Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden at one point was a serious candidate to take over as the head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not long after Gruden decided to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals, the Jaguars presumably selected their "backup plan" in Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey. In the mean time the Bengals awarded Gruden with a three-year contract extension worth $3.6 million -- a deal similar to Mike Zimmer in 2010, when Cincinnati's defensive coordinator was drawing interest for open head coaching positions.
However according to Dan Pompei of the National Football Post, having a new contract and toys like Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham may not have been the biggest reason for Gruden's decision to stay in Cincinnati.
Jay Gruden had excellent reasons for returning to Cincy. The new contract helped, as did the prospect of coaching Andy Dalton and A.J. Green another year. So did the fact that he should be in even greater demand as a head coach one year from now. But the best reason? His son will be a senior in high school next year and Gruden did not want to move him for two straight years.
There's a certain level of excitement for Cincinnati's offense next year. After finishing with the league's 20th offense and 18th in scoring, Gruden will have an entire offseason to work with his players, unlike last year where the NFL lockout prevented communication between the coaches and players.
0 recs | 35 comments
Very interested to see the progression
in this offense. I think Gruden does some interesting things and it will be fun to see everyone evolve together. Then ultimately sad when Gruden does get a head coaching job and leaves
Manpaw - January 15, 2012
I'd like to see Gruden as our head coach in 2 years
Bengal4ever - January 15, 2012
I wouldnt go that far... yet
If he improves upon this seasons offense then I agree with you.
Yarin - January 15, 2012
I would
Marvin is just our guy,well because he is our guy
At this point having a Hot commodity to be our HC,
Marvin wasnt,and still isnt a Hot commodity in the coaching ranks
The best thing about Marvin is that he has stuck with us,and built this team to where
a Hot commodity would even consider coming here
keithp - January 15, 2012
too soon to know
dqniel - January 16, 2012
I am glad to think that our assistants are being considered for HC jobs.....
it means we’re winning and being successful. In the past we always wanted them replaced (Brat), this is unfortunately the price you pay for having good coaches. The positive thing is, other successful coaches would then want to come here and be a part of a winning team.
The Van Buren Boys - January 16, 2012
Gruden has to change up the offense like the packers style
Bengal4ever - January 15, 2012
Dalton is not Aaron Rodgers
He’s good, but he plays a different game.
emeybee - January 15, 2012
Anything but another pass happy offense
keithp - January 15, 2012
Agreed you have to have balance.
All teams that sustain any success in the NFL can do what is needed when its needed.
Manpaw - January 15, 2012
Well the only thing with that is when you have Benson as our rb thats really the only thing we can do. So here is to getting rid of Benson and to actually getting a competant running back.
djohnson3272 - January 16, 2012
No surprise
He did say he had chances to come to the NFL many times prior to choosing to come to Cincy but he didn’t want to move the family around alot. Hopefully he can make strides while he is here.
Yarin - January 15, 2012
He was a front runner for a HC his first season
That is strides,this guy will win a Super Bowl with or without us
keithp - January 15, 2012
He made strides , how so?
His offense put up 10 points in the Wild Card game. He didn’t make any changes all year long, he continued doing the same exact things week after week and against good teams with the same losing results. We beat one winning team all season long.
Yeah, I want to see some strides before I crown him anything.
Don’t tell me about having rookie this or that… The offense regressed as the season went along.
The fighting Tebows changed offense to fit what would work for them four games into the season. So it could have been done. I never seen a single change all season long with the Bengals. They continued handing Benson the ball almost every first down for next to no yards.
I am not condemning the guy, I just want to see more strides on the offense next season.
You can crown him anything you want, I will hold my judgement till it’s warranted.
Yarin - January 15, 2012
Denver is a bad comparision
They were better equiped to run. PLus they have 240 lb fullback for a Qb who is a run first option. Thats comparing apples to oranges.
Our offense was limited by what we had. That being rookies (mostly) in HUGE roles trying to learn the NFl game without any offseason. I would say a Pro Bowl Wr (rookie) and 2 rookie candidates for rookie of the year is making strides
Manpaw - January 15, 2012
Are you really a Bengals fan?
His offense hid the fact we have the worst offensive line in football
Your beat a winning team argument means nothing to nobody anywhere,9 wins is 9 wins
Hold your judgement,you will be on the bandwagon soon enough
keithp - January 15, 2012
I don't agree with you...
So now I am not a Bengals fan …lol
You’re right Gruden is a God , the greatest coach to ever coach in ther NFL.
I wont become a bandwagon fan of his. I will be a Bengals fan. Coaches and players come and go if he wins while he is here that is all I care about.
Yarin - January 15, 2012
Is there anything you like about the Bengals?
Ya,all you care about is wins and how long have you been a Bengals fan
keithp - January 15, 2012
37 years pal...........
I dont care if we win… Hell as long as we can grow coaches who are hot commodities for other teams that’s all that matters to me.
Why would I care about winning, hell that would be unacceptable.
Yarin - January 15, 2012
I like plenty about this team...
I love Dalton and Green. Our defensive line and Thomas Howard.
I don’t think Simpson and Caldwell are that good. I don’t buy into the Maualuga hype and our secondary is not that great.
I am and have been a Marvin Lewis supporter. I was a Palmer supporter until he quit on the team.
Sorry if my opinions don’t jive with yours. I expect better from the team I support.
They are my opinions and that won’t change — no matter how much you or anyone else doubts my fanhood.
Yarin - January 15, 2012
I got you all fired up!
You have to be a Bengals fan to be on here,this time of year
keithp - January 15, 2012
Wow, an argument bertwen two posters that I felt like I had a lot in common with regarding the team.
Frankly, I am with Yarin on this. Viewed thru the lens of a comparison with Brat, Gruden looks like a superstar in the making. But Yarin makes some good points. Gruden is in a position to make strides here and he had the liability of no having a full year complete with OTAs to do his job. He could very well be the guy we have been looking for, but he still needs to prove he is the guy. He looks promising but he has to demonstrate that he can fulfill his promise before we go annointing hin. In a year I, and I am sure Yarin, will very possibly be as satisfied with him as you are but only another year will tell. These are just football opinions kieth. Everyone has them and IMO all of them should be respected even if we don’t agree with them. We are all friends here. We can all disagree without being disagreeable.
JUNGLEJOHN - January 16, 2012
I would say our secondary has a big weakness at SS
but other than that we have a solid secondary.
AMAS85 - January 16, 2012
When Healthy Yes
but we still need better depth Jennings and Jones cant be starting #1 or #2 CB
Bengalsfan024 - January 16, 2012
Agree, but
I am for keeping Jones.
Ben-GAL - January 16, 2012
I agree, but we do need another CB who can ball.
JUNGLEJOHN - January 16, 2012
Draft defense...
They have the tools on Offense,,Just need to shore up that front 7 to stop those big runs that were killing them late in the year..
SICKANDTIRED - January 15, 2012
need better interior line
ranked 30th in runs up the middle at Pro Football Outsiders. That won’t cut it.
occams_tiger_teeth - January 15, 2012
Love this guy
He legitimately is not worried about anything more than his fam from the interviews that he did when he decided to join the bengals. He’s a class act and hopefully he can really get the offense going next year.
JerseyBengal - January 15, 2012
Where in jersery
njbengalstat - January 16, 2012
Zimmer interviewing with Bucs now per La Canfora
emeybee - January 15, 2012
I hope he tanks all his interviews lol
I would hate to lose either of our coordinators after such a promising season.
keithster - January 16, 2012
I wonder
Is Gruden our HC in waiting?
Marvin has coached for a long time here now. One of the most tenured coaches in the NFL. H has taken this team from a perenial loser to a perenial play-off contender. But, I think he may get tired of the coaching grind, and he would make a better GM. Gruden may have been told this when he extended.
jim0ijk - January 16, 2012
Excerpt from Brad's Blog
Local 12 WKRC
Oregonbengalsfan - January 16, 2012
Makes sense
Could this be Marvin’s move to GM?
keithp - January 16, 2012
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