Bengals’ success offers lessons about patience

By Sean McClelland, Staff Writer Updated 2:29 AM Saturday, November 28, 2009

It seems Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner can learn something about patience from his Cincinnati Bengals counterpart, Mike Brown.

Brown, for whatever reason (loyalty, austerity, stubbornness, etc.) stuck with head coach Marvin Lewis through some tough times (one winning season since his 2003 hiring) and now the Bengals appear to have turned a competitive corner.

Lerner made the proper move in sacking Romeo Crennel after four seasons. There was no hint of a turnaround in the Cleveland air, that 10-6 record in 2007 largely an aberration.

But the more difficult decision arrives after this season when it comes time to determine whether current head coach Eric Mangini gets a second year. Keep in mind that many of the same criticisms of Mangini (bland, shows little emotion, generally disliked) were lobbed at Bill Belichick during his tenure as Browns coach in the early 1990s, and we all know what happened once Belichick figured it out.

Also keep in mind that it took Mike Holmgren — who everyone seems to be anointing a potential savior for the Browns — seven years to get his first postseason victory as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

Sometimes it just takes time, but the key is knowing when to invest the time and when to eat that contract.

Mike Brown has made few moves worth celebrating over the years and please don’t confuse this with my hopping wholeheartedly aboard the Bengals’ bandwagon. But Brown’s instincts with Lewis have proved correct, and it needs to be noted.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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