The Bengals hired former New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard as the new wide receivers coach. Sheppard was also a coordinator in San Diego (1997-98) and Buffalo (2001).
San Diego was ranked 26th (1997) and 29th (1998) while Sheppard was the coordinator. However, those rankings are a bit deceiving. The Chargers had Stan Humphries, Jim Everett, Craig Whelihan, Todd Philcox and Ryan Leaf as quarterbacks. Natrone Means, Terrell Fletcher and Gary Brown were running backs. Leading receivers were Charlie Jones and Tony Martin. It's not like Sheppard had the talent to do much.
With Buffalo, the offense was 27th in scoring. Quarterbacks were Alex VanPelt and Rob Johnson.
There's a big Marvin Lewis/Mike Sheppard connection.
- Sheppard and Lewis were coaching colleagues in 1996 with the Baltimore Ravens. Sheppard was WRs coach and Lewis was defensive coordinator.
- The Lewis-Sheppard association dates back more than 20 years. In 1985, Sheppard was head coach at Long Beach State and hired Lewis as linebackers coach. Lewis moved with Sheppard to New Mexico in 1987, and Lewis stayed through 1989 before leaving for the University of Pittsburgh.
Press Release
Sheppard named WRs coach [Bengals.com]