Bengals Offensive Coordinator Jay Gruden Declined Interview Request In Indianapolis

by Josh Kirkendall on Jan 23, 2012 9:34 AM EST in Coaching News

Earlier this month offensive coordinator Jay Gruden decided that he was not going to interview for vacant head coaching positions, electing to stay with the Cincinnati Bengals -- in large part because he even admitted he didn't think he was ready for the task. Gruden remained steadfast in that decision over the weekend, declining an interview for the open Indianapolis Colts position, according to a report by CBS Sports' Charley Casserly.

Gruden signed a three-year extension days after reports surfaced that he decided to stay in Cincinnati, earning a significant raise at a reported $3.6 million a year.

After the team fired long-time offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, Marvin Lewis hired Gruden, who would go on to implement a west coast-like offense. Though the Bengals only ranked 20th in the NFL, averaging 319.9 yards/game and with the league's 18th scoring offense, Cincinnati is sending three offensive players to the Pro Bowl in quarterback Andy Dalton, wide receiver A.J. Green and tight end Jermaine Gresham.

Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has also been attached to the vacant head coaching position in Indianapolis, though it would seem to us that the Colts may want an offensive-minded guy with the team likely selecting Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck first overall in this year's NFL draft.

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Jay Gruden is quickly becoming one of my favorite coaches!

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Jan 23, 2012 10:34 AM EST reply actions

makes me feel better about Dalton

Gruden staying makes me think Dalton can really be great. I don’t think he would stay if he thought there was a good chance of Dalton regressing

by JCompton41 on Jan 23, 2012 10:49 AM EST via mobile reply actions

not to mention better HC vacancies next year

but yea I think he wants to see how far he can take this young offense.

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Jan 23, 2012 10:56 AM EST up reply actions

i dont think gruden gets a better vacancy then the colts

Ex qb working with luck would be great.

by JCompton41 on Jan 23, 2012 11:00 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I agree

It would be similar to Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers.

by sgiridharan1982 on Jan 23, 2012 11:33 AM EST up reply actions

Luck has a higher ceiling than Dalton

by sgiridharan1982 on Jan 23, 2012 11:34 AM EST up reply actions

You wouldn't consider Dallas or San Dieago a better position than Indy?

AMAS

by AMAS85 on Jan 23, 2012 11:48 AM EST up reply actions

not really

Dallas your dealing with what jerry Jones wants, and san Diego is ok I guess. But the fact that you get Andrew luck makes indy a good spot.

by JCompton41 on Jan 23, 2012 6:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

That's nice of him

but just remember these are interview offers…not job offers. The cynic in me says that part of the reason he turned these interviews down is because he didn’t think he had a realistic chance of getting them (maybe that’s tied to the the fact that he believes he isn’t ready yet). So why attend an interview that you don’t believe you’ll pass and piss off your current employer?

by OhWell on Jan 23, 2012 12:39 PM EST reply actions