Marvin Lewis Upset with Andre Smith and Alabama

selmaborntidefan

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Mar 31, 2000
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There are several ways I can go but here's how I look at it:

If Marvin Lewis doesn't like Andre Smith's output, he can cut him.


That's the difference in the pros and a player on college scholarship whom you might have to keep around even if you don't play.

There's another story from yesterday saying that Lewis isn't high on the signing of Totally Overrated as a 36-year old team-wrecking receiver.

Maybe ol' Marvin can do things his way at his next head coaching job. You know - the one he'll be eligible for when the Bengals go 5-11 this year.
 

selmaborntidefan

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Sounds like Mr. Lewis doesn't know what he is talking about. He is the HC of a NFL team, he should be able to determine who isn't "shooting him straight." The guy is a joke and hasn't done anything while HC at Cincy
Well now, that's not entirely fair.

The Cincinnati Bengals had an ineptitude unrivaled in recent NFL history in the 12 years prior to his hiring with draft busts like David Klingler, John Copeland, Ki-Jana Carter, etc and a losing record and coaching buffoons like Dave Shula and Bruce Coslet.

Since Lewis got there they are 56-55, hardly world title material but light years ahead of what they were before his arrival. He's had two losing seasons in eight years - which is remarkable in light of the Bengals record prior to Lewis - only THREE WINNING seasons in the previous 21.

Lewis may be setting himself up for a better job away from the Brown family.
 

MVKTR2

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Truth be told Andre was always a mixed bag at Alabama. Coach Saban was correct in saying Andre worked hard for him, he was also correct in always staying on Andre telling him, "you can be as good as you want to be". I always drew the conclusion that coach had to stay on Andre a bit, but that he did what coach asked. Coach Saban's history is to be straight forward with NFL folks, ie DJ Hall. Nothing earth shattering here.

Marvin Lewis though a good coach has run a fairly loose ship in Cincy, reference the many players running into trouble. I think it's quite possible Andre is living into the easygoing culture of the Cincy Bengals without taking care of his own house first. Lewis should be mad at Smith, not so much Coach Saban. Is coach perfect... NO, but he's in the clear on this one. It's on Andre to figure out 'how good he wants to be'. For now Marvin Lewis has that answer and it isn't a good one.

Schlante,
Phillip
 

BamaFanNKy

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It is shocking really. The Bengals never pick up guys with questionable character.
:biggrin: :eek2: :biggrin:

Seriously, Marvin Lewis is trying to save his job. Nothing to see here.

That said, Andre's injury is very frustrating and when he did play last year he was doing really well and then he got injured again. In a sad way.... I'm glad he left and we got Carpenter.
 

4Q Basket Case

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Nov 8, 2004
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I learn something just about every time I log on to TideFans.

Just figuring the NCAA wasn't involved any more, I had thought the NFL could practice essentially whenever and however long they wanted to. Plus, with the money they're shelling out, I would have thought they controlled a lot of the players' time. Turns out, I was wrong on both counts.

That also explains some of why some players flourish in the NFL and some fall off a truck. With limited practice rules, and without class or other structure around the players, it would appear that the NFL has less control over the players than colleges do.

So if a player needs a boot in the seat of his pants to work out, rehab, study the playbook, whatever, it's a lot easier to deliver that in college than in the pros. It would appear that Andre Smith is one of those players.

Now, as far as Marvin Lewis saying the Nick Saban shot him a line on Smith, I have a hard time believing that. Saban isn't exactly known for sugar-coating anything. And when Smitty left Alabama in the lurch in New Orleans, I can't imagine he and Saban were on the best of terms.

And even if he did (which I don't think is the case), how many red flags do you have to have waving in your face before you cease to believe it? As Saban says, what you do screams so loudly I can't hear what you say.
 

MVKTR2

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This is what I posted last year under a thread titled Andre Smith Bomb Pro Day. Pretty good analogy in retrospect :) and I still think he'll make a better pro guard than tackle.

Btw foot injuries can be tenuous at best sometimes. That's a lot of weight and pressure. Hopefully he'll round into form this year, stay healthy, and all will turn out well for Mr. Smith. This is a very important juncture in his career.

"My thoughts are:
1) I've thought he could be a Hall of Fame type guard due to his size and natural strength, but he'll probably make a couple pro-bowls if he plays tackle. Not much in terms of workouts etc. has changed my mind in this regard.
2) Andre is a bit of a risk in that he is a guy I could see becoming a bust due to his weight and desire issues. As Cecil put it in his article a while back Mr. Smith hasn't had to work real hard very often, it's just come to him naturally. His career will be determined by his reaction to this current adversity and how he handles himself in the future.
3) Looking at the pic on the front of Tidesports it's pretty evident that he's been out of shape for quite a while due to the fat he's carrying in his face and man-teets. I mean you can see real muscle definition in his sholders and chest, but he's retaining some real fat in other areas which speaks to his long-term weight management. He's obviously shed all the water he can to get down to 325.
4) Fact is he's probably lost a few million dollars, but I'll bet he probably still goes in the top 10 and would be stunned if he falls out of top 15. His film dictates a high selection. Savy scouts always trust the film more than the #'s.

Just my $.02,
Phillip

Food for thought... alot of scouts thought Porkchop Womack form MSU and Nate Newton were both too fat and slow. One's been to the pro-bowl the other is getting a bust in Canton. Btw Big Dre reminds me more of Nate Newton than any other player I've watched, that's why I believe he could be a HOF guard!"
 

bamagradinATL

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Don't blame Alabama because you made a questionable selection. Personally if I were the team GM, I wouldn't have taken Andre with the #6 pick that year.
 

BamaFanNKy

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The only thing I worry about is Cody. He seems like he has a personal battle with weight but, at the same time has proven he can beat it. Andre, well that just seems like his head is somewhere else. I hope he gets his act together in time.
 

teamplayer

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Look, objectively speaking...for as much as I love the great job Andre did at Alabama, he's handled his transition to the pros about as poorly as JaMarcus Russell to this point. This is a profession not daycare. Your biggest motivation in anybody's job should be your desire to keep your job. If that isn't enough then you've got other problems that you need to figure out like a change of scenery or career interest. You shouldn't need your superior motivating you on basic things like effort. Andre's professional asset is his body and it is his responsibility to take the rehab as seriously as possible to get that multi-million body in performing shape.

The NFL has pretty limited practice rules too just like NCAA players, so the bulk of S&C work has to be taken on by the individual players. Obviously the Bengals expected a high effort in rehab so he could be ready by camp and he isn't. It may not be Andre's fault...the injury may just be hard for him to shake...but given his history, I'm thinking it's an effort problem just like Marvin Lewis.

Also, Marvin Lewis has won more in Cincy than most coaches the last couple of decades. He may not be a hall of famer but he's considered to be at least a solid NFL coach. His comments about information from Alabama being misleading is poor form and a good way to make an already tenuous relationship with the NFL in Tuscaloosa worse for Cincy specifically in the future, but Andre Smith is the person to blame here ultimately. He's the one not living up to his ability and making Saban's word look bad.
You are exactly right. M. Lewis is now Andre's coach and needs to handle his own house and not blame Alabama even if he feels misled somehow. Andre needs to get his act together if he wants to continue to get paid large amounts of money to play a game. Either way, Lewis needs to talk to Andre behind closed doors about what he expects and not hang the laundry out for everyone to see.
 

twofbyc

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Oct 14, 2009
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Isn't it the bosses job to make sure the effort is there?

That's like hiring somebody with a letter of recommendation then two years later complaining because he can't get him to do what you could. Passing the buck maybe Mr. Lewis?

I agree 1000% percent; Lewis is whining because his bungles are perpetual losers, and he wants to get out front of the heat he knows is coming.
Smith screwed up, and I'm not sure he ever will recover (although I hope and pray he does); he is a fine human being, by all accounts I have read (and heard), but he needs to "grow up", and I'm not sure if he has the proper role models around him to help him do that (as evidenced by the agent fiasco). Lewis ain't goinna be the one to help him.
 

teamplayer

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Don't blame Alabama because you made a questionable selection. Personally if I were the team GM, I wouldn't have taken Andre with the #6 pick that year.
The draft and recruiting are often based on an athlete's potential as much or more than anything else. How often have we seen top draft picks or five-star recruits not amount to anything on the field? The answer is quite often. That is why I always say that I would rather have a three-star kid with a great work ethic than a five-star kid who thinks everything should be given to him. Of course, if you can get the five-star kid with a great work ethic, you will find a true difference maker. Andre has the potential to be a Pro-Bowl player for many years, but it doesn't look like he is going to work hard enough to do it. Coaches often fall in love with potential only to have their hearts broken.
 

KrAzY3

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Did Marvin miss that Andre was suspended for his final Alabama game? That wasn't the only red flag either.

Andre had a great career at Alabama and obviously did a great job as a player, however there were red flags any of us could see, you'd think professionals would take that into account.
 

CrimsonPride

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Instead of saying that CNS misled them, Marvin and the Bengals should have done their due diligence on Andre themselves. I think it was on the Under the Lights program that CNS also told Andre that he only worked out or practiced because he was told he had to do it, not because he wanted to better himself. Hello!! This just screams a lack of self motivation.

I never believed that Andre was mature enough for the pros. You could tell that he was just a big kid at he art. Either led by family members or friends he was placed in a situation where he had to go pro because CNS was not going to allow one player to negatively taint this team.

I hope Andre gets it together. Maybe he should hire someone to watchdog him and make sure he does what he needs to do to be in top condition until he learns the self discipline to do it on his on. For a reasonable fee, I would be his task master.
Posted via Mobile Device
 

jeremy

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Nov 22, 2004
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Andre Smith has kind of always been a 'butterball'. This is the first time the bengals have realized hes not in the best physical shape? Gimme a break. Also, Andre is a man now. The NFL shouldnt have to motivate its players like coaches do in the college game. Isnt that what the million dollar pay checks are for?

This is like hiring a person away from another company and then blaming the former company for the move not working out. lol
 

CHATTBRIT

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Dec 3, 2003
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One thing that hasn't been addressed is the type of injury AS has. A foot injury is hard to heal, especially with the amount of weight AS carries. Aggravating the injury hasn't helped. Also, the speed of healing is part individual and part the individual's willingness to work hard.

Marvin, don't blame Bama. You were there at the Alabama workout when about 2 dozen of his family/friends accompanied Andre. It was obvious to me that an immature Andre would have family members and friends tugging at him wanting a piece of the pie.
 

bnhonest

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May 28, 2003
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I just think back to the night he won the outland trophy...the comments his dad had about why he wanted to play left tackle. Something about being the highest paid position on the field, if I remember correctly. I guess everyone has their motivations and their own individual goals. But if lots of money and a big contract are your goal..once you achieve it, where does the motivation go from there?
 

TidePhin

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Well now, that's not entirely fair.

The Cincinnati Bengals had an ineptitude unrivaled in recent NFL history in the 12 years prior to his hiring with draft busts like David Klingler, John Copeland, Ki-Jana Carter, etc and a losing record and coaching buffoons like Dave Shula and Bruce Coslet.

Since Lewis got there they are 56-55, hardly world title material but light years ahead of what they were before his arrival. He's had two losing seasons in eight years - which is remarkable in light of the Bengals record prior to Lewis - only THREE WINNING seasons in the previous 21.

Lewis may be setting himself up for a better job away from the Brown family.
He's wasted a lot of talented. Overrated coach by far
 

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