Closing out the book on 2016 with a brief look around the AFC North.
Despite the rumors, Cincinnati Bengals’ head coach Marvin Lewis will stay with the team for at least one more season. A report earlier this week said Lewis was going to retire at the end of the year but ESPN quickly refuted those rumors. Lewis then confirmed to Sirus Radio that he would return in 2017.
There was almost no chance Lewis was going to be fired, despite never winning a playoff game in his long tenure with the team and notably disastrous season this year. That’s just not how the Bengals are built under owner Mike Brown. Lewis could probably coach there until he’s 90 and still not be pushed out. He’ll go out on his own terms, perhaps after next season.
Silly rumors sprung up the Baltimore Ravens would fire John Harbaugh, but that almost certainly won’t happen. But the team does seem to anticipate firing their offensive coordinator – again – letting go of Marty Mornhinweg, per The Baltimore Sun. He replaced Marc Trestman during the middle of the year. The offense got a little bit better, especially their run game, but not noticeably better to justify keeping him around into next year.
For the season, Baltimore ranks 19th in points per game, 18th in yards, with one of the worst rushing offenses in the game.
Hue Jackson seems safe to stay as the Cleveland Browns’ head coach, finally notching his first win against the San Diego Chargers a week ago. It’s unclear if any other changes will be made on the staff but you can bet on there being a good bit of roster overhauling during the spring.
