As team captains, Willie Anderson and Takeo Spikes met Tuesday with Bengals president Mike Brown and relayed players' wishes that Dick LeBeau be retained as head coach.

        Free agent left tackle John Jackson said LeBeau's hiring Wednesday increases his desire to stay in Cincinnati from 50-50 to 70-30.

        The team's prized free agent, running back Corey Dillon, called LeBeau's return another step — and a big one — in the right direction for the Bengals.

After three losses as Bengals coach, Dick Lebeau felt the thrill of victory Oct. 22 against Denver. (Associated Press photo) | ZOOM |

        LeBeau, 4-8 as coach, has made eight non-injury lineup changes, sometimes benching high draft choices for undrafted free agents, but is popular with his players. It's not that LeBeau is easy on them. He's fair and honest.

        To a man, apparently, they look forward to what LeBeau can accomplish given an entire offseason to shape the team.

        Anderson, a fifth-year pro, has played for Dave Shula and Bruce Coslet, who resigned Sept.25.

        “He's going to do a lot for this whole team,” Anderson said. “I've been waiting for a coach like this my whole career, as long as I've been here, to install an attitude of us being an aggressive, attacking football team. And since I've been here, he's been the only coach who's done that.”

        In spite of the 4-8 record, LeBeau has left his mark on the team.

        “He's meant everything, man,” Anderson said. “He's been fighting to change the mind set of a team that had been instilled by coaches. In a short period of time, he's changed the attitude of the whole team to one that's going to keep fighting and attacking no matter what. We still haven't won the games, but I think that comes along. Dick has tried to change guys' attitudes that made them tentative before.”

        Defensive tackle Oliver Gibson, who played for LeBeau when he was defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh, also looks forward to LeBeau-led minicamps and training camp.

        “The changes in discipline we took midseason, after Coach Coslet resigned, are going to be intensified,” Gibson said. “You're going to have to come into preseason workouts with your mind right, ready to learn, ready to work. There's not going to be much slack.”

        Two of the lineup changes LeBeau made were Jackson and Scott Mitchell at quarterback. They're the two oldest players on the team, both making relatively little money, yet they replaced high-priced starters Rod Jones and Akili Smith.

        “First of all, I'd like to congratulate Dick LeBeau on being the head coach next year,” said Jackson, 35, a Woodward High School graduate. “He deserves it. Can he do some good things around here? Yeah, he can do some great things around here.”

        “So, I'm ready to talk to Dick about my situation here. He wants me back, and I want to come back.”

        Jackson, a 13-year veteran whose wisdom has helped in the locker room, is one of the most observant players on the roster.

        “They respect him for who he is as a person,” Jackson said of the relationship between LeBeau and the players. “He's somebody you can talk to. Not so much a father figure as a friend. That's what a lot of guys need.”

        Mitchell, 32 and an 11-year veteran, will start his fifth game of the season Sunday in Philadelphia.

        “I think if anyone deserves it, he has,” Mitchell said. “He's done it the right way. He earned it. I'm really happy for him. It's a good thing. I think he'll be a great head coach, permanently, not this interim stuff.”

        LeBeau has promoted and demoted players without destroying the confidence of those he sits down.

        This is what Jones has said about LeBeau: “We have a good relationship. He doesn't lack confidence in his decisions. Coach LeBeau still talks to me. He doesn't shy away. He makes sure my knee is OK. He's always, "Stay positive, keep working.'”

        One of the first changes LeBeau made was removing former second-round draft pick Artrell Hawkins at cornerback for free agent Rodney Heath. But later in the season, after he starred on the punt coverage team, Hawkins returned to the starting lineup at cornerback.

        The young players like LeBeau, too.

        Third-year linebacker Brian Simmons, 25, who suffered a knee injury in the season opener and has been on injured reserve, praised LeBeau's communication skills.

        “One, it's his ability to relate to the players because he was in the league for 14 years,” Simmons said. “Two, he's going to be completely honest with you, and I think those are the two things that make him the kind of coach he is. He's honest in evaluating you and letting you know what your chances are of playing.”

        LeBeau is the right kind of coach for the team, said punter Daniel Pope, also 25.

        “He stays low-key, even keel,” Pope said. “He's got a lot of respect from the guys around here. That's going to be the key to the program, having that kind of leader at the top.”

        Receiver Peter Warrick, 23, was the team's first-round draft pick this season.

        “I like coach LeBeau. I like him off the field and on the field, and I'm glad he's coming back,” Warrick said. “He's just a great person.”

Players get the man they wanted LeBeau staying as Bengals coach Assistants' fates in doubt DAUGHERTY: Good hire, Mike; now step aside SULLIVAN: LeBeau not obvious choice, just right one Dillon: LeBeau hiring a positive Sitting out hurts Scott

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