BREAKING: Lewis Staying In Cincinnati...

Marvin Lewis is staying as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. A press conference is set for 4:30 to announce Lewis is returning for his ninth season as coach.

Lewis agreed to a contract extension after two days of negotiating changes in how the front office functions and integrates with the day-to-day operations of the football team.

Mike Brown wanted to keep him, offering an extension last season. Lewis wanted to stay, but only if he got more influence over the personnel decisions.

The Bengals are coming off a 4-12 season. They've had only two winning records during Lewis' eight seasons, and in Cincinnati, Lewis' career record is 60-69-1.

Cincinnati has only two winning records in the last 20 years, both under Marvin Lewis, but the Bengals haven't won a playoff game since 1990. And parts of the HQ would maintain that Carson Palmer hasn't been the same since the surgery on his throwing shoulder...

Now if only he could throw to more guys like Shipley and Gresham...
And not get caught in situations like this...
((HT: NFL on CBS/Youtube))

Carousel Update: Harbaugh to Miami? Marvin stays in Cincinnati??

((ht: adam schefter-ESPN//jason lacanfora-NFL.com))

The carousel keeps spinning and could be taking a strange turn. Reports are surfacing on two fronts this morning.

One: The chief domino in where the coaches will fall into line, Jim Harbaugh may actually end up with the Miami Dolphins. Stunned? Yeah, so were we.

According to NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora on Twitter: "Dolphins have had contact with Jim Harbaugh, who was in Florida last week for Orange Bowl. Continue to hear this could happen"


This could be interesting but. Apparently, Harbaugh will not decide until he hears what Stanford QB Andrew Luck decides to do. Luck, generally considered the best NFL ready QB in College Football, is an underclassman. He's eligible to go pro, but there is no consensus one way or the other as to whether he will.

Stay tuned.

As for Marvin Lewis, it appears he's staying in Cincinnati. Again, somewhat surprised, but we had a thought it might happen.

Per Adam Schefter on Twitter: "Bengals expect HC Marvin Lewis now will remain in Cincinnati. The two sides expect to resolve any issues within the next 24 hours"


Seriously, we were in the minority that thought Lewis would stick around with the caveat being what the Brown family wanted to do with his requests/demands. We, quite frankly are amazed that they may give in, though realistically, the team would have a hard time finding a coach better than Lewis. The Bengals, we think, realize who they are and can get better, but only if the organization makes some changes.

Again, the Carousel, continues to spin:

Your Black Monday primer or The Coaching Carousel Hits full speed- Frazier In, Del Rio And Kubiak Safe

Jim Harbaugh/courtesy: football-refs.com

There is a lot to keep an eye on today and this week with today traditionally being a big day for coaching hires and fires in both the NFL and the NCAA.

Here are your story lines:

The big domino in all this is Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. Where he ends up will determine what happens with quite a few others. Harbaugh is coaching Stanford in the Orange Bowl Monday night.

His name has already been attached to the Michigan job, should they fire Rich Rodriguez, but reports are surfacing that he's not interested.

The Big Lead says it won't happen RIGHT HERE

Quite honestly, Rodriguez hasn't been fired yet after the Wolverines collapse late this season and into their bowl game. Athletic Director Dave Brandon says that he'll make a decision on Rich Rod's fate, by sometime this week.

The Detroit News speculates about what is next RIGHT HERE. Note in this story that the fall back plan may include San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke, who could actually be the best choice here.

The popular call: Harbaugh is going to the NFL, quite possibly with the 49ers, with the Broncos and former Stanford alum John Elway, making a case as well.

Other Coaching News:

We talked this weekend about the Vikings keeping Leslie Frazier and NFL.com's Michael Lombardi reporting the Jason Garrett will get interim removed from his head coaching title. There's much more.

Marvin Lewis/Courtesy: uglyfours.com

Will Marvin Lewis stay in Cincinnati? Doubtful. There have already been published reports that Marvin may be the one walking away from this marriage. He's let it be known he'd stay...but only on his terms. And quite honestly, his terms aren't unreasonable...except for the fact that he's in Cincinnati.

Marvin's contract expired yesterday. And we know he is meeting with team president/owner/alleged G.M Mike Brown today. We don't expect Brown to capitulate since he believes he's smarter than pretty much everyone else.

The local spin from WCPO Sports Director John Popovich RIGHT HERE

Yahoo Sports speculates Marvin could end up with the job at Pitt RIGHT HERE

Jeff Fisher/Courtesy: girlofwords.com

ESPN's Adam Schefter tweets "Niners target remains Stanford HC Jim Harbaugh. But team is also preparing to speak with Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis"


Another big name coach, Jeff Fisher. Fisher's Titans struggled mightily at the end of the season and didn't look totally interested in, well, much of anything the last few games. Combine that with the highly publicized battles between Fisher and owner Bud Adams' pet project, one Vince Young and you've got the possibility of the leagues longest tenured coach being unemployed this week.

The teams executive committee and Fisher are, according to reports, scheduled to meet later this week and decide what to do.

So says the National Football Post RIGHT HERE

The Tennessean's David Climer wraps up the tumultuous Titan season...RIGHT HERE

And there's more.....

The Browns have parted ways with Eric Mangini leading to all kinds of speculation. From Team President Mike Holmgren taking the job, to perennial coaching job favorite Jon Gruden.

However, the name that keeps popping up....believe it or not, fired Carolina Panthers head coach John Fox.

From NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora via Twitter: "From what I've gathered on the Browns situation, I see John Fox landing there as head coach with Mike McCoy as offensive coordinator"


It does make some sense, Fox and Holmgren have known each other for years and Fox did have early success in Carolina. However, the Panthers have struggled mightily the past couple of years and though nobody directly pointed the finger at Fox, some blame has to go his way for losing his team.

As for McCoy, he is/was the Offensive Coordinator in Denver, but the Broncos don't currently have a Head Coach, and there is no guarantee that he'd get to keep his job, so it makes sense since Fox is a defensive guy and McCoy has gotten some props for what he's done in Denver.

Other nuggets:


NFL teams looking for coaches: The Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, The Cleveland Browns. Expect the Miami Dolphins and possibly the Jacksonville Jaguars to join that list along with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Possible Coaching names to watch: Mike Zimmer, D-Coordinator in Cincinnati, Atlanta Falcons O-Coordinator Mike Mularkey, possibly Bill Cowher and probably Jon Gruden...since he's attached to every job.

College Coaching Carousel: It all depends on what Harbaugh does. If he goes NFL, then Brady Hoke will be in play. Also, expect someone to take a run at Chris Peterson in Boise and Gary Patterson of TCU. Neither of them will leave. Mike Leach's name will continue to pop-up for jobs as well. And we are hearing that Mangini has already been attached to the opening at UConn since Randy Edsall left to go to Maryland.

All in all, it will be a busy next few weeks, as always, check in here at the Online Sports Guys for the latest in all of this.

Here is the most appropriate video clip we could find, from the movie Logan's Run, welcome to Carousel:



PM UPDATE: Leslie Frazier had the "interim" tag taken off his title in Minnesota...

Jack Del Rio is safe in Jacksonville... even though the team is 4-11 in December
and January under Del Rio the last three years.

Del Rio is the first coach since the NFL merger in 1970 to lead the same team for eight years without capturing a division title.

Gary Kubiak remains head coach in Houston, but they'll need a new DC as Frank Bush is out. Houston also fired secondary coach David Gibbs, LB coach Johnny Holland and assistant LB coach Robert Saleh.

Bum Phillips showed up at Texans practice last week and chatted with owner Bob McNair. People are now thinking that Wade Phillips may be the new DC.

More when we know more...

Sunday Carousel: Weis And Garrett Make An Odd Couple

Only because they're in the same story...

Charlie Weis looks like he's going to take the OC job in Boomtown after all.
Nothing like being an overbearing, Type-A personality that will be paired with another Type-A personality for a coaching staff.

Will Muschamp will be the enthusiastic one in Gainesville, and the question now becomes: Who gets to recruit...??? And how do they recruit as a unit...???

Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun has the details about Weis and Aubrey Hill joining the staff.

Now, to the NFL... and it looks like Jason Garrett, winner of 4 of the 7 games he's coached as the interim leader in Dallas, may get that "interim" label pulled after all.

But David Moore of the Dallas Morning News has things still in flux and indecision.

But if you check in to Michael David Smith at PFT, it's a done deal since the Cowboys brought in Ray Sherman to satisfy the Rooney Rule.

OTHER STUFF: Looks like Tom Cable is in question for a return to Oakland, Gary Kubiak is returning to Houston and the Texans, and Marvin Lewis can stay in Cincinnati if his staff changes- which Lewis may balk at...

More when we know more...

Looks like Cincinnati is going to get Pac Man Fever...

It really looks like I've moved to the home of wayward football players.

The Satellite office can only shake its collective head when staring at the thought of the Cincinnati Bengals signing Adam "Pac-Man" Jones to a contract.

Details from the Cincinnati Enquirer's most excellent Joe Reedy RIGHT HERE

It would make some sense if they actually needed someone to play the position that he does. They don't. They already have some pretty good cornerbacks on the team. They drafted another in the 3rd round this year.

We can only surmise that Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis envision the Bengals as the "Land of Misfit Toys". Either that or they are trying to re-claim the "Team Turmoil" label from the Steelers. Or maybe they just want to see how many hardship cases you can put in one stadium before it explodes. Who knows?

((Adam "Pac-Man" Jones//Courtesy: David E. Klutho/SI.com))

According to Mr. Reedy the "Pac-Man" contract would essentially be for the minimum, which is great. But what does he have to offer? I believe what is being said that he is working out like a madman and desperate for another chance to show he is a changed man. Really, I do. I just don't believe that he is that sincere. I don't think he realizes that the problem...from the get go hasn't been anything else, hasn't been his talent...no, the problem has been him.

Check out Buckner and Garcia from the early 80's on American Bandstand. Thanks You Tube:

Ochocinco to Hold the Mustard

Nothing makes us happier than to be able to come up with what we consider witty Headlines for our stories. Nobody makes us happier to write about than Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Chad Ochocinco. The mercurial 8 5 talks a lot of doo doo, but thing that we think makes him different...is that it is done with a sense of humor.

Last week 8 5 sent a package of deodorant to the Baltimore Ravens Defensive Backs. This week...he wanted to send some mustard to the Pittsburgh Steelers...because they play at Heinz Field...get it? However his coach, Marvin Lewis told him that it "Would not be a good idea".

The story from WLWT-TV is RIGHT HERE.

((8 5 Runs from Condiments//Photo Courtesy: Larry French/Getty Images))

The Bengals are in the midst of somewhat of a revival, they are 6-2 and tied with the Steelers, whom they play on Sunday...in Pittsburgh. Ochocinco himself has had a very good season after complaining pretty much all of last season. Unlike other "Prima Donna" Wide Receivers, he seems to have decided to back up what he's talking about. He's also done a lot of good things in the Cincinnati community, including helping purchase some 3500 tickets for the Bengals game against the Texans a few weeks ago to insure that the game would be sold out.

Enjoy his Lambeau leap from the Green Bay game last month. The best part of this....he actually paid to plant his fans in the end zone. Love it! Courtesy: The You Tube

Bengals Agree To Terms With Andre Smith

((HT: Cincinnati Enquirer/Reedy))

It is a four-year deal worth $26 million with $21 million guaranteed. The Bengals have an option after the 2010 season that would push the deal $42 million over six years with the maximum worth $50 million.

The team and Smith’s agent, Alvin Keels, met throughout the weekend at Paul Brown Stadium, with the deal being announced a half hour before practice. Smith ((pictured, thanks Cincinnati Enquirer file)) arrived in Cincinnati Sunday morning and was waiting in the locker room as the deal was being completed.

“We’re excited to have Andre with us now,” coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement. “He has a lot of work to do, but he knows the challenge ahead of him to make an impact on our team as soon as possible. Our vision of him is simply as a physically dominating player on our offensive line, and we know that this guy wants to be very, very good.”

Smith was on the practice field for the first time since the last minicamp session on June 20. During the first 30 minutes, which were open to the media, Smith did do some line work with the second unit.

“Andre is a very powerful man,” said offensive line coach Paul Alexander. “He can knock ’em back better than anyone who was in the draft, and that’s why we took him. And it was a very good year for offensive linemen.”

Here's one of the reasons the Bengals took Smith...
Skip forward to the :40 mark... and hide your eyes...
((HT: Tide Sports Video))