Bengals president Mike Brown understands the criticism that had been heaped on former coach Bruce Coslet the past few seasons.

        Brown has been the object of as much or even more ire than Coslet. A popular cry among some Bengals followers in 1999 was “Mike Brown step down.”

        The Bengals are 43-104 — including this season's 0-3 start — since Brown took over as general manager from his Hall of Fame father, Paul Brown, after Paul Brown's death in August, 1991.

        Coslet's resignation left Brown examining the role he played in Coslet's poor record as coach. Coslet, who resigned Monday, was 21-39.

        “Oh, I wonder, I think we all wonder if we gave (Coslet) everything we could have,” Brown said Monday during a news conference announcing Coslet's resignation and the promotion of Dick LeBeau to head coach. “If we had, or had better answers, maybe we would have had more success.”

        LeBeau has asked all the players to think about their role in the team's failures on their off day off today. Brown is doing the same.

        “I'm like the players — I'm asking myself, "Is there something more that we could have done?'” he said. “But whatever it was, we have got to get to the point that we are here today, and now I'd rather look forward to see how to help Dick do this job.”

        Some media critics, league analysts and fans say Brown should hire a general manager or coach/general manager to make personnel decisions.

        Brown was asked if he plans to give LeBeau more control than Coslet had.

        “It's too early to talk about that,” Brown said. “Dick and I will talk about it face to face over the course of the next few days and weeks. Really, we do give the coach remarkable authority. Sometimes, it's misconstrued, but Dick will have full authority to run the football team.”

        Will Brown change how he runs the team?

        “It will cause me to examine the way we've done things,” he said, “but in the immediate future, there will be business as usual.”

        Has Brown thought about hiring a general manager?

        “I have no plans to make that change right now as I stand here,” he said.

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LeBeau's goal: Be competitive Anderson will call plays again Midseason changes usually don't help Players say they'll respect LeBeau Losing too painful for Coslet SULLIVAN: Coslet had 37 reasons to quit LeBeau a teacher, defense innovator If LeBeau fails, who is next? Lapham: Duffner approached first Brown: Re-evaluate? Yes; Resign? No Results of our Bengals poll Borgman cartoon Editorial: City deserves better from Bengals Timeline: Bengals' decade of defeat

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