Tuesday, September 26, 2000
Players say they'll respect LeBeau
Dillon says he'll miss Coslet
By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals players reacted to the resignation of coach Bruce Coslet on Monday by accepting responsibility for the team's 0-3 start.
At the same time, new coach Dick LeBeau, who was promoted from Bengals defensive coordinator, has the respect of players because of his 42 years in the NFL.
“I'm going to miss him,” running back Corey Dillon said of Coslet. “He's always been a good coach to me. I think he has taken the burden for a lot of people.”
Early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 37-0 loss at Baltimore, Dillon refused to stay in the game after Coslet had waved for him to remain on the field.
“I was tired. Enough was enough,” said Dillon, who had nine yards rushing on 12 attempts. “I was frustrated with what was going on. I kind of let my emotions get the best of me, but it wasn't personally directed toward Bruce. It was emotions. It was football. I just came out, got myself together and went back in. I love him as a person.”
Coslet was Dillon's only coach in three years with the Bengals. The team's record those years: 14-37.
Dillon suggested the Bengals' problems were deeper than Coslet.
“He could control only what he could control,” Dillon said. “To tell you he was the cause of all this, that would be a lie.”
Second-year safety Cory Hall thinks the losing took its toll on Coslet.
“From a player's standpoint, it's hard to lose. I know I didn't sleep last night,” Hall said Monday. “He's in charge of the whole thing. I imagine he couldn't sleep. He probably couldn't take it.”
A few players said they had been told that one of the reasons for Coslet's resignation was the toll the job had taken on his health.
Veteran center Rich Braham, who is out with an injured knee, suspected that a change was coming.
“But not this soon,” Braham said. “I thought maybe we could turn it around. But then we had the game Sunday. We were bad in all phases.”
Fullback Clif Groce was asked if the offensive players should feel at least partially responsible for Coslet's resignation. The Bengals have been outscored 74-7 this season.
“Partially?” Groce asked. “You should feel fully responsible. Bruce ain't played a down since when, 1976. He's not out there. We got to execute. This is more of a head case type of thing.”
Groce and other Bengals say they respect LeBeau, who played 13 seasons before becoming an NFL assistant in 1973.
“Everybody does really respect Coach LeBeau,” Groce said. “But, still, I hope you're not tricked by this. If we come out next week and lay an egg, then what? Who do we have to blame then?
“A lot of the young players like (LeBeau's) style. He's hands on. He'll talk to you. He tell you what's going on.”
Said Braham of LeBeau: “He has done a heck of a job with the defense. He's been a great coach. He was a heck of a player back when he played. He may be the spark. He may understand what we need to do to win.”
LeBeau talked to the players after they had been told of the coaching change by Bengals President Mike Brown.
“(LeBeau) said (Sunday) was the low point for us and we have to move up. And that's all there is to it,” punter Daniel Pope said.
Reserve left tackle John Jackson played with the Steelers when LeBeau was a Pittsburgh assistant and the defensive coordinator (1992-96).
“He's someone I'd follow into battle,” Jackson said. “He leads by example. Dick's not going to yell at you. He'll tell you what he expects out of you. He's a straight shooter.”
Jackson thinks players will get a message from Coslet's departure.
“Everybody knows nobody should be too comfortable around here,” Jackson said. “That's what we needed.”
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Players say they'll respect LeBeau