Talking Football with Bengal Jim and Friends: CBS Sports’ Jim Breech and Bengals’ Mailman join the show!
Let’s talk some Bengals football with John Breech from CBS Sports AND the Bengals Mailman has a few things to talk to you about as well!
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The Bengals’ season is coming to a close and while they’ve made a valiant run at the postseason, the Chiefs were there to break their hearts again. Still, there is a big Week 18 game on the horizon and all eyes are on a 2024 redemption path.
On this week’s show, the BJAF crew welcomes in a couple of great guests. CBS Sports analyst John Breech joins the program. Being a prominent national writer and son of a former Bengals great in Jim Breech, John brings an interesting perspective on the leage and the team.
The gang also welcomes in social media sensation, “The Bengals Mailman” to the program. His fandom, thoughts on the year and more are on tap. Join the crew every Tuesday night during the season for fun and special guests!
Brian Callahan listed as top-5 offensive coordinator, per NFLPA player poll
Or is it Dan Pitcher? Who knows?
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As the NFL regular season comes to a close after this weekend’s games, not only will the playoffs begin, but coaching hiring and firing season will begin as well.
For the last couple of years, both Cincinnati Bengals coordinators Brian Callahan and Lou Anarumo have been on the short list of head coaches to be hired, and both have been interviewed by other teams in the past, but both were passed up on for one reason or another.
According to Tom Pelissero, the NFL Players Association asked over 1,700 active players to rank their coordinators 1-10, and Callahan ended up on the list.
There may not be a direct correlation from this list to which of these candidates, if any, get hired, but you better believe a team owner wants to hire a coach his players like playing for.
There are two funny things about this list. One, that’s not Brian Callahan pictured above, it’s quarterback coach Dan Pitcher, whose name has also been floating around.
And two, Lou Anarumo, who has probably received more attention than any other Bengals assistant coach, isn’t on the list. In the end, this could be good news. Maybe it means the Mad Scientist will be sticking around. After a down defensive year, his star isn’t shining quite as bright.
Callahan, though, helped keep the Bengals in playoff contention all the way until the end of Week 17 without star quarterback Joe Burrow. Instead, he did it with Jake Browning and either Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins, but rarely both. Also, he did it without a functioning running game.
Will Zac Taylor’s coaching tree expand in 2024? We’ll see.
