NEWARK, N.J. -- OK, it's time for a little talk.

I'm a journalist. I don't care what the record is of the team I cover. That's not to belittle those who do care about this team. I understand where they're coming from. I'm paid NOT to be a fan. To not ride the roller coaster. I remember saying on the air in training camp that this team would go 6-10 and someone came up to me and told me I was an idiot for doubting this team that much. And now that same person would tell me I'm an idiot if I picked them to finish 6-10, because there's no way this team is winning six games. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. And the truth, being a buxom redhead (at least in my mind), is something I always want to be in bed with. That's what I try to do. I'm here to try to accurately report what I see. When my opinion is asked, I'll give it.

Is it fun to watch bad football? No. But you know what? I still have a great job, a job I love.

But enough about me.

This isn't about me. That's the point.

I've been asked by several to ask Marvin Lewis if he still likes his team. To me, that question is to draw attention to myself, not the answer. I was taught in journalism school, and I believe this deeply, that the question should never be more important than the answer. I refuse to grandstand. To me, asking that is trying to play gotcha. I'll leave that to others. I was hired to be a journalist, not a character in a bad movie.

You know what? I understand what Marvin Lewis is saying and why he's saying it.

Basically, what he's saying is he likes parts of his team, but doesn't think they're playing well. He sees places he can help the team and what they can do to get there. Will it work? Well, that's to be seen -- I wouldn't bet on it.

You're gonna hear people talking about Marvin smiling and laughing and whatever else. Do I particularly like Marvin Lewis? It doesn't really matter. I think he's condescending to the media and fans and I don't particularly like dealing with the guy on certain days. But do I believe he's not upset about what's going on? No. Do I believe that he's not doing everything in his power to help this team? No. Do I think he was happy or taking the loss lightly? Not in the least.

Would you feel better if he came out and said he's giving up? I don't think he's the type of person to do that. Say what you will, but I honestly believe Marvin Lewis wants to win and wants to win with the Bengals.

You're also hearing a lot of people trying to oust Mike Brown. That's like me getting a sign saying "Free Ice Cream For All!" and me expecting to get free ice cream for all of you fine folks. It's not gonna happen.

Blame him, sure (and in my opinion, if you do, you've hit on the right target), but don't expect the guy to give up the team for the good of the team. Mike Brown makes a ton of money off of the NFL, not your tickets or you buying a jersey. The guy will own the Bengals whether you like it or not, whether you make a sign, a billboard, a banner, a t-shirt or a paper bag to wear over your head.

As my colleague Mark Curnutte said, "it just doesn't matter" and then he made a heck of a reference:

I wish I could take credit for that, but can't.

* With the Browns playing tonight, the Steelers are the only team in the AFC North with a win over a team not in the division. Baltimore got hammered -- and it could mean the Colts are clicking.

* Oh, American League baseball -- 5:27. That's a lot of Frank TV ads. Seriously, that guy's George Bush impression is getting more screen time than George Bush these days. A friend of mine is a Cubs fan, and I was hanging out with her watching the last game of their season and when it was over, she turned to me and said, "I don't think of it as much as a loss as freedom from Frank TV commercials."

* It's hard not to be jealous of one of my best friends -- Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune. No, not because he's covering a playoff baseball team (that just delays vacation by a couple of weeks), but because he got the one quote I've been waiting my whole life for. In his story today about the Rays no longer being afraid of the Fenway mystique, Carlos Pena said: "Man, Dan Johnson, what a home run that was. It was huge. It was like that big knockout punch from the Cinderella Man. He landed a punch on the unbeatable Ivan Drago."

Are you serious? A Rocky IV reference? I go back and forth over which is my favorite red scare propaganda film, Rocky IV or Red Dawn. I may go with Red Dawn, but Rocky IV makes me laugh more, because when I saw it in the theater, you know the part when Drago punches Apollo Creed and you see Rocky drop the towel that he was just about to throw? Well, even at 9, I knew Apollo was dead. Some woman in the theater didn't. So anyway, Creed goes down, and there's the slo-mo shot of the towel falling. They cut, and the cut is directly to the funeral, well, some girl in the audience -- and this theater was packed -- yells, "Oh my God! He's dead!" And the entire place cracks up. So, yeah, whenever Apollo Creed dies, I laugh. Sorry Carl Weathers.

* Yeah, it's never been easier to dislike the Yankees.

* Michael Barrett is a free agent. Depending on the cost, I'd be somewhat interested.

* For your records, a list of Scott Boras clients

* Seriously, I could have gone to high school with the GMs of the two teams in the ALCS

* The Royals' GM is not buying any more excuses. We'll see how that works.

 * Time Warner is giving Dayton more HD channels, including ESPNU and ESPNews HD. C'mon, Cincinnati. Down here, fellas.

* Apparently, Lou Holtz has lost it. If he ever had it, that is.

* So close and so far away this weekend -- I was in New Jersey and Jeff Mangum played in New York. And I missed it. If you don't own In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, well, I just feel sorry for you. Really.

* My major? Rawk!

* I'll be interested to see a David Wain movie with a budget. If you haven't seen Wet Hot American Summer, you have missed an American classic.

* Salma Hayek and Tina Fey? Wow. Go ahead, I need a moment to myself. Or three.

* A friend posted this on his blog, and, yeah....