With the season over, we can focus on the future of the team starting with head coach Marvin Lewis. On Sunday morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Marvin Lewis' refusal to signing a long-term extension before the season steams specifically on the demand that the team upgrade their training facilities, as well as the team's scouting department. And Lewis' demands, as Schefter writes, hasn't changed.
If the Bengals capitulate to Lewis' demands, then the team's second winningest head coach (60 wins) will return in 2011 -- Note: If the Bengals would have beaten the Ravens, Lewis would have tied Sam Wyche for most regular season wins in franchise history. If not, Lewis isn't likely to sign. Lewis and Mike Brown will meet on Monday and Lewis' future in Cincinnati should be known by Tuesday.
If Lewis doesn't return, one place that's showing interest in Lewis is the University of Pittsburgh. According to NFL Network's Michael Lombardi, Lewis is on the short list of coaching candidates after Pitt recently fired Mike Haywood (of Miami University) when he was arrested and charged with felony domestic battery in the presence of a minor. Haywood was hired less than three weeks ago.
Between 1990-91, Lewis was the linebackers coach at Pitt before joining the Steelers from 1992-1995 as their linebackers coach.
In other coaching news, Leslie Frazier became Lewis' first assistant coach (current, former) to become a full time head coach, accepting the job in Minnesota on Sunday.