APThe Bengals moved quickly this offseason to replace a raid on their coaching staff, and have finished replacing the replacements.
The Bengals promoted in-house assistants Hue Jackson and Paul Guenther to replaced departed coordinators Jay Gruden and Mike Zimmer earlier this offseason.
So after promoting assistant offensive line/quality control coach Kyle Caskey to Jackson’s spot as running backs coach, they replaced Caskey with Brian Braswell Thursday, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“Brian is an energetic guy who finds ways to contribute, and we’re happy to add him on for 2014,” head coach Marvin Lewis said. “We were very impressed with the work he put in for us in the offseason and training camp last year.”
While such lower-level coaching moves don’t always make headlines, Braswell’s hiring is notable on two fronts.
One, it wraps up the staff movement before the Senior Bowl is played, which every team can’t say. Two, it promotes a young assistant from the NFL Bill Walsh Minority Internship coaching program, with Lewis paying forward the help he’s received over the years.
Braswell interned with the Bengals last summer, his first introduction to the team. He’s been at Morehouse College since 2005, the last six years as offensive line coach/run game coordinator. He also interned with the Steelers in 2010.
Of course it was in house. Who would want to live in Cincy??
On one hand it’s despicable that in 2014 there have to be rules for minorities to have the chance to be hired. On the other hand there seen to be quotas. I wish this guy the best.
Have the Bengals signed Marvin to a life-long contract yet?
Gruden is going to find out very quickly that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
This is a great deal. I know a good part of the majority hear the word minority and groan at yet another minority this that or the other. This country preaches justice for all, but you would have to be a moron to believe that it is actually true. When that statement is not one of fact then something has to be put in motion to improve that, to encourage it to grow. I have never heard of the Bill Walsh Minority Internship Coaching Program, but it is great that the promotion came from there. Good job of the NFL for instituting such a program, the Steelers and Bengals for taking advantage of it, and to Marvin Lewis to giving back and paying it forward.
So “the right way” is narrowing your search to people already inside the organization. Fresh perspective can take a hike.
OR…
“the right way” is to bring guys in as assistants, get to know them, watch them work, and promote the qualified guys when the time comes.
realitycheck21 says:
Jan 24, 2014 8:04 AM
Gruden is going to find out very quickly that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
Especially the side known as the Redskins with a meddling owner, dysfunctional organization and an ego driven QB..
I’d be giving these guys some pretty intensive mental tests. I can’t imagine anyone with a full deck wanting to coach the Bengals. Unless they require January and February off every year.
I guess the Steelers’ coaches have been taking the last couple years off eh?
Does Marvin coach the Bengals for free? Seems like his job is never in jeopardy.
He may not be a good coach, but for Bengal fans he’s given us a reason to get up on Sundays to watch our team be competitive. It’s just too bad our season always ends the first week of the New Year.
You had your chance. It’s clear the Steelers will win the AFCN next year.