BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
All indications have Mike Brown staying put as the top football man, Bruce Coslet staying on as the coach, the coaching staff getting a stay of execution, and the Bengals staying clear from hiring a glut of scouts.
But there is one change that could have a more positive effect on Cincinnati's 1999 season than anything Brown and Coslet could think up during months of brainstorming.
The schedule.
It comes thanks to the formula stemming from a fifth-place finish in the AFC Central instead of last year's third-place finish.
"We were dealt a tough one this year, and I think it's one of the reasons we did what we did," said Brown as he pondered Sunday's end of a disastrous 3-12 season. "Next year isn't like this one. And that should help us, but there are probably teams who are just as glad we're on their schedule."
It also means the pressure on the coaches starts after Sunday's final gun.
A year ago, Brown saw the slate of upcoming teams -- that is currently 18 games over .500 (129-111) for 1998 -- and didn't expect any miracles. But he may not be so understanding in '99, when the Bengals go against a schedule that is currently 94-116.
"We should be ahead of the game because all four of our quarterbacks have now had at least a year in the system," Brown said. "We ought to be up and running quicker, but you never know. We played some of our best football against Denver and Green Bay in games that went down to the last play, and we were in it for three quarters in Minnesota." Instead of the two-time NFC champion Packers and the Super Bowl favorites Broncos and Vikings, the Bengals play the worst of the West in San Diego, Carolina and St. Louis next season. Plus, they make a return trip to Indianapolis.
The other two non-Central Division games have the Bengals playing host to the 49ers in a rare Steve Young trip to Cincinnati since he spurned the franchise for the USFL 15 years ago, and a road game at either Oakland or Seattle.
The beleaguered Bengals' defense, currently ranked third to last, should celebrate the New Year twice. This season they went against the Nos. 2-4 offenses in Minnesota, Denver, and Green Bay , as well as the No. 6 Bills. Yes, they get the No. 1 Niners in '99, but they also get the No. 20 Panthers, No. 25 Chargers, and No. 27 Rams. Oakland and Seattle are Nos. 18 and 23, respectively.
Carolina (3-12) and St. Louis (4-11) are fighting for fifth place in the NFC West.
If they finish tied, St. Louis is fifth and travels to Cincinnati to decide who is the worst team of the '90s, and the Bengals would travel to Carolina. If the Rams finish fourth, they would play host to the Bengals and the Panthers would come to Cincinnati.
Throw in the fact that the Bengals play the expansion Cleveland Browns twice in their division, and a five- or six-win season is unacceptable.
Strong safety Sam Shade, a free agent, hopes he's back to take a run at this schedule.
"I don't like to make any excuses, but that was a killer schedule, and it had a lot to do with our record," Shade said. "The schedule will help this team because we're going to be a lot better."
Defensive end Michael Bankston has his eye on the return engagement with the Colts: "You know (rookie quarterback) Peyton Manning is going to be a year older and a year better and it's back on the road. We can't worry about that. We have to worry about ourselves and be thinking the same way against everybody. Indy. Minnesota. Denver. Dallas. It doesn't matter."
Friday's deactives: Wide receiver James Hundon, linebacker Jimmy Sprotte, defensive tackle Mike Thompson and fullback Cliff Groce.