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After 27 years, including 16 long years as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, Marvin Lewis for the first time since 1992 is not employed by a franchise in the National Football League.
Which is why he was available to jump into the broadcasting booth for the fledgling Alliance of American Football on the league’s opening weekend.
Well, “jump” may not be the best way to describe Marvin Lewis’ broadcasting debut… it was actually more like a slow crawl. A long, slow, sleep-inducing crawl. At least according to many of the viewers who tuned in to the final AAF game of the weekend, the Salt Lake Stallions vs. the Arizona Hotshots.
“Unfortunately this season, I had to experience one of those sparks a couple times up the state from me a little bit in Baker Mayfield and this kid reminds you a lot of Baker Mayfield,” Lewis said about Arizona quarterback John Wolford in the highlight of his broadcasting debut. “I guess that’s why I’m here.”
Marvin Lewis, Broadcaster.pic.twitter.com/EIJJkF0ffp
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 11, 2019
If the 60-year-old Lewis looks less than enthused in that photo, just wait until you hear what he sounded like during the game. Hope you have a pillow handy because you are about… to get… sleepy…
https://twitter.com/ftbeard_17/status/1094800970247094273
Marvin Lewis is color commentating like he got the news that his dog died right before the first play. :/
— James Williams (@YmmyYames) February 11, 2019
This is the level of enthusiasm that Marvin Lewis brings to the @TheAAF booth. #AAF pic.twitter.com/LjBZm9BhKz
— Rockpile Report (@RockpileReport) February 11, 2019
Man, where’s Jason Witten when you need him?
@TheAAF Haven’t made up my mind about the quality of football yet, but I’m ready to declare that Marvin Lewis is human Xanax.
— Val Boyd (@ValBoyd_Boyd) February 11, 2019
If Marvin Lewis coached the Bengals way he commentates this game, there's no wonder they were average for so long. zzzzzzzzzzz
— Nick Flanigan (@FlaniganNick) February 11, 2019
My goodness listening to Marvin Lewis is like listening to mama reading a bed time story.#AAF
— m (@_mikeymoore) February 11, 2019
Marvin Lewis sounds so depressed
— CLo (@CLo_Nation) February 11, 2019
After listening to Marvin Lewis on this AAF game it’s clear he has a future on NPR
— Jason Williams (@gobengals15) February 11, 2019
Marvin Lewis brings the energy you'd expect from a head coach who never won a playoff game in 16 years.
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) February 11, 2019
@TheAAF please check Marvin Lewis insulin levels. Dude sounds like he's about to drift off into a diabetic coma #AAF #NFLNetwork
— Coop (@acooper1906) February 11, 2019
Marvin Lewis is making everyone fall asleep. Boring 😴😴😴😴
— Justin Babcock (@jbgopackgo) February 11, 2019
On the plus side…
Marvin Lewis said more in 3 hours tonight then he did in 16 years in Cincinnati.
— Zac Taylors Brother (@ZacTaylorsBro) February 11, 2019