Bengals Banter: Marvin Lewis And The Comic Book Villain Named Johnathan Joseph

Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis recently read the comments from Johnathan Joseph, comparing the Houston Texans franchise with the Cincinnati Bengals. The focus of Joseph's perspective, at least the point of comparison, was how much gatorade he was allowed to take home.

In Cincy, we're told how much Gatorade we could take home. In Houston we get what we request. You get soap and deodorant at your request. You don't have a roommate on road trips.

Lewis, during a chat with the Cincinnati Enquirer, rebuffed Joseph's comments, saying:

"I was told this morning about Johnathan's comments that were printed," Lewis said Wednesday in an online chat with the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It's my fault that I feel that a player doesn't need to take a dozen Gatorades home in his backpack each night and that we are paying him a salary. I'm sure that Johnathan would not have been one of the abusive players, but it is my policy."

Here's the thing. We don't think Joseph's comments were meant with any malice or insult. He has to know that the number of free gatorades a player receives is beyond ridiculous when millions upon millions of NFL fans have to budget what soft drinks they can buy. Additionally we don't think that Lewis is really addressing Joseph so much as he's referencing Joseph's point, becoming noticeably defensive on his own policy.

Lewis though. Only a flat-top and bell-bottom jeans away from exposing traits of being an old-school coach that simply speaks his mind with an adjustable filter. Conclusively though we bet that Joseph is already regretting the comparison, the comment that shined a rather dull light into the Bengals franchise. He has friends here and he did spend five good seasons in Cincinnati. Plenty of relationships remain.

It's a wash, a comment that will fade. Joseph responded out of character and Lewis said, if you want gatorade, buy it. You make how much? I mean, seriously. Moving on.

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