Here we are. Another milestone for the season. First it was free agency in March. Then it was the NFL draft in April, minicamps in May and June and training camp in July. Now the Cincinnati Bengals will kickoff their preseason, hosting the ESPN New York Jets Friday night. We will have open threads and updates throughout the night. Make sure to join us as we celebrate another step forward into the highly anxious 2012 regular season.

+ Joe Goodberry writes why Andrew Hawkins' spot on the 53-man roster is secured and Jordan Shipley may find himself without a home. Among the arguments that Goodberry uses include contributions to the specific offense, who performs more on special teams and a history of injury.

+ Anthony Cosenza provides a six-pack of things to look for during Cincinnati's preseason opener against the New York Jets.

+ And speaking of roster security through special teams, it could be the best way for linebacker Vontaze Burfict to acquire his own during a preseason battle with Roddrick Muckelroy.

+ Brennen Warner discusses A.J. Green and his impact with fantasy football.

+ Destination: New Orleans is on the minds of the Cincinnati Bengals organization. This is perhaps the first time during the Marvin Lewis era that they've openly talked about it with a preseason realism outside the usual cliched responses from most teams.

+ NFL AM discusses which second-year receiver will have the biggest jump during their sophomore season.

+ The Bengals have finally ditched patting people down entering the stadium, instead using Harry Potter's magic wand... you know, nothing good could come from that phrase. So let's move on to a Browns story.

+ Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson underwent successful arthroscopic knee surgery on Thursday. Before taking his first snap in the NFL, Richardson is already dealing with knee issues that we can't believe will improve over time. At least not as a workhorse for a team with a serious question at quarterback. Makes one question the logic of drafting a running back in the top-ten, if not the entire first round, in today's NFL; especially with all of the successful post first-round backs we've observed recently.