CINCINNATI -- Marvin Lewis doesn't plan to leave a job unfinished.
The Cincinnati Bengals coach said Monday the team's worst start in six years hasn't diminished his commitment to getting it turned around. A 31-22 loss at Dallas left Lewis' team at the bottom of the league, the only one with an 0-5 record. Three other teams are 0-4.
It's a major slip from 2005, when Lewis led the Bengals to their only winning record and playoff appearance since 1991.
"Yes, I am very committed to doing the right thing here," Lewis said, when asked if he planned to stay as head coach. "I honestly don't think anything has ever changed here. The commitment that I made five years ago here and (again) three years ago, two years ago, whenever, is that we'd see this thing all the way through and get us back to where we were."
Lewis has publicly disagreed with owner Mike Brown this season over the owner's decision to bring back troubled receiver Chris Henry.
For now, Lewis, who got a contract extension two years ago through 2010, is immersed in changing things.
"We've taken some lumps this year, and that doesn't change how I approach what I do," Lewis said. "I'm excited about our football team. I actually like our football team, other than being 0-5. I like our guys. I like what we're doing. We're working very, very hard."
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
