No one starts a job in Bengaldom under tougher circumstances when Jay Gruden becomes offensive coordinator in today’s surprising move and no one comes to the job with a more varied background than the 43-year-old younger brother of Super Bowl-winning coach Jon Gruden. With franchise quarterback Carson Palmer suddenly retired and the Bengals looking to identify the next one in the blackout of a labor lockout, head coach Marvin Lewis starts what he calls “a re-boot,” opting for the lesser and little known Gruden after the club
canvasses offensive coordinator candidates on the pro and college levels. “We are excited to have Jay join us and give us a new direction offensively,” Lewis says in today’s news release.