But make no mistake about it, the Bengals need more than LeBeau to become successful. One Cincinnati columnist already has suggested that the Bengals hire former coach Sam Wyche or a suitable wicky-wacky facsimile as offensive coordinator, and there might be something to that. The offense could use some juice that it doesn't seem to be getting from Ken Anderson. Unfortunately, the nagging fear is that regardless of what happens with the coaching staff, what happens with the team's draft picks and whether Dillon leaves or stays, this is a franchise doomed to repeat its mistakes as long as Brown is calling the shots. The nagging fear is that next year the same sportswriters will be fighting over the same phone, eating the same bad hot dogs and writing the same tired lines about the same old Bengals.
Football really can be hell.
Bob Hunter is a Dispatch columnist.