Bengals fans here and, so it appears, around the world are happy with the hiring of Marvin Lewis as Bengals coach.

Question, from Peter in Germany: I am a 10-year Bengals fan. For the first time in all that time, I feel excited. What a change. Everything is upside down.

I love this man Lewis. His attitude seems to be changing things. Do you agree with my enthusiasm?

Answer: The ultimate measure of a coach, as Lewis himself says, is winning. But he appears to be putting down the necessary foundation to change the organization's self-image. He has infused it with energetic, positive-thinking coaches. The effect on players will only be good.

Credit management - Mike Brown and Katie and Troy Blackburn - for hiring the right coach and allowing him (so far) to run the program. They said goodbye to some former staff people - mainly quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson, defensive line coach Tim Krumrie and strength coach Kim Wood - who appeared to have jobs for life.

The big test will come when Lewis wants to push the salary-cap limits or release a player who received a hefty signing bonus. If Lewis wins a couple of those battles, he will have won the war.

Lewis is the right hire at the right time. What seemed unimaginable one month ago is reality.

Q, from Cody in Glen Dale, W. Va.: Do you think any quality free agents will sign with the Bengals now that Lewis is coach?

A: Fullback Lorenzo Neal, the team's only Pro Bowl player, reportedly is enthused by Lewis' hiring and could re-sign. But the Bengals' key offseason move will be the handling of free agent linebacker Takeo Spikes.

Spikes has been unhappy and said he doesn't want the Bengals to retain him by using a franchise-player tag in free agency. Lewis said Spikes will be tagged, though.

Lewis and linebackers coach Ricky Hunley both have spoken to Spikes and told him the new Bengals aren't the old Bengals. How much of that Spikes believes isn't known.

If Lewis can turn around Spikes' attitude and re-ignite his passion for playing in Cincinnati, that move would help rebuild the team and its league-wide image.

The other factor for the Bengals is to see which new sources of talent Lewis and his staff tap for players. They appear committed to finding not just the big names, but players who fit into their team-first system.

Q, from Austin in New Orleans: What do you think the Bengals should do with the first overall pick in the draft?

A: That pick is more valuable than expected because of the increased demand for Carson Palmer.

The Southern California quarterback is clearly the top pick in the draft. The Chicago Bears, who pick fourth and have been talking about trading with the Pittsburgh Steelers for Kordell Stewart, are desperate for a QB.

The Bengals, I think, should trade down and get top-10 picks in the first and second rounds in exchange. That trade could give them three of the first 40 picks, and at least two of those should be spent on defensive players.

The Bengals could use a run-stuffing defensive lineman, especially a tackle, and a top cornerback. But Lewis appears to be leaning toward taking the best player available - regardless of position.

By keeping offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, Lewis might be leaning toward using Jon Kitna as his quarterback for another year or two. The offense was productive for 12 games with Kitna as starter. The defense and special teams need the major repair work.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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