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Dispatch

2/25/06

BENGALS

Lewis has no doubts team will stay strong

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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INDIANAPOLIS — So much has befallen the Cincinnati Bengals since winning the AFC North championship that coach Marvin Lewis would have been forgiven for walking into the NFL combine wearing a hard hat.
The Bengals lost their last three games, including a home playoff loss to eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh. In that game, quarterback Carson Palmer suffered two torn knee ligaments, throwing his availability for 2006 into question.
Reports then surfaced of a halftime outburst by receiver Chad Johnson. That was followed by rookie receiver Chris Henry’s second arrest in two months.
But at the NFL combine yesterday, Lewis didn’t sound like a man worried that the momentum he’d worked for three years to build had been reversed.
"Actually, not as turbulent as you might think," he said of the Bengals’ off-season. "Carson is obviously injured, but his rehab is coming along fine. I believe he’ll be fine when we open up the ’06 season. And I think, as time will tell, Chris’ problems will be what they are and not as significant as you might think.
"You don’t want to have anything enter into the off-season as a negative, but we’ll rise above these things and move forward. They are what they are. They are bumps in the road."
As far as Johnson’s halftime outburst, Lewis scoffed at reports that Johnson tried to throw a punch at him or receivers coach Hue Jackson.
"Ridiculous," Lewis said of the rumors, saying it isn’t in Johnson’s nature to fight.
"He didn’t do anything other than be upset and raise his voice," Lewis said. "He needed to calm down and relax."
Lewis acknowledged that Johnson’s frustration showed an immaturity that, to a degree, extended to the whole team.
As evidence, Lewis cited the fact that a player leaked the news of Johnson’s outburst. That player, whom Lewis would not identify, will not be back, he said.
Lewis pointed to the example of the Steelers, who regrouped after losing to the Bengals in December to win eight straight games to become NFL champs.
"I have no doubt in my mind that it’s time for our team to achieve success," Lewis said. "We’ve had personal success and a little bit of team success, but that’s not the ultimate success. The only way to get the ultimate success is to become a football team totally."
Lewis was asked how close the Bengals were to having the maturity to do that.
"It’s like winning and losing. They’re like that," he said, holding his index finger and thumb close together. "And then again, it’s like that," spreading his arms far apart.
"(It’s) somewhere in the middle."
For now, the Bengals are preparing for free agency and the draft. Of their free agents, backup quarterback Jon Kitna is the highest priority to re-sign, but he has made it clear he intends to test the market.
"Jon wants the opportunity for someone to say, ‘Hey, Jon, you’re going to be our starting quarterback,’ and if that occurs I imagine it will happen right away," Lewis said.
Then it’s on to the draft, where the Bengals’ needs are pretty clear: safety, defensive tackle and tight end. The Bengals’ first pick is 24 th.
In what should not come as a news bulletin, Lewis refused to indulge in any speculation about draft plans.
"If you go in there and say we’re going to do this or that, you get your feelings hurt," Lewis said. "Unless you pick first, you can’t control that guy being there."
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

Saturday, February 25, 2006