By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Today's game could be the last for Dick LeBeau as Bengals coach.

His team is 2-13 heading into its season finale against the Bills and is trying to avoid becoming the first in franchise history to lose 14 games.

LeBeau's regularly scheduled Monday news conference is not listed on the Bengals' media schedule. Bengals president Mike Brown is expected to make some announcement regarding his coaches or front office.

"I honestly do not know what will happen," LeBeau told the Enquirer last week. "I have no indications."

LeBeau signed what was described as a multiyear contract Dec. 20, 2000. It is believed to have been a two-year deal, with the club holding an option for a third.

Asked if those were the terms of his contract, LeBeau said, "I have always coached and played like I was under a one-year contract."

Just 14 months ago, LeBeau appeared to have job security. His team was 4-3 at the November bye in 2001 and in playoff contention that late for the first time since 1990.

But LeBeau is 4-20 since, and his career record has sunk to 12-32 (.273) - barely above former coach Dave Shula's .268 winning percentage.

Brown imposed an information blackout following the Bengals' Dec. 8 loss at Carolina. Brown and other members of his family ownership group have been meeting for the past month to plan the organization's future.

This season is the 12th in a row for the Bengals without a playoff appearance. The next-longest postseason drought will be seven years if San Diego misses the playoffs.

The Bengals are 55-136 since Brown assumed control of the franchise from his late father in August 1991.

As early as October, the future of the Bengals' front office has been a popular national story. First it was Brown talking to Bears coach Dick Jauron about coaching the Bengals and being general manager. Then it was Brown reportedly asking advice from league and NFL Players Association officials on what to do next with the front office. Two weeks ago it was Brown promoting his daughter, Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn, to general manager.

Brown termed all three reports "inaccurate."

LeBeau's contract is not the only one on the coaching staff that is believed to be up. Only four of the Bengals' 11 position coaches and coordinators are known to have contracts extending beyond the end of this season: running backs coach Jim Anderson, quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson, defensive coordinator Mark Duffner and safeties coach Darren Perry.

Jim Anderson was believed to receive a multi-year extension from the Bengals in January, coinciding with his being interviewed to be head coach at Stanford.

Duffner, once a strong candidate to replace LeBeau, got a multi-year extension when he was promoted to defensive coordinator at the end of the 2000 season.

Duffner and Jim Anderson have previously been courted for assistant coaching jobs in Green Bay and Chicago.

Perry was hired in January and received a two-year contract.

The contracts of the other seven primary assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski and special teams coach Al Roberts, are believed to be expiring at the end of this season.

There are signs that Brown at least is thinking about removing most or all of the coaches. Traditionally, he offers new contracts to his assistant coaches in the final two weeks of the season. Those offers have not been made this year.

Brown also could be forced by the NFL to change his ways.

The NFL Committee on Workplace Diversity, formed Oct. 31 by commissioner Paul Tagliabue, is beginning a comprehensive program to promote diversity in teams' coaching and front-office ranks.

Its recommendations, publicized Dec. 19 and 20, include early interview opportunities for playoff coaches and a commitment to interviewing minority head coaching candidates.

Brown, who last month told the Enquirer that the Bengals have never interviewed a minority candidate for head coach or the two coordinator jobs, is believed to be gathering information on St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith.

Smith is African-American and a former assistant coach at Tulsa and Ohio State, where he worked for John Cooper.

Cooper is now a Bengals consultant and trusted Brown confidant who, say club insiders, has suggested that Brown take a look at Smith.

Brown's contacts throughout the league are said to be limited. For his last two head coaching hires, he brought back the coordinators from the club's late 1980s glory days - former offensive coordinator Bruce Coslet and LeBeau, defensive coordinator from 1984-91.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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