Looking Forward to the Bengals Future

The Bengals finished their 2010-2011 season with a 4-12 record after a loss at the Ravens to finish the season. The Bengals held the Ravens to only 13 points and didn't give up many big plays. However the Bengals couldn't capitalize when they got to the Ravens side of the field, missing a very makable 29 yard field and a pick in the end zone also a failed 4th down conversion on the Ravens 26 yard line. That's a total of 21 possible points that they left on the field, or at the very least 9, that would've made the difference in Baltimore.

There are many decisions Mike Brown will have to make this offseason. The first of which is Marvin Lewis' contract which is up.

"I don't know what's going to happen, all I know is that I'm unemployed," Marvin Lewis said after the game today. Marvin said he expects to know his fate by Monday, and no one is certain on what Mike Brown will decide on for the future. On one hand, Marvin Lewis hasn't won a playoff game in his entire career as a head coach for the Bengals. On the other hand, Lewis won 2 of his last 3 games and was very competitive in the loss against the Ravens and has had a lot of success with young players in the last few games. Also, with the uncertainty of next season with no CBA in place, it might be difficult to get a new coaching staff in place. Marvin has also made requests to Mike Brown for an indoor practice facility, and is one of the reasons Lewis held out on signing a contract last offseason.

Another decision Mike Brown will be facing soon is deciding whether or not to pick up the option on wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. There is a $6 million option on Ochocinco and if Brown decides not to pick up the option, it'll cost him $3.5 million, so it's essentially a $2.5 million decision as it's going to cost Brown $3.5 million either way. The Bengals are currently at a loss right now without a definite #1 wide receiver, yes they have Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell, but right now they are looking like two #2 receivers.

Brown will also have to decide where to go in the draft. The Bengals will be picking 4th in the NFL draft because they have the stronger schedule than the Bills or Broncos. If the Bengals do decide to release Chad Ochocinco, they could go with AJ Green, a top, can't miss WR prospect and is being compared to the likes of Calvin and Andre Johnson. The Bengals could also go with looking towards the defensive line and drafting DE Da'Quan Bowers out of Clemson or DT Nick Fairley out of Auburn. However, the Bengals in the later half of the season have seemed to find their pass rush with Carlos Dunlap, who broke the Bengals rookie sack record with 9.5 sacks. The record was previously held by Justin Smith with 8.5 sacks. The Breakdown Blog will be breaking down all of these prospects in the draft in the coming weeks.

Some other decisions Brown will have to make is to keep or cut some of these players:


FREE AGENTS LIST

• Exclusive rights: WR Quan Cosby, LS Clark Harris CB Rico Murray, LB Dan Skuta, S Tom Nelson, RB Cedric Peerman,
• Restricted free agents: C Kyle Cook, OG Nate Livings, QB Jordan Palmer, OT Dennis Roland
• *Free agents with four credited seasons: RB Brian Leonard, S Chinedum Ndukwe
• Unrestricted free agents: RB Cedric Benson, DE Jonathan Fanene, LB Brandon Johnson, LB Dhani Jones, CB Johnathan Joseph, TE Reggie Kelly, OG Evan Mathis, WR Terrell Owens, S Roy Williams, S Gibril Wilson.

* Free agents with four credited seasons were unrestricted until last year when they became restricted under an uncapped year. It is likely with a new collective bargaining agreement that they would become unrestricted again.
Thanks to the Cincinnati Enquirer for the Free Agents list