Andre Smith and Marvin Lewis: Linked Together As One

One player hold’s in his hands the fate of a coaching staff and an organization for the next 10 years. The previous sentence may be dripping with melodrama, but the fact is offensive tackle Andre Smith now holds the future of Marvin Lewis in his gigantic hands. Smith was the sixth overall pick this past April by the Bengals. Despite an unexplainable turn of events leading up to the draft, Cincinnati called Smith’s name on draft day. Desperate to rebuild a line that allowed 51 sacks, the Bengals put aside the character issues swirling around Smith, choosing his potential instead. Nobody disagreed that Smith was the most talented offensive lineman in the draft, but after going MIA at the NFL combine and embarrassing himself at a personal workout, his stock dropped. That apparently did not phase Marvin Lewis, who jumped at taking Smith. Now Lewis’s future as the Bengals coach rest squarely with Smith. Which Smith walks into the Cincinnati training camp is the big question. If ... (link)