The Cincinnati Bengals have hired a Gruden to be their new offensive coordinator. No, not THAT guy. THIS guy: Jay Gruden, former Florida Tuskers (UFL) head coach.
Jay Gruden Tabbed As Bengals New Offensive Coordinator
Jay Gruden, younger brother to Jon, is set to become the Bengals’ offensive coordinator, as first reported on Twitter by the Cincinnati Inquirer’s Joe Reedy (and quickly confirmed by ESPN’s army of NFL reporters). Gruden replaces Bob Bratkowski, who was fired on Monday after 10 years as the Bengals’ OC.
Gruden comes to Cincinnati after two seasons spent away from the NFL. He was the head coach and general manager of the Florida Tuskers (UFL) for the 2010 season after serving as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2009. Prior to that, Gruden was the head coach of the AFL’s Orlando Predators (2004-08), a position he also held earlier in his career (1998-2001). From 2002-08, Gruden was an offensive assistant to his brother with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
While Chad Ochocinco said that Bratkowski was not the problem, the Bengals still finished with an offense that ranked 32nd, 24th and 20th the past three season. As Cincy Jungle writes, Gruden is taking over an offense "with plenty of questions."
Along with the uncertainty of Carson Palmer’s future, the team will have to make a choice on a feature back, either signing Cedric Benson for another year or picking one up through the draft or free agency. The offense could also see a dramatic shift from a core of veteran wide receivers to a youth movement led by Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell and Jordan Shipley. And then there’s questions about the offensive line, ranging from Andre Smith’s contract beyond 2012 and the free agents along the offensive line -- albeit, most of them restricted.
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