Bobbie Williams' Departure Actually Means More Than One May Think

+ Former Bengals offensive guard Bobbie Williams signed a two-year deal worth $2.925 million and an $800,000 signing bonus with the Baltimore Ravens this week. Though the money would have appeared manageable from a salary cap perspective, it should promote Cincinnati's willingness to shift towards their younger players to fill the depth chart. Otis Hudson and Clint Boling were more than enough reason to allow Williams, who turns 36 in September and coming off a broken ankle, to leave for free agency.

More so Williams was a strong teammate and a vocal leader in the lockerroom. How impressive is that? By allowing Williams to depart (for a division rival), the Bengals are buying into the leadership qualities being promoted from quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver A.J. Green, lieutenants if you will to Andrew Whitworth, now the five-star general on offense.

+ Matt Williamson with ESPN ranks the league's top tight ends in the year 2015, listing Jermaine Gresham at No. 7. It's not necessarily the ranking we'd hope for, but we're still waiting for that season to amplify the youngster's standing among the league's best. Speaking of Gresham, head coach Marvin Lewis said that the Pro Bowl changed his young tight end.

"I think Jermaine (Gresham) going to the Pro Bowl last year was the best teaching, coaching experience we could ever have with him for him to mature. He's a different man -- very, very confident in himself."

I don't think there's a Bengals fan alive not hoping for a big season from the team's highly athletic third-year tight end. If what Lewis said translates into production, it may happen this season.

+ Cornerback Leon Hall turned into a rather important topic on Tuesday, with both player and Marvin Lewis saying that they expect the cornerback to be ready for practice on July 27, the start of the team's 2012 training camp.

+ Offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth was fairly open, though not malicious, in his opinion of Chad Ochocinco, who signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins on Monday.

+ Our own Anthony Cosenza details games in 2012 that will feature many familiar former Bengals players.

+ Marvin Lewis is pretty pumped about this year's undrafted free agent class.

+ Slot receiver Jordan Shipley admits that he's still dealing with stiffness in his knee, but called it the "last phase of getting the speed back and all of that."

+ This offseason has been filled with anticipation and anxiety.

+ Former Bengals wide receiver (for a few months) Antonio Bryant is being given a shot to show he still has it at Seattle's minicamp this week.