Younger Gruden embraces new challenge with Bengals
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jay Gruden won four Arena League titles as a quarterback and two more championships as an AFL coach.
By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune
Published: April 2, 2011
Updated: 05:57 pm
TAMPA - Jon Gruden's kid brother sounds eager for his next challenge.
It's a beauty.
Jay Gruden, who turned 44 a month ago, can't wait to play his part in a turnaround season for the Bengals as Cincinnati's new offensive coordinator.
"I'm excited,'' Jay Gruden said from his office in the Queen City. "I've got a lot of work to do, obviously, but I've been looking forward to this opportunity for a while. I'm both excited and a little nervous … there's a lot at stake here.''
The Bengals were 2-1 last season before suffering through a 10-game losing streak that included a dispiriting 24-21 home loss to the Buccaneers.
Veteran quarterback Carson Palmer desperately wants out, telling coach Marvin Lewis he'll retire unless he's traded.
Running back Cedric Benson, coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, could be an unrestricted free agent once the NFL labor dispute is settled.
Terrell Owens won't be back, and fellow wide receiver Chad Ochocinco seems more interested in kicking a soccer ball than booting his reputation as an overpriced prima donna.
Talk about your dicey situations.
Jay Gruden, who won four Arena League titles as a quarterback and two more championships as an AFL coach in Orlando, is fully aware of the task ahead.
He already has been to a half-dozen pro days, searching for a potential franchise quarterback heading into the draft, where Cincinnati owns the fourth overall pick.
He can't seem to catch a break in his new venture.
This appears to be a weak crop of college quarterbacks, and two of the three teams ahead of the Bengals — Carolina and Buffalo — are also looking for the next Josh Freeman.
"It's hard to say what our situation is under center,'' Jay Gruden said. "Carson said what he said, and I'm assuming he'll hold to his word. It's a unique situation. We hope to get someone to buy into our system.''
That system is likely to be a hybrid of the West Coast attack Jay Gruden absorbed in seven years as an offensive assistant on his brother's staff.
"Everyone is familiar with the stuff Jon did in Tampa, but Jay was a big part of that as well,'' said Lewis. "He then had a chance to go out and do it on his own. He's been a head coach in the Arena League and he's done it in the UFL. When you sit and talk with him, he's a football junkie and fanatic.''
But is he a savior?
This is Jay Gruden's first real chance to make his mark as an NFL assistant, and he's approaching the job with confidence — even if the only two quarterbacks on the roster besides Palmer are Dan LeFevour and Carson's younger brother, Jordan.
Between them, they have yet to throw a touchdown pass as a pro.
By the summer, Sherry Gruden and the three boys will make the move from Florida to Ohio. Don't be surprised if Jon makes a few trips to Cincinnati for some review sessions in the woodshed.
"Jay's got a good track record and he's worked very hard for this chance,'' said Jon Gruden. "I think he'll do well.''
Besides needing a new quarterback, the Bengals need an organizational makeover.
As Lewis returns for a ninth year, only two seasons removed from NFL Coach of the Year honors, a disconnected fan base doesn't know what to expect.
Neither does Jay Gruden.
"We've got a lot of guys coming back, our offensive line is solid and we've got a great young tight end (Jermaine Gresham),'' he said.
"We've got some pieces in place.''
When Gruden was hired two months ago, an NFL lockout was a possibility. Now, it's a grim reality for a new offensive coordinator eager to get started.
"It's tough because there's no contact with the players and we're kind of starting from scratch,'' Jay Gruden said. "I can't wait to get our guys in here and figure out what we can do and what we can't do.''
