Marvin Lewis showed up for his first news conference as the Bengals head coach in 2003 wearing his Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl ring.

Every time he waved his right hand Joe Williams Jersey , the 200 diamonds gleamed yellow and white in the bright television lights.

It was more than an eye-catching fashion statement. Lewis was setting the bar high for himself and his team.

”It’s for a reason,” Lewis said. ”What I’m going to hammer home to our guys is that we’re not that far away.”

Fifteen years later, postseason success is even farther away for the Bengals, who haven’t won a playoff game since the 1990 season.

Yet Lewis is still in Cincinnati, getting another chance – his 16th and counting – to deliver on the optimism he flashed that January day so long ago. He has the second-longest current tenure in the NFL, trailing only New England’s Bill Belichick, who has won five Super Bowls.

It’s highly unusual for a coach to stay with any team so long, something that Lewis fully appreciates.

”I think a lot of people talk about it quite a bit,” Lewis said. ”I know coaches do. I think everybody aspires to do that.”

In the quick-to-change NFL, it’s shocking for a coach to stay with a team so long with so little success. The Bengals have reached the playoffs seven times in Lewis’ 15 seasons, losing every time. They made the playoffs five straight seasons from 2011-15 and lost in the first round each time, setting an NFL record with their five straight quick exits.

Lewis’ 0-7 coaching mark in the playoffs is the worst for any coach in NFL history. Yet Archie Manning Jersey , he got a two-year contract extension at the end of last season from owner Mike Brown, who is averse to change and thinks Lewis has done a good job despite the results. The Bengals are coming off back-to-back losing seasons.

”We remember the five previous seasons we got to the playoffs,” Brown said. ”I don’t think there’s convincing evidence we can’t get the job done around here. I think it’s to the contrary. And we’ll see how it turns out.

”I put my bet down and I’m going to ride on it, and people can judge when it’s run its course.”

As another losing season wound down last year, Lewis was uncertain about whether he’d return. The Bengals beat the Lions and the Ravens to finish the season at 7-9, and Brown was convinced to stick with him for two more years.

”They were high-level teams giving it their best effort, and we beat both of them,” said Brown of two teams that finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs. The Lions fired Jim Caldwell after the season.

The Bengals finished last in the league on offense – a franchise first – and the defense slipped to 30th in the league against the run, its worst ranking since 1998. Brown thinks the team came close to having a successful season, and he held his index finger and thumb a half-inch apart to make his point.

”Sometimes we fell short by about that far,” he said. ”Nobody wants to remember that, either. We know that we have to do better – believe Jason Spriggs Jersey , me, we know it. But I think we’re in the situation where we can rebound best, rebound quickest with Marvin.”

EIFERT OUT: Tight end Tyler Eifert was among a group of players who worked out on a side field Thursday while the rest of the team practiced. Eifert was limited to two games last season because of a recurring back problem that required surgery. He signed a one-year contract for 2018 and missed minicamp. Eifert declined to comment as he left the field. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict also worked out on the side field. He’ll miss the first four games of the season on a suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancers.

NOT YET READY: Receiver Devonte Boyd, cornerback Davontae Harris, H-back Ryan Hewitt, guard Christian Westerman and safety Tyrice Beverette also are being held out of practice as they recover from injuries. In addition, the Bengals put offensive tackle Javarius Leamon on the list of players who didn’t report for camp, and they signed receiver Jared Murphy.

FIRST INJURY: Guard Rod Taylor injured his right knee during practice and was taken off the field on a cart. Taylor is a seventh-round pick from Mississippi.

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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (12-6)

OPEN CAMP: July 26, Ochsner Sports Performance Center, Metairie, Louisiana

LAST YEAR: Helped by infusion of elite young talent, Saints pulled out of three-year rut of mediocrity and won NFC South. They were seconds away from advancing to NFC title game Bart Starr Jersey , only to be thwarted by Minnesota receiver Stefon Diggs‘ winning touchdown as time expired in divisional round. New Orleans received major contributions from running back and Offensive Rookie of Year Alvin Kamara, and cornerback and Defensive Rookie of Year Marshon Lattimore. Several other first-and second-year players filled regular roles as well, and veteran Drew Brees remained one of NFL’s top QBs.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: LB Demario Davis, S Kurt Coleman, CB Patrick Robinson, WR Cameron Meredith, Rookie DE Marcus Davenport.

IMPORTANT LOSSES: S Kenny Vaccaro, TE Coby Fleener, WR Willie Snead, G Senio Kelemete, RT Zach Strief, CB Delvin Breaux.

CAMP NEEDS: Lineup is relatively stable from last-season’s playoff run Darian Thompson Jersey , but New Orleans looking to bolster pass rush by finding someone who can make offenses pay for sending multiple blockers at All-Pro end Cameron Jordan. Saints want Davenport to develop into that player. But he is raw in first season out of UTSA. Saints also want to figure out which running backs can fill in for Mark Ingram during his four-game suspension to open season. Veteran free agents Shane Vereen and Terrence West, along with draft pick Boston Scott and second-year pro Trey Edmunds, are competing for those snaps.

EXPECTATIONS: Saints appear to have gotten stronger and deeper than last season, particularly with additions on defense. Keys to improving are how well new players fit and, as usual, avoiding injuries. If Davenport develops quickly, Saints could be elite. If not, teams with good plan to block Jordan could give New Orleans fits.

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