Bengals Banter: After Minicamp We Examine Heywood Banks Singing Big Butter Jesus

by Josh Kirkendall on Jun 18, 2010 11:17 AM EDT in Analysis

Now that minicamp is over, now that the Bengals released five players to get their roster down to 84 (with 75 signed), Marvin Lewis and the Bengals will go their separate ways for now. Chad Ochocinco will resume his boxing regiment, Lewis is heading out on the NFL-USO Coaches Tour, Keith Rivers is heading to Florida; all of which gives us time to reset and charge our batteries, putting together thoughtful pieces as to what to expect heading into training camp. In the next few weeks, we'll examine position battles, expectations of our core players and maybe an external examination of the division.

So hang on with us. We'll keep you reading, thinking and entertained.

+ Several Bengals players sat out of Thursdays practice: Roy Williams rested his groin. Andre Smith, Rey Maualuga and Bernard Scott all missed minicamp due to recovery and Antonio Bryant was given "veteran's rest"). However, Hobson added:

Bryant is still dealing with getting his knee back to 100 percent after he had surgery to repair torn cartilage during the last training camp and while there is some concern, the feeling is they can rest him enough to get the production needed out of him.

+ Bengals player representative Andrew Whitworth chimes in on the idea of going to an 18-game schedule:

We want to do anything to make the game better for the fans. If an 18-game schedule will do that, that would be great. But there’s also some things player-wise and health-wise that might be an issue. We feel like if we’re going to have to do that, there has to be some things that change as far as the offseason and training camp.

However most NFL players disagree that an 18-game schedule is a good thing. Giants defensive end Justin Tuck says, "You're going to have a lot of disgruntled players if this happens. I don't see how it benefits the NFL. I think it's going to cause more problems than solutions."

+ Speaking of Bengals running back Bernard Scott, Mike Wilkening talks about Bernard's developing skill of learning patience, thanks to Cedric Benson.

+ Training Camp Dates and Locations

AFC

TEAM	SITE	LOCATION	ROOKIES	VETERANS
Baltimore	McDaniel College	Westminster, MD	7/26	7/28
Buffalo	St. John Fisher College	Pittsford, NY	7/29	7/29
Cincinnati	Georgetown College	Georgetown, KY	7/28	7/28
Cleveland	Cleveland Browns Training Facility	Berea, OH	7/23	7/30
Denver	Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre	Englewood, CO	7/26	7/31
Houston	Methodist Training Center	Houston, TX	7/30	7/30
Indianapolis	Anderson University	Anderson, IN	8/1	8/1
Jacksonville	Jacksonville Municipal Stadium	Jacksonville, FL	7/29	7/29
Kansas City	Missouri Western State University	St. Joseph, MO	7/29	7/29
Miami	Miami Dolphins Training Facility	Davie, FL	7/30	7/30
New England	Gillette Stadium	Foxboro, MA	7/25	7/28
NY Jets	SUNY Cortland	Cortland, NY	7/29	8/1
Oakland	Napa Valley Marriott	Napa Valley, CA	7/28	7/28
Pittsburgh	Saint Vincent College	Latrobe, PA	7/30	7/30
San Diego	Chargers Park	San Diego, CA	7/25	7/30
Tennessee	Baptist Sports Park	Nashville, TN	7/31	7/31

NFC

TEAM	SITE	LOCATION	ROOKIES	VETERANS
Arizona	Northern Arizona University	Flagstaff, AZ	7/30	7/30
Atlanta	Atlanta Falcons Training Facility	Flowery Branch, GA	7/29	7/29
Carolina	Wofford College	Spartanburg, SC	7/28	7/28
Chicago	Olivet Nazarene University	Bourbonnais, IL	7/30	7/30
Dallas*	Alamodome/Marriott Residence Inn Oxnard River Ridge	San Antonio, TX/ Oxnard, CA	7/24	7/24
Detroit	Detroit Lions Training Facility	Allen Park, MI	7/30	7/30
Green Bay	St. Norbert College	Green Bay, WI	7/30	7/30
Minnesota	Minnesota State University, Mankato	Mankato, MN	7/30	7/30
New Orleans	New Orleans Saints Training Facility	Metairie, LA	7/29	7/29
NY Giants	University at Albany	Albany, NY	8/1	8/1
Philadelphia	Lehigh University	Bethlehem, PA	7/26	7/29
St. Louis	Russell Training Center	Earth City, MO	7/28	7/30
San Francisco	Marie P. DeBartolo Sports Center	Santa Clara, CA	7/30	7/31
Seattle	Virginia Mason Athletic Center	Renton, WA	7/29	7/30
Tampa Bay	One Buccaneer Place	Tampa, FL	7/30	7/30
Washington	Redskins Park	Ashburn, VA	7/29	7/29