In Brief : Bengals, Wyche Talking Contract

The Cincinnati Bengals and Sam Wyche began negotiating today on a new coaching contract for Wyche, who directed the team to a stunning turnaround from last year’s 4-11 season to this year’s Super Bowl appearance.

Wyche, 44, whose old five-year contract as head coach expired with the end of this season, stands to receive a big raise from the approximately $250,000 he was paid yearly under the old pact. He said security and length of hire, rather than money, will be his biggest priorities in negotiating the new contract.

“I’m not going to be without any business sense, but those kinds of things (money) are not a top priority. I live comfortably. . . . I’m not looking to break the bank. I know they’re fair people and I hope to be fair,” Wyche said of the Bengals’ ownership.

He made his comments to reporters this week in Miami, where the Bengals’ season ended with Sunday’s last-minute, 20-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl. The Bengals’ improvement to their 14-5 record and American Football Conference championship was one of the biggest turnarounds in the history of the National Football League.