The Bengals have announced the hiring of former assistant coach Jim McNally as a consultant to work with offensive line coach Paul Alexander.

McNally, who was with the team from 1980-94, will break down film of the Bengals and their opponents while making periodic visits to Cincinnati during the offseason, OTAs, minicamp and training camp. Alexander, who began his Bengals career as tight ends coach in 1994, succeeded McNally as line coach the following year.

After leaving the Bengals, McNally was an assistant with the Panthers, Giants and Bills in a career that ended in 2007. He has also served as consultant with the Jets.

“Jim began his National Football League career with us and we’ve always thought highly of his abilities,” said Bengals president Mike Brown in a statement. “He has a very good relationship with Paul Alexander that goes back a long way and he’ll be working with him.”

The Bengals today hired Hue Jackson to an assistant coach position. Head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2011 and a Bengals assistant from 2004-06, Jackson is slated to assist primarily in the areas of defensive backs and special teams, working closely with DBs coach Mark Carrier and special teams coach Darrin Simmons.

            “Hue is a tremendous addition to our staff,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “I relied on Hue greatly when he was with us (in 2004-06), and his success overall in the NFL, including being selected for a head coaching position, is well documented. He has expertise in all aspects of the game, and we are fortunate to have obtained his services.”

Lewis and Jackson also were coaching colleagues on the staff of the 2002 Washington Redskins.

Jackson is entering his 12^th consecutive season as an NFL coach. In addition to serving as head coach last season with Oakland, he has held offensive coordinator posts for Washington (2003), Atlanta (2007) and the Raiders (2010). His Oakland club finished last season with an 8-8 record, tied for best in the AFC West, but the Raiders were eliminated on tiebreakers from the playoffs. The Raiders finished ninth in the NFL in total offense (379.5 yards per game) and seventh in rushing offense (131.9).

Jackson’s three seasons with the Bengals saw him in the role of wide receivers coach, with Chad Ochocinco (then Chad Johnson) averaging 93 catches, 1358 yards and 8.3 touchdowns per campaign. Ochocinco led the AFC in receiving yards in each of those seasons. Jackson left the Bengals after the ’06 season to become offensive coordinator for Atlanta.

A native of Los Angeles, Jackson played QB at the University of the Pacific and began his coaching career there in 1987. He coached in the college ranks through 2000, when he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Southern California. He entered the NFL with Washington in 2001. 

 The Bengals today signed Mark Carrier as defensive backs coach and promoted Paul Guenther to the position of linebackers coach.

            Carrier is entering his seventh year as an NFL position coach. He spent the last two seasons (2010-11) as defensive line coach for the New York Jets and was defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 2006-09. As a player, he was a standout safety over 11 seasons for Chicago, Detroit and Washington, earning three Pro Bowl selections. He was a first-round draft choice (sixth overall) by Chicago in 1990. He played in college at Southern California and is a native of Lake Charles, La.

 “Mark is a great choice for us as he moves back to his old position, coaching the defensive secondary,” said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. “He experienced success as a coach with two fine NFL defenses, and he will do very well with our group.”

Guenther is entering his 10th season as an NFL coach, including the last eight with Cincinnati. In 2011, he was an assistant in a dual role, working with special teams and defensive backs. Guenther was also in a dual role from 2006-10, and those five seasons saw him working with special teams and linebackers. He played LB at Ursinus College and later was a record-setting head coach for four years (1997-2001) at Ursinus. His hometown is Richboro, Pa.
            “Paul is very deserving of this opportunity to continue advancing and to coach a position of his own,” Lewis said. “Mike Zimmer (Bengals defensive coordinator) and I both have high confidence levels working with Paul, and we’re excited about what he can bring our defense in this new role.”

In 2011, Carrier’s defensive line helped the Jets finish fifth in the NFL in fewest yards allowed per game (312.1), fifth in fewest yards allowed per play (5.0) and seventh in fewest yards allowed per rushing play (3.9). In 2010, the Jets finished third in the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed and third in fewest yards per rushing play. During Carrier’s term as defensive backs coach in Baltimore, the Ravens had the NFL’s second-most interceptions (93), with S Ed Reed performing as one of the league’s premier players.

Guenther last season helped coach the Bengals defense to a No. 7 NFL ranking (316.3 yards allowed per game). He has worked closely with Mike Zimmer, particularly on blitz techniques, and last season the Bengals ranked fifth in the NFL in sacks (45). In 2010, he helped tutor a starting LB trio that finished 1-2-3 on the team in tackles.

As defensive backs coach, Carrier replaces Kevin Coyle, who on Jan. 27 accepted the defensive coordinator position with the Miami Dolphins. As linebackers coach, Guenther replaces Jeff FitzGerald, who held the position fo

( Cincinnati ) The manager of Luxe, a bar in downtown Cincinnati, says Bengals linebacker Rey Maualuga punched him after he told him to leave his bar early Sunday morning. Sammy Laham says the attack was unprovoked and left him with a black eye and bloody nose.

Cincinnati police confirm they are investigating the claim. Maualuga has not yet been charged. In 2010, Maualuga was arrested for drunk driving after a crash in Covington. He eventually apologized for his behavior and pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

Here is the victim in studio with Bill Cunningham