Don Pierson

As another season of promise starts for the Cincinnati Bengals, coach Marvin Lewis already is concentrating on the finish. If Lewis can't figure out how to end a season as well as he usually begins, he could be finished himself.

Is Lewis’ job really on the line? Not now, but by December it could be. It should be, although Lewis already has been given unusual leeway by owner Mike Brown. Few coaches enjoy such staunch support from their bosses after consistently fielding mediocre teams. Luckily for Lewis, the Bengals were so bad before he arrived that 8-8 looks a whole lot more like winning than losing.

But after three 8-8 seasons in four years and only one playoff appearance that resulted in a wild-card loss to the archrival Steelers, Bengals fans — if not Brown — should be getting antsy.

The Bengals' disturbing and more famous record — 10 players arrested over a 14-month period — is not Lewis's most pressing problem, not as long as Brown enables such behavior by refusing to put his foot down. The problem for Lewis is winning. If he can concoct a way for his renegade roster to win more games than it loses, suddenly the behavior issues would pale. It's the way of the NFL world. But as long as the Bengal Bad Boys come up with so-so performances, especially in the clutch, Lewis' job will be — or should be — in jeopardy.

Until the Bengals win, they are no more than a walking endorsement for stricter discipline. They are living proof that character indeed counts. All NFL teams strive to find players who know the difference between anti-social activity on and off the field. You prefer the former and fear the latter. The Bengals no doubt prefer the former, but don't seem to shy away from the latter.

The Bengals will begin this season with two players on suspension: linebacker Odell Thurman for his second entire season and receiver Chris Henry for the first half of the season. The team drafted both players despite the presence of red flags on each for past behavior issues. Yet soon after learning Thurman would be suspended last season, the Bengals made Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks a supplemental draft pick despite a history of failed drug tests. Now they are counting on Brooks to revitalize Lewis' defense. All accounts are that Brooks was been a model citizen during his rookie year and has wowed coaches and teammates alike this offseason with his potential as a 260-pound presence in the middle.

Yet again, it's how Brooks and the Bengals finish that will count.

Lewis understands this and made it clear to star receiver Chad Johnson at the start of training camp. According to Johnson, Lewis told him his performance stunk in the last three games of the year, and that's why Johnson has not earned a bigger contract.

Maybe Brown has relayed the same message to Lewis. Or should. In the past two seasons, the only team the Bengals have beaten in their last three regular-season games is the lowly Detroit Lions.

Counting their playoff loss to the Steelers in 2005, after winning the AFC North title, the Bengals have lost to Buffalo, Kansas City and Pittsburgh two years ago, then Indianapolis, Denver and Pittsburgh again to end last season.

In those six losses, the Bengals' offense averaged 17 points while the defense gave up an average of 31, not an endorsement of either the highly regarded offense or Lewis' underwhelming defense.

It is the defense that is more troublesome, especially since Lewis arrived from Baltimore via Pittsburgh with a reputation as a defensive specialist. During his tenure, the Bengals have finished 28th, 19th, 28th and 30th on defense, hardly the progress he can proudly display. Bengals fans will note that other defensive coaches such as Chicago's Lovie Smith, Kansas City's Herm Edwards and Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio have produced more effective defenses since taking over teams at the same time or later than Lewis arrived in Cincinnati.

Last season, the Bengals failed to hold leads and were outscored 199-176 in second halves. They were symmetrically ordinary, 4-4 at home, 4-4 on the road, and 6-6 in the AFC. They were 4-2 in the tough AFC North division, yet finished five games behind Baltimore.

To improve that defense, they are counting on Brooks, top rookie cornerback Leon Hall, who already has looked good in training camp, and a trio of journeymen pickups: linemen Michael Myers and Kenderick Allen and linebacker Ed Hartwell, if Hartwell can recover from injury that limited him to half a season with Atlanta.

Lewis will line up without linebacker Brian Simmons, defensive tackle Sam Adams, cornerback Tory James and safety Kevin Kaesviharn, all part-time or full-time starters a year ago.

In quarterback Carson Palmer, receivers Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, running back Rudi Johnson and a solid offensive line, the Bengals have an offense that is Super Bowl-ready. It scored 41 points last November against the San Diego Chargers, only to lose 49-41.

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In the AFC North, the Ravens and Steelers field top-10 defenses virtually every season. So until Lewis manufactures a defense capable of competing with his top rivals and former employers, the Bengals will continue to be mediocre.

It's a great irony that in order to do this, Lewis must count heavily on a player, Brooks, who must overcome a checkered past.

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Somehow, trouble seems to migrate to Cincinnati even when players have no previous issues. Cornerback Deltha O'Neal, for example, was a Pro Bowl player two years ago who had 10 interceptions. A solid citizen with a degree in social welfare from California, O'Neal slumped last season to one interception and was arrested for DUI in December, of course, just when the Bengals traditionally go south for the winter.

Obviously, Lewis believes he is capable of reforming players with questionable backgrounds. So far, he's overestimated his prowess as a social worker. Winning would improve that reputation, not to mention his reputation as a coach.

On the schedule, it says the Bengals start their season on a Monday night at home against Baltimore. But true Cincinnati fans know the real season starts Dec. 15 at San Francisco, followed by a home game Dec. 23 vs. Cleveland and a trip to Miami Dec. 30. In those final three games, the Bengals will know whether they have managed to escape legal problems, whether they are better than 8-8, and whether Lewis will continue his solid relationship with owner Mike Brown.

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