't see the proper reaction from Lewis given what's happening on and off the field.

Chad Johnson seems to be a bigger problem than Coach Lewis.

But this year, for whatever reason, is totally lost. Gone. Goodbye. No playoffs, very few wins ahead if any. It's not just Lewis's fault. But Lewis needs to make some changes to his approach and to take some actions, quickly. So far he's not seeming to respond as better coaches would.

at 10/15/2007 2:43 PM

Anonymous said...

Mr. Ben Lewis, Coslet, Shula, and LeBeau never had Carson, TJ, Chad,
Reggie Kelly etc. Last year Jared Allen smoked Levi Jones and Levi was benched. This year Once again Jared Allen smoked Levi again, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Finally Levi was beched in favor of Whitworth. If you already knew that Jones could not handle Allen then why do you play him. That first half sealed the defeat and that is on the Coaching staff.

Shula had Klingler, Blake, Coslet had Blake, O'Donnel, Akili Smith etc. LeBeau had Smith, Ferrote etc.
Kitna

Even Shula and Coslet did,

1995 7 9 0 2nd AFC Central --
1996 8 8 0 3rd AFC Central --

with players that were very marginal. Remember that in 05' the only reason the Bungles went to the playoffs was due 45 turnovers.
Bad coaches bad draft pics, selfish thug players. Marvin Lewis inherited all of the talent on this team and had added nothing but bad free agents and bad draft pics. Marvin has wrecked what should be a playoff team year in and year out.

at 10/15/2007 2:54 PM

Anonymous said...

Since 1968 the Bunlges have been playing football and during that time they have made the playoffs,
8 times and only once since 1991.
You season ticket holders are stupid. To give you a little perspective;
The Steelers have won the division
17 times since 68' compared to 5 for the Bungles.

at 10/15/2007 3:17 PM

Anonymous said...

So is the inference here that this is from Marvin's dad?

at 10/15/2007 3:18 PM

Anonymous said...

TAKE AWAY CARSON PALMER, TJ AND CHAD JOHNSON THIS TEAM IS EVERY BIT AS BAD AS THE ONES UNDER SHULA, COSLETT AND LEBEAU.

MARVIN IS JUST MORE ARTICULATE AND WE LIKE HIM

BUT,,,THATS WEARING THIN

at 10/15/2007 3:19 PM

Anonymous said...

Thank you for writing this. I am tired of hearing that Marvin is such a bad coach and that the whole coaching staff needs to be fired. Since when has the ability to tackle been the coaches fault? Or throw? Or catch? Or get injured?
The only aspect of this team that I can see being the coaches fault is the problems with different schemes and some draft issues, none of which are more important than these NFL PLAYERS being men about it and just playing better football. TJ said the same thing in his recent interview, "MAN UP".
To all the fans, stop crying about coaching, this is the same staff that won the AFC North a couple years ago and the same that went to the playoffs. The only difference I see right now is injuries/suspensions, and pre-madonna babies on the field. For all of you that are jumping ship... thank goodness. You are the fans that we dont need.

at 10/15/2007 3:24 PM

Anonymous said...

not many teams would hire marvin lewis as a head coach at this point in time

there are many coaches i would rather have ..look at the rookie coach in pittsburgh.

this is marvins 5th year there are no excuses

we have been to exactly one playoff game under lewis in 4 plus years..we lost badly

i agree with the other dude..give lebeau and shula carson palmer and chad johnson..their teams would also be hovering around .500

teams have figured out that you take away palmer johnson and TJ...thye Bengals have nothing

quit making excuses

at 10/15/2007 3:45 PM

Allan said...

Know who would be a better coach than Marvin right now?

BILL COWHER.

And I hate the Steelers.

at 10/15/2007 3:49 PM

Anonymous said...

The only difference between Marvin and Dave Shula is Marvin has Carson Palmer.

at 10/15/2007 4:05 PM

Anonymous said...

Marty Schottenheimer is available.

at 10/15/2007 4:30 PM

Anonymous said...

I totally disagree with the posters above defending Lewis. This is not just about injuries and close losses etc... Look at the sidelines. How many players openly yell at head coach during game or blow him off. Excuses that oh so & so is an emotional player. Every player in NFL is an emotional player. You don't see players getting pissed and yelling at coach etc... Except on losing teams and rare exceptions on winning teams not withstanding Terrel Owens. Marvin Lewis has lost discipline respect of team. That off season crap in 06 is not his fault. When it happened over and over a crack down should have happened. Instead NFL commissioner eventually stepped in. AS for coaches: Bill Cowhler or heck I'd even give Mike Martz a call. Martz game management is no worse than Lewis. But Martz knows how to put a top offense together. I love see Martz coach Bengals offense. Imagine....

at 10/15/2007 4:46 PM

Anonymous said...

It is sad to say that some of the Bengals are learning to be business men...putting out 110% during the last year(s) of a contract...get a large contract/extension...then relax and save their body for the next new contract/extension...Justin Smith 8 mill?????Levi Jones????

at 10/15/2007 4:54 PM

Anonymous said...

Marvin says "you build a team through the draft" lets see what has improved in the past five years..def line..no/linebackers..no/defensive backs..maybe??/offensive line..no/running backs..no (Rudy was here already)/QB..yes but that was already determined/receivers..yes (maybe)? tight end..no..player evaluation and development...yeah..

at 10/15/2007 5:48 PM

Sandlotch said...

Bottom line, Marvin Lewis is garbage. He has lost control and lost respect in the team. There is no turning back. This season is over and we need to sweep out the entire coaching staff. We need a coach who takes a stand, isn't inept in press conferences and doesn't laugh on the sideline while losing.
MARVIN MUST GO

at 10/15/2007 5:52 PM

Anonymous said...

Bengals are the result of an executive Bad decision and I will use this space to set free my frustrations:

- They drafted a running back instead of a Linebacker on the second round eventhough they had rudi johnson and kenny watson.
- This guy they drafted, he got hurt in the first pre-season game and went out for the season.
- They thought either Odell Thurman or Pollack were coming back and they didn't draft a Linebacker. They are inactive for the year.
- They fired defensive players that were good on special teams and then the first three games we were really bad on covering kicks and all that.
- Then three linebackers got hurt and we didn't have backups. So somebody else was playing that position.
- There are a bunch of players that are getting paid like stars but they are so overrated, so...
- We ran out of money and people ... therefore

We S_ _ k

I don't think Marvin is responsible. I don't think he has the power to make this type of calls.

at 10/15/2007 8:03 PM

Anonymous said...

ah, i see you removed the "Lewis" that was after Ben's name before. too late - we know who he is now.

at 10/15/2007 10:41 PM

Anonymous said...

Ben,

I agree. One particular media outlet and the several of listeners have this strange feeling that they can control how Marvin Lewis should handle a press conference. I have heard arrogance and feelings that just because you buy tickets (1 ticket or a season ticket holder for 15+ years) the Bengals owe you. WRONG! Stop buying the tickets the NFL could survive without you and your foolish talk. Marvin Lewis was brought here to win football games not cater to some of you guys sensitivity and ego. It's stange New England's head coach, Holgren, Cowher, Parcells or even Jim Mora treat the media like crap over the years. They get a freepass, "Oh it's just how he is", "That's his style!". Now that Marvin does it he clowns calling him a idiot, ass, etc. This man is probaly one of the hardest working coaches n the NFL. All I have to say is watchout Dusty Baker don't let you make the playoffs then have a couple of .500 seasons as you try to rebuild the sucky Reds. Some of these Cincinnati fans will probably won't to see you banned from baseball for life.

Plus why is it that Chad Johnson, can attend all of the Octoberfest leas the Chickendance, do local commercials, people buy all of his merchandis but he has a bad season and people call him self serving, not a team player but continue to support him when he entetains.

at 10/16/2007 12:57 AM

Anonymous said...

You guys are really showing your ignorance when it comes to Bengal history. We had Carl Pickens, Boomer, Chris Collingsworth, and a few others. You all sound so idiotic. You must be from the Kentucky side of the bridge. The only constanant in all those years are the Browns and Blackburns. Until we get a GM and allow our coaches to concentrate on coaching then this is what we get. I'm glad you all are jumping off the bandwagon. Leaves more room for the real fans.

Big Nate-Dawg from the DYT

at 10/16/2007 1:01 AM

Anonymous said...

Who's better than Marvin Lewis as a coach right now????
MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER is near a telephone waiting for a call. If I were Mike Brown, I'd make that phone call and the coaching change right now. With Marty's experience, he'd step in and absorb this playbook and have this team winning in 2 weeks.
Marvin Lewis is a very nice guy and perhaps was a good defensive coach, but that's got absolutely nothing with his ability to be a head coach. Cincinnati is watching the Peter Principle in action...he does not have the talent to coach at this level. Please, let's not spend 2 more years proving that.
The smartest Bengal was Corey Dillon who didn't take the bait when Marvin arrived, and went straight to New England and got the shiny ring.

at 10/16/2007 10:34 AM

Anonymous said...

Hey ANON 2:54PM

First of all the term "Bungles" is so overplayed, can't you come up with something original? Or can you at least spell it correctly if you are going to use it? Second, who are you to tell people what or what not to spend their money on. Maybe some people enjoy going to football games. Maybe some of the stuff you spend your money on I find dumb. Does that make you an idiot because that is what you choose to spend your money on. I guess every Brown fan is stupid too.

So go find a team that has success and jump on their bandwagon, since you are a true sports fan. How many sports hats do you have in your closet?

at 10/16/2007 11:44 AM

Anonymous said...

that's pretty sketchy that you guys removed his last name...i'm assuming he's related to Marvin, but why remove the last name? what is this, 1984?

at 10/16/2007 12:32 PM

Anonymous said...

Marvin Lewis is clearly in over his head!

But ultimately the fault lies with that cheapskate jerk Mike Brown... the fact the Bengals have about 2 scouts and have NEVER signed a quality free agent player. Mike Brown knows as much about football as Curnette knows about quantum physics!

at 10/16/2007 2:26 PM

Anonymous said...

"You all sound so idiotic. You must be from the Kentucky side of the bridge. The only constanant in all those years are the Browns and Blackburns."

Nate Dawg...please describe what "constanant" means as I have never heard that word in Kentucky.

Thanks,

Big Dan Dawg

at 10/16/2007 3:59 PM

Anonymous said...

The only difference I see right now is injuries/suspensions, and pre-madonna babies on the field

I don't think all of the players were born before Madonna became a "star". Oh wait, you meant prima donna.

at 10/16/2007 4:03 PM

Anonymous said...

pre-madonna babies

I don't think all the Bengal players were born before Madonna became a "star".
Oh wait, you meant prima donna.

at 10/16/2007 4:08 PM

Anonymous said...

Chris Collingsworth, and a few others. You all sound so idiotic. You must be from the Kentucky side of the bridge.

Uh, at least this Kentuckian knows how to spell Collinsworth. Who's the idiot?

at 10/16/2007 5:44 PM

Anonymous said...

Fire Marvin Lewis now!!

at 10/16/2007 7:15 PM

Anonymous said...

Hey Nate, Most of those good players you mentioned were on Bengals in late 80's early 90's when Paul Brown still alive & running team. 1 winning season in 16 years? Nuff said. BTW Carl Pickens, Darnay Scott, Corey Dillon (talent and lousy teams)... Ala TJ, Chad & Rudi with one exception: Carson Palmer. Palmer for sake of argument is 5th best QB in league. The most important postion in NFL. Look at desperate teams just need a QB. Bengals are holding onto an ounce of gold. Instead of mining it they are laying lead bars all around it.

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Monday, October 15, 2007

Fan mail for Marvin

31 Comments: