Bengals Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer Talking Contract Extension

Every year the Cincinnati Bengals hold a training camp media luncheon, which usually includes an opportunity for the media to speak with coaches and the team's front office.

Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, whose contract is expiring at the end of the season this year, was asked if he's talked to the team about a contract extension. Zimmer (as only Zimmer does) openly offered, "Yes", according to Geoff Hobson with Bengals.com. Followed up was a question asking if he "had an extension" (which we can only assume meaning that an extension was already done), the defensive coordinator said, "I'm not at liberty to say."

Zimmer was hired as the Bengals defensive coordinator on January 15, 2008, replacing the fired Chuck Bresnahan. Since then the Bengals have ranked inside the top-10 in total defense twice, and never worse than 15th. Saying that Zimmer, who wasn't able to win a head coaching job during the offseason, returning next year (and beyond) would be a celebration towards long-term cohesiveness is an understatement.