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Confusion whether the Bengals can block Paul Guenther from following Mike Zimmer or Jay Gruden

Per league rules, assistant coaches under contract aren't allowed to leave for non-head coaching position unless the original team allows it. That should have been true with Paul Guenther, who is in-line to replace Mike Zimmer as the team's defensive coordinator. But maybe not.

By Josh Kirkendall

There has been some confusion regarding Paul Guenther and whether or not he can follow Mike Zimmer or Jay Gruden, who are the newest head coaches for the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins respectively.

Per league rules, coaches that are under contract are not allowed to sign with another team, unless the original team allows it. We continue to cite the team's history regarding Kevin Coyle, Cincinnati's defensive backs coach at the time, who was blocked from interviewing for the vacant Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator position in '11. A year later, they allowed the interview for defensive coordinator in Miami and he left.

However, per ESPN Coley Harvey and ESPN Insider Adam Caplan, there is language in Guenther's contract that would prevent the Bengals from blocking Guenther's opportunities with another team.

We find it difficult to believe that Guenther would leave a sweet opportunity with a top-five defense in Cincinnati -- a perfect chance to build an impressive resume.

If he does leave Cincinnati, figure that the Bengals will start searching outside of the organization.

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