Friday, January 12, 2001
Brown lets best and brightest go by
Tom Donahoe is taken; Norv Turner is gone. The Redskins hired Marty Schottenheimer; Kansas City got Dick Vermeil. Even the stodgy Detroit Lions, who move in Model A time, named Matt Millen president and CEO. That's either an inspired move or an exploding cigar. But at least the Lions did something. And they won nine games this season.
The Bengals, bless 'em, are still seeking someone to run their little offense. It's not exactly the Oval Office. But somebody's gotta do it.
“The impression is that not much is going on,” the ever-aware Mike Brown said Thursday from San Francisco, where he was looking at college players and divining greatness. “But quite a bit is going on.”
Yes, indeed. The Bengals want to talk to Pittsburgh receivers coach Bob Bratkowski. He may not be their top choice. He may not be top three. But Bratkowski is the latest hope.
Between 1995 and 1998, Bratkowski coordinated a Seattle offense that never finished better than 13th in the league. In three of those seasons, the pass offense ranked 22nd, 24th and 24th. Bratkowski “has a good background in pass offense,” Mike Brown said.
At Pittsburgh this season, Bratkowski lorded over a receiving crew that helped the Steelers finish 29th in passing, even though two of their wideouts — Plaxico Burress and Troy Edwards — were first-round draft picks.
This is a man the Bengals believe can improve their passing game.
Bold new move?
It's probably no worse than demoting Ken Anderson to QB coach, even though Anderson hasn't developed a QB in the eight years he has been here. Only in Cincinnati does the Peter Principle operate in reverse. “Kenny Anderson is an unusually experienced and knowledgeable guy about the passing game,” Mike Brown said.
Brown expressed hope that Akili Smith would return to Cincinnati this offseason to work with Anderson. “I was talking with the Indianapolis (Colts) people,” Brown said. “From March to May last year, (Peyton) Manning would come in half a day, twice a week. From May to training camp, it was five days, all day. Our plans will be to do something similar with Akili.”
That could be news to Smith, whose father said recently that Akili would be working out on the West Coast during the offseason. With someone not named Kenny or Anderson.
Lord help us. Somebody, please talk us off the ledge.
Different ideas
Other teams go out and get people. Established people, with winning backgrounds. The Redskins cleared the decks for Schottenheimer. The Chiefs saw an opening with Vermeil and pounced. The San Diego Chargers, nearly as godforsaken as the Bengals, snagged Turner to run their offense.
Turner was a mediocre head coach. As a coordinator, he developed Troy Aikman.
Probably, Turner would not have come here; the Steelers wanted him, too. Pittsburgh also considered Bratkowski to run its offense. But just once, couldn't the Bengals be creative or aggressive? Couldn't they dare make that bold, triumphant run for mediocrity?
Go wild, Mike Brown. Hire a proven winner.
Just because nobody with a decent alternative wants to work here doesn't mean you couldn't pretend he might. Aim high. You might hit something. If only by accident.
Paul Daugherty welcomes your comments at (513) 768-8454.
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DAUGHERTY: Brown let best and brightest go by