Bengals team president Mike Brown's statement in a news release Monday:
"The 2002 season was an acutely disappointing one for everyone in the Bengals organization, and for our fans. I credit coach LeBeau and his staff for their hard work and perseverance. They held the team together, in the face of great difficulty. We remained competitive in games long after our elimination from playoff contention, and our statistics on a yardage basis, normally indicative of a team's performance, were noticeably better than the win-loss record.
"But the fact is, we produced only two victories, and a new direction is needed for 2003. We will hire a talented head coach who will bring our squad renewed confidence and enthusiasm.
"As an organization, we look forward to the challenge of rewarding our fans with a winning team."
