"We are close to being the kind of team we can be," Brown said. "I think continuity will give us the best shot at becoming that team. We have a good relationship, Marvin and I. We work well together. It isn't an easy relationship, but it's a good one."

Lewis wanted to stay, but only if there were changes in how the team operates. The team initially offered an extension last season, when the Bengals were on their way to winning the AFC North title.

The coach and owner met on Monday and talked about what Lewis needed to stay. They had more discussions on Tuesday morning and reached an agreement in the afternoon.

The agreement came shortly after talks between Lewis and the team hit a significant snag midday Tuesday, a team source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

"When you consider all things, looking forward and so forth, I think this is the right spot for me to be," Lewis said. "I'm not happy with where we are. It's not finished. I came here to do a certain thing and we're not done. I just felt that way.

"I really came to the realization this morning that this is what I wanted to do."

Brown said the uncertainty over the collective bargaining agreement was a factor, though not a major one, in wanting to keep Lewis. He implied that the extension was for at least two years, but wouldn't be more specific.

"And I would say this: I think we're going to have a better year next year, and it might get longer than that real fast," Brown said.

Lewis will surpass franchise founder Paul Brown and Sam Wyche for longest coaching tenure. Lewis' 69 losses are the most for any Bengals coach -- one more than Wyche, who led the Bengals to a Super Bowl during the 1988 season.

Wyche and Brown had a falling out that resulted in change after the 1991 season. The relationship between Lewis and Brown is amicable.

"I want to emphasize there is very little difference between us ever," Brown said. "We talk things out. We have hard conversations sometimes. Sometimes they can even be a little brittle. But we work through them and we come to conclusions.

"It isn't as though I'm dictating and Marvin's a puppet. That's not the way it works. He does have real control -- not influence, control -- over his area, and that should be understood."