Bengals’ Lewis receives two-year extension
CINCINNATI — Bengals coach Marvin Lewis got a two-year contract extension Tuesday, providing more chances to try to get Cincinnati the playoff victory that has eluded him for 15 seasons.
The agreement came after a second straight losing season and two days of discussions with owner Mike Brown. Lewis has the second-longest active coaching tenure in the NFL, behind Bill Belichick’s 18 seasons with New England.
Unlike Belichick, who has won five Super Bowls and made two other appearances in the title game, Lewis is 0-7 in the playoffs, the worst coaching record in NFL history. The Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since the 1990 season, the sixthlongest streak of futility in league history.
Paul Brown Stadium was half-empty for the final home game, an indication fans had given up on the team and were hoping for change.
Instead, Brown decided to stay the course and keep Lewis, who wanted more say over the coaching staff and the roster if he stayed.
Brown’s aversion to change won out.
“Marvin has made significant contributions during his time here,” Brown said in a statement.
Lewis planned to meet the media Wednesday. He said in a statement that he was committed “to making the necessary improvements to put this team in the best position to win.”
Lewis has acknowledged that he would have been fired in any other NFL city. Instead, he’s gotten second and third chances — and now a 16th chance — to lead the Bengals to a postseason win. Brown, an owner who values loyalty, has decided to keep Lewis around.
Gruden hopes he’s Raiders candidate
Jon Gruden hopes he’s a candidate to return for a second stint as coach of the Raiders and believes a final decision will be made next week.
Gruden made his most specific comments about the opening in Oakland in an interview with the Bay Area News Group. The Raiders fired coach Jack Del Rio on Sunday following a disappointing six-win season.
“My understanding is they’re interviewing candidates this week and they’re going to let everybody know sometime
early next week or whenever they make their decision,” Gruden told the paper.
When asked specifically if he was a candidate, Gruden replied: “Well, I think I am being considered, yes. I hope I’m a candidate.”
Gruden spent four seasons as coach in Oakland from 1998-2001. After leading the Raiders to 8-8 records his first two years, Gruden helped the team reach the AFC title game following the 2000 season and got Oakland back into the playoffs the following season.
Gruden has spent the past nine seasons working as an announcer for ESPN and is scheduled to work the playoff game Saturday in Kansas City between the Chiefs and Titans. ESPN first reported the likelihood of Gruden returning to Oakland on the eve of the season finale that Oakland lost.
Odds and ends
Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is retiring after 15 NFL seasons. Palmer, who turned 38 last week, made the announcement in an open letter released by the Cardinals. Palmer missed the last nine games of what would be his final season with a broken left arm. He called his long professional career “the most incredible experience of my life.” …
Ted Thompson is out as general manager of the Packers, but he will remain as senior adviser of football operations. …
Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford returned to practice, two months after a cleanup surgery on his left knee. The Vikings, who have a firstround bye and open the postseason at home Jan. 14, now have up to three weeks to decide whether to put Bradford back on the active roster for the playoffs. Teddy Bridgewater and Kyle Sloter are the current backups to starter Case Keenum.