During his Monday press conference, the day after the Bengals lost 31-22 at Dallas to continue their winless streak, Lewis said he was encouraged by the way the players were going about their business even if it wasn’t resulting in wins.
“I'm excited about our football team,” said Lewis on Monday. “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. We're not creating enough plays. Our margin for error is very, very slim. But they come here and they come to work. We go out there and we play football games.”
Lewis didn’t back down from his statements on Wednesday but emphasized that in no way was he pleased to be winless.
“I've been taking a lot of heat for saying I like our football team, but I do like our football team,” said Lewis. “I like what we're doing. Our football team is a better football team than started this year. We haven't won a football game and don't ever anybody think I'm satisfied with that. Or ever that that sits well with me, because it doesn't.
On Tuesday the Bengals participated in the annual Hometown Huddle project in which players and coaches went out and helped build a community playground in the College Hill section of Cincinnati.
“I think it was good for guys to get out and know how fortunate they are and that's what I told them,” said Lewis. “You've made commitments to be there and do it. We don't like where we are, but you know what? The only way we can go about it and change it is to go do something about it, and you know what? (Tuesday) you had a chance to do something thing to change something and make it better. That's what's life is about. They're not going to have their tail between their legs, they're going to play. We're going to fight and win this football game in New York this week.
“It's good to see them out there laughing and having fun together. Because that's how they came in here, they come in here and practice hard. We prepare hard and that's what we've got to do. We've got to make football plays. We're going to keep grinding at it until we make plays that win games and then we're going to be on a roll. We'll have it, we'll have it. It'll be done and we won't go back on it, because they'll savor it. That's why you do it.”