I have considered this since reading this mornings Cincinnati Enquirer and hearing Mike Singletary's Post Game comments from yesterday.  There is an interesting philosophical difference between Marvin and Mike Singletary.  Before I elaborate, I will admit that Singletary has no record other than his playing days and reputation as an assistant coach.  That said, I believe the fundamental differences between the approaches of Marvin Lewis and Mike Singletary offer insight into why this team is 0-8.

In todays paper Marvin said "We're playing the best guys we've got."  He added "we've got to find a way to get these players better."  He went on to say "We have to collectively flip our psyche.  We have to find a way to win a game at home next week."  These sentiments were echoed in his Monday press conference.  Psyche?  Pllleease!!!

I am appalled by the new age sentiment in Marvin's words.  They smell of not blaming the players on his team he so "likes".  His new age approach of coddling his players and excusing their bad behavior off the field and making excuses for their behavior on the field is at the heart of this 0-8 start.

Simple repetition and drill in practice that Marvin espouses as a panacea for losing will not work with the mindset he has fed his players.  'We lost, but the players tried' is simply not enough.  As my mom often said to me when my actions were less than stellar, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions."

The Singletary post game press conference sheds light on every problem this team faces.  Singletary offers his philosophy as three simple tenets:

1.  Smack the opponent in the mouth

2.  Offer no charity.  Do not give the game away.

3.  Execute from start to finish in every game.

Our beloved 2008 edition of the Bengals do not embrace even one of these simple philosophies.  When was the last time you heard Marvin even come close to demanding such excellence and attitude from his team?  Not since 2003/2004/2005?

As to item 1: Name the last time this team has had any swagger on offense or defense that resulted in a reputation of toughness or intimidation throughout the league?

As to item 2: This team finds ways to lose.  Look at the John Thornton quote in todays Enquirer.  He admits it.  This team is fundamentally weak.  It is a reflection of the weak minded message Marvin gives his players.

As to item 3: Due to the weak mental message Marvin permits thanks to his weak message and lack of accountability, this team fails to execute at every level.  From blown blocking assignments, to a lack of gap discipline, to dropped passes and weak tackling, this team lacks the mental discipline required to execute at a high level.  It is organizational.

Mike Singletary is a coach I admire after one game.  His old school approach is refreshing.  Professional football is not a game for new age sentiments.  It is a tough game that reflects many of the trials and tribulations of life.  Sometimes it takes being a hardass from time to time to get your situation back on track.  Marvin owes it to these players to use Singletary's philosophies to some degree to make them men who are accountable for their actions.  Doing so will make them winners in football and in later life.  It is at the core of what coaching (or parenting or mentoring) is all about.  Making excuses for your players makes them weak and engrains a mindset of accepting less than your best.  Accountability makes men men.  Old school?  Perhaps.  The path to victory in the NFL?  Absolutely.

The Airborne Avenger

Is it me, or is the attitude and philosophy of Mike Singletary EXACTLY what the Bengals locker room needs?  Wouldn't it be nice to hear it from Marvin instead of his excuses.  From "keep chopping wood" to "now" none of his mantras motivate this team.  The reason is no accountability from top to bottom in this organization.

I say fire Marvin and pay Singletary big bucks to hire him away from the Niners before they remove the interim tag from his title.  See the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYaDJ-WuuSY

The Airborne Avenger

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=472313

Click this link.  They mock our front office and their backwards logic.

The Airborne Avenger

Thanks to Mo Egger for his posting of Marvin Lewis on the sideline laughing and smiling as another loss was imminent like he was rehearsing for his Monday press conference.

Since Marvin is the face of the organization, I can only take one thing from his expression at a time when it was most inappropriate:

This entire organization and the product they put on the field are jokes.  Marvin is laughing at a joke that is multi-faceted.  From the stale offensive schemes of Bob Bratkowski to the utter lack of attention to detail as a whole on his team that lead to breakdowns at every level of offense, defense and special teams, the joke is on all of us fans.  From the sold out stadium to the $7.00 beers and $5.00 hot dogs, they cannot believe they are getting away with their deception.  Hang in there he says.  HA!  NO thanks.  What is really apparent is that the JOKE is the entire organization is a JOKE.  Based on what he saw Sunday (via TIVO for me), the face of this JOKE organization has two choices-laugh or cry in the face of sheer ineptitude.  Like the extended Brown family in the front office, all he has to do is look at his bank account to make his choice. 

Mike Brown thrives knowing 67000 suckers are born every week.

THE AIRBORNE AVENGER

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