Around the North: Bengals’ defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo gets second interview with Cardinals

The Bengals may need a new defensive coordinator.

As the NFL offseason continues, coaching hires are concluding the league. There are two teams left to hire head coaches, and one is giving the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals a second interview. The Arizona Cardinals are bringing Lou Anarumo back in as a finalist for their head coaching gig.

Both Anarumo and offensive coordinator Brian Callahan are getting courted for head coaching gigs after leading the Bengals to back-to-back AFC Championship games. This is good news for the Browns, as a shakeup in continuity to an AFC North rival may allow them to get back into competitive action.

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Around the North: Could the Bengals really trade Tee Higgins?

Could the Bengals really trade wide receiver Tee Higgins?

The Cincinnati Bengals, who are now dealing with running back Joe Mixon, have gone to back-to-back AFC Championship games, and a lot of that is due to the trio of quarterback Joe Burrow, and wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Much to the liking of those who follow the Cleveland Browns, however, can the Bengals afford to keep all three in place long-term?

Cincinnati writer Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic seems to think the Bengals may have a tough decision on their hands:

“How plausible is it to pay top dollar to two different receivers and an elite quarterback, with all the expectations Ja’Marr Chase will receive a huge deal once eligible starting in 2024? How do the Bengals handle negotiating once again with agent David Mulugheta, who also represented Jessie Bates through the contentious and unproductive last two seasons, butting heads over guaranteed money?… If the numbers are outrageoud and it’s clear the two sides won’t see eye to eye, the Bengals could go the route taken by multiple teams in recent seasons and deal the receiver for a top draft pick and start the cycle over with a rookie receiver.”

Dehner is not saying the Bengals will trade him, and he is not reporting rumors. But there are definite parallels to draw between Higgins and the Bengals to the Tennessee Titans and A.J. Brown. This is a situation for the Browns and the rest of the AFC North to monitor.

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Around the North: Ravens giving a former Browns’ OC a second interview

The Ravens are interviewing the former Browns’ offensive coordinator today.

While the Cleveland Browns wrapped up their coordinator search early, landing on Jim Schwartz as their new defensive coordinator, a division rival in the Baltimore Ravens are still looking to replace Greg Roman. Today, they are interviewing a former offensive coordinator in Cleveland, Todd Monken, for their vacancy at offensive coordinator. This is his second interview.

The Ravens have also interviewed the current offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs, Eric Bieniemy, as his contract is set to expire. As the Ravens look to keep their quarterback Lamar Jackson happy, who will the Ravens land on to go head-to-head twice per year in the AFC North?

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Around the North: Warrant issued for Bengals’ running back Joe Mixon

A warrant has been issued for and AFC North rival

The Cincinnati Bengals were eliminated from the playoffs in the AFC Conference Championship game by the Kansas City Chiefs, and now the news has gotten worse for the AFC North winners and rivals of the Cleveland Browns. Running back Joe Mixon has a warrant issued for his arrest on a charge of aggravated menacing after allegedly holding a woman in downtown Cincinnati at gunpoint.

The warrant states that Mixon told the woman, “You should be popped in the face. I should shoot you now. The police can’t get me.” This is not the first time Mixon has been mixed up in a situation involving violence with women as he was in hot water after being seen on camera hitting a woman when in college.

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Around the North: A division rival could lose both coordinators

Both coordinators are set for head coaching interviews.

The in-state rival of the Cleveland Browns, the Cincinnati Bengals, fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship, ending their season. A day after reports came out that both their offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will interview for head coaching jobs. Both coaches will interview with the Arizona Cardinals with Callahan drawing interest from the Indianapolis Colts as well.

The Bengals won back-to-back AFC North titles and both coaches have done impressive jobs with their units. If the Bengals were to lose one of them it would be a good thing for the Browns. Something to keep an eye on is if Brian Callahan gets a head coaching job will he be able to lure his dad Bill Callahan away despite the extension?

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Around the North: Ravens request to interview Eric Bieniemy for vacant OC gig

The Ravens have requested to interview the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs, Eric Bieniemy, for the same gig in Baltimore

It was not too long ago the Cleveland Browns finished up their defensive coordinator hire in a hurry, landing Jim Schwartz for the job. Now, an AFC North foe, the Baltimore Ravens, are in a coordinator search process of their own after parting ways with offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Amid their search, the Ravens are turning to the Super Bowl-bound Kansas City Chiefs and have requested to interview their offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for the same role in Baltimore.

To keep their star quarterback happy, Lamar Jackson is expected to have heavy input in the search as well. Bieniemy still has another game to coach, so who knows when the Ravens may have time to meet with him.

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