[More Cowbell]

I saw an interesting suggestion on another website somewhere: promote Marvin Lewis up to a GM position, and make Zimmer the Head Coach.

I personally think this is a great solution for all parties involved. First and foremost, it gives the Bengals a GM, a position they have sorely lacked for a long time. Right now, Mike Brown at least uses Lewis for input on personnel, even if he makes all the final decisions. And I trust Marvin's ability to judge talent way better than Mike Brown.

Second, it rewards Lewis for all he has accomplished as Bengals' HC. Yes, he has yet to win a playoff game. Yes, his in-game decision making is sometimes suspect. But remember that before Lewis took over, Cincy endured 12 straight seasons without a winning record, with only one 8-8 season among them. Meanwhile, in Lewis' ten years, Cincy has been to the playoffs 4 times, including 2 division titles. They have had only 3 seasons with a losing record out of those ten years. So while Lewis will not be mistaken for a Hall of Famer, he has certainly made the Bengals respectable again.

Third, it allows Cincy to retain a man who I think is one of the top defensive minds in the league. He has molded the Bengals into a team capable of competing physically with the Steelers and Ravens, which is no small accomplishment. And if we don't make him our HC soon, another team will.

So, while I believe that Marvin Lewis has done great things for the Bengals, making them a yearly playoff contender, he may not be the right man to take them to the next level (i.e., advancing in the playoffs). Keep Zimmer in Cincy, allow Marvin control over player personnel, and let's see if they can take the next step.

Who Dey!