CINCINNATI -- It's amazing that of his many recent verbal slip-ups, all it took for Marvin Lewis to finally issue an apology -- and possibly get back to the best practice of thinking before speaking -- was Johnny Manziel.
Is there anything Johnny Football can't do?
On Monday night, Lewis, the Cincinnati Bengals' 12th-year head coach, called into the city's flagship sports radio station during a weekly show it hosts at a bar not far from Paul Brown Stadium. Radio host Lance McAlister and Bengals radio color analyst Dave Lapham, a former Bengal, were on WLW-AM asking Lewis about the possibility of the Bengals having to defend Manziel this Sunday when they visit the division-rival Browns.
Lewis started his answer just fine.
But then he made a quip he later would regret.
"You gotta go defend the offense. You don't defend the player," he said, pausing before adding, "particularly a midget."
Once social media learned of Lewis' completely unnecessary addendum, a flame ignited.
Most were incensed by Lewis' word choice. Browns fans rallied behind it, hopeful their players use it as motivation when going for a second straight win over the Bengals following last month's 24-3 blowout victory on a Thursday night in Cincinnati. A loss this weekend, and the AFC North-leading Bengals could slip behind either or both the Ravens and Steelers. With a tough remaining schedule, their playoff hopes could start to fade.
In 2009, Little People of America, Inc. -- an advocacy group for men and women diagnosed with dwarfism, a medical condition that doesn't allow people to grow past 4-foot-10 -- made a public statement denouncing the use of the word "midget." To those with dwarfism, it is considered offensive. More practically, as it relates to Manziel, it simply doesn't make any sense.
Manziel is 6 feet tall.
On their active 53-man roster, the Bengals have 11 players, including 5-foot-9 running back Giovani Bernard, listed at shorter than 6-foot. Would Lewis use the same term to describe them, too?
About an hour after his comments went viral, Lewis issued an apology.
"I apologize to Johnny, the Browns and all the fans in Cleveland," he said. "It was just a poor remark. I really didn't mean anything by it."
Certainly, he was trying to add levity while discussing the intricacies of playing the smaller-in-stature, mobile Manziel. For the second straight week, the Browns have a quarterback controversy after starter Brian Hoyer had another disappointing showing in their 25-24 loss to Indianapolis on Sunday.
Browns coaches could decide Tuesday to give Manziel his first career start Sunday as a result.
No matter what his excuse, Lewis had no need for the added barb, particularly considering his litany of poorly chosen remarks this season.
Two weeks ago, Lewis had an abrasive and borderline arrogant tone during a news conference when asked about allegations from a former player's ex-wife who told The New York Times that when her then-husband played for the Bengals, Lewis told her to come to the team before going to the police in instances when he would assault her.
Instead of sticking to a pre-crafted statement as he originally said he would, Lewis repeatedly called the woman a liar.
Lying or not, an NFL coach in 2014 can't conduct himself like that during a news conference when domestic violence is a topic.
A month prior, he was rightfully and soundly criticized for making the claim concussions "linger longer" in players today because of enhanced media attention surrounding them and their effects.
Lewis has a public-speaking problem, and given the way his team collapsed in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Steelers, it isn't his only one.
Among the things more important than an opposing player's height: preparing to defend an NFL quarterback.