In Brief : Wyche Hopes to Stay With Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals coach Sam Wyche said today that he hopes to work out a new contract this week that will keep him with the team.

The Bengals’ 20-16 Super Bowl loss to San Francisco finished the final year on Wyche’s five-year contract, leaving him free to quit coaching or move to another team if he chooses.

Wyche told a group of reporters today that he’ll sit down with Bengals management Wednesday to talk about a new contract. He had indicated earlier this month that he might not return to coaching, but he said today that he’d like a multi-year deal to keep him and his family in Cincinnati.

“No. 1, we don’t have any place (else) to go, and No. 2, we don’t have any desire to leave,” Wyche said. “But until we go back and talk it out, there’s nothing to be said.”

Wyche’s job was on the line at the start of the season, entering the final year on Wyche’s five-year contract. The Bengals were coming off a 4-11 season and had failed to make the playoffs in Wyche’s first four seasons.

He said today that he’s received no offers from other teams and that the length of the contract was his only concern going into negotiations. He said money wouldn’t be a major factor.