The Sporting News produces an excellent on-line newsletter that gets delivered to your inbox every morning. That being said, yesterday morning's edition made me want to throw up.
In this piece by Clifton Brown, Bengals Offensive Coordinator Bob Bratkowski is NOT listed as one of the six coordinators on the hot seat for 2009. Now maybe Brown is smart enough to know that here in Cincinnati, we don't hold our coaches accountable for small things like play on the field and offensive performance (dead last in 2008). But I still think this is absolutely a make or break year for Sideshow Bob.
With Carson Palmer at full strength, the addition of Laveranues Coles, and the celebrated drafting of Andre Smith and Jonathan Luigs, Bratkowski is out of excuses in 2009.
Even going back to 2007, the offense started to look stale and predictable...especially towards the end of the season. Once again, Bratkowski avoided the firing line and he has another chance to work with a great quarterback. He's shown his uncanny knack for negative creativity when he has to work with a backup like Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Bratkowski is commonly known as the biggest 'yes' man in the organization and the only person on the staff that agreed (or failed to strongly disagree) with bringing back Chris Henry. He has long been a favorite of Mike Brown...despite Marvin Lewis's opinions on who should be offensive coordinator.
Feel free to respond in the comments, but if the offense has another dismal year (this time with the full arsenal at his disposal), Bratkowski has to go.