Marvin Lewis‘ contract has been one of the primary issues facing the Bengals this offseason. However, the 15th-year coach does not expect that to be resolved before the start of the 2017 season.
Regarding his contract, Lewis said he doesn’t “anticipate anything happening” before the season begins, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports. Lewis is under contract through the 2017 season. He’s signed several Bengals extensions, including one last April that runs through the ’17 slate.
Lewis said today both sides are fine with the current situation. Mike Brown had dinner at Lewis’ house in Arizona during the owners’ meetings last week.
“It’s not really a subject that’s on my mind,” Lewis said of a re-up, via Terrell. “I don’t think it’s on Mike’s mind either. I’ve gone into many seasons without a new contract. It’s not a focus for me.”
This continues a back-and-forth offseason for the 58-year-old coach on this topic. Lewis said from the Senior Bowl in January he was seeking an extension to help put his coaches’ minds at ease. A month later, Lewis backtracked on that by intimating his staff perhaps shouldn’t be especially comfortable coming off a 6-9-1 season. The Bengals, of course, previously ventured to five straight AFC wild-card games without winning one.
Brown’s shown consistent confidence in Lewis, and it’s obviously not certain the coach will enter the season as a rare lame duck. But as of now it’s pointing that way.
Why would you reward 15 years of failure with an extension.he is lucky to still have his job.here is an idea,win a playoff game
As a fan I have loved his tenure here, but it is absolutely his time to go. Failure is rewarded in cincy.
At least they’re not the worst professional football team in Ohio.
I agree
EXTENSION??????? Is he nuts? He’s had enough chances. Dump him and the rest of his thugs.