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It's a distraction, that much is true.
The Cincinnati Bengals haven't won a playoff game since Jan. 6, 1991 and everyone is tired of hearing about that. Fans hate it because it's a reminder of futility. Coaches hate it because, well, for the same reason -- though they shoulder most of that responsibility.
Players should feel the responsibility but head coach Marvin Lewis doesn't like for them to answer those kind of questions. Therefore Lewis directed his players not to answer any questions about previous losses.
Marvin Lewis on hearing about past playoff losses: "I told them not to answer your questions and say 'that's not me.' I'm not them."
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 31, 2014
Marvin Lewis sends his message to his players this week in his presser: "Ignore the noise."
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 31, 2014
Marvin Lewis a little testy shutting down the "playoff loss" question. He eases back, though, and says he feels talking about it "does zero"
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) December 31, 2014
Best moment of day was when Marvin called the media playoff questions "dumb" and then backtracked so he wouldn't be ripped for it.
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) December 31, 2014
Marvin Lewis was jovial, laughing, loose last year for pre-playoff presser. Much, much more serious, tough guy routine today. #FWIW
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 31, 2014
Naturally Lewis would feel defensive about the whole "can't-win-in-the-playoffs" thing. It's his administration that's felt the weight of five-straight postseason losses, starting in '05, in '09 and between '11-'13. In truth, dating back to Jan. 13, 1991, the Bengals are actually hoping to avoid a seven-game postseason losing streak.
We'll take Lewis' advice and ignore "the noise" like it's never happened -- kind of like every life and death consequence from a Disney movie. After all, it's his ass that should be on the line... but we know it won't be.