Or maybe the new coach would have spiraled this organization back into the laughing stock of the league. Given Mike Brown's history of hiring failures I would have to assume the new coach would have lost the young core and the development of Andy, the most important player on the team most likely would have been hindered. Seriously, how many coaches did he go through in the 90's before he finally landed Marvin? Off the top of my head, Coslett, LeBeau and Shula. They all failed. See, you said maybe. Those things are not guaranteed. And making the playoffs in 2011 was a hell of an accomplishment given the status of that teams. Obviously, now just making the playoffs isn't an accomplishment but it was when they did in 2011. Marvin put this team together give him some credit where it's due, but it's not just Marvin holding them back, Mike Brown has been holding them back since he took over for his father in the late 80s. Marvin gave us fans hope in an otherwise dark city. The hope is now faded and I know it's time to move on after this season, but I can never say a bad a thing about Marvin. 2003 was my first season as a Bengals fan in which I felt like there was a chance. Marvin was looked at as a a Saint, a Savior to our dark history until about 2012. That's when we, as fans started believing he overstayed his welcome. At the end of his career, Marvin will go down as one of the most important coaches in Bengals history and several years from now, when the sour taste runs from our mouth, we will recognize him as such.