Don’t worry, Queen City: You don’t need a shiny trophy. Marvin Lewis has more money in the piggy to bail kiddies outta jail.

Five years ago the Bengals had the gargantuan task of finding a coach, any coach, who could end the team’s string of 11-straight non-winning seasons. The team chose Marvin Lewis over then Steelers offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey. The guy who came in third? Coughlin, who interviewed twice for the job. The Jaguars had just fired him, and when the Bengals passed, Coughlin sat out 2003 before taking the Giants job in 2004.

Would he have made a difference? Perhaps, although its fair to point out the Bengals front office has the acumen of the kid who made up his college scholarship to Cal.

Did Lewis have success? Of course: He’s only had one losing season (last year’s 7-9 season), won the 2005 division title and still has a potent offense. But the litany of arrests, two years of vast under achievement, and the new problems with Ocho Cinco beg the question: Did team owner Mike Brown make the right choice?

Of course, it’s a question that echoes in an empty tunnel - Mike Brown is not only too good to hire a general manager, but too good to even answer that question. You stay classy, old man only in this job because your Dad is a legend.