Bengals Bites (6/15) - Need For Speed

Bengals' need for speed requires more eating
On one end of the Cincinnati Bengals' locker room, Will Clarke has spent a few sessions of organized training activities talking about adding 20 pounds to his 6-foot, 6-inch frame. Halfway down the line of lockers, fellow 2014 draft pick Darqueze Dennard revealed that he cut eight of the 200 pounds he carried at Michigan State and last year as a rookie.

Evan Mathis won’t “necessarily rush” into new deal | ProFootballTalk
The Eagles released guard Evan Mathis last week after more than a year of the veteran pushing for a new contract with the organization, leaving the Eagles to find a new starting job and Mathis to find a new team.

Often injured, two Ravens defensive linemen try to come back together - Baltimore Sun
The training room became a sanctuary of sorts for Ravens defensive ends Brent Urban and Kapron Lewis-Moore over the past nine months. It was a place for them to heal and strengthen their surgically repaired bodies, as well as to commiserate and bond over their shared hard luck. Being injured in the NFL can be a lonely, painful existence, one that can plunge players into isolation and self-doubt while they're unable to contribute to their team.

At age 37, James Harrison thinks he can play many more years | ProFootballTalk
At age 37, Steelers linebacker James Harrison has already retired once and is among the NFL's oldest players. But he thinks he has a long time to go. Harrison says he's in great shape heading into his 13th NFL season and thinks he can still be a starter in his late 30s -- and a solid contributor ...

Browns notebook: Rookie wide receiver Vince Mayle reveals he’s relying on veteran Dwayne Bowe as his mentor - Browns - Ohio
Rookie wide receiver Vince Mayle admits he was shy when he joined the Browns six weeks ago because he didn’t know what to expect as he transitioned to an NFL locker room. But one veteran receiver has come to Mayle’s rescue and has been guiding him through the process.

Pittsburgh Steelers' prove-it players: wide receiver Markus Wheaton - Pittsburgh Steelers Blog - ESPN
This is the third in a three-part series of prove-it players on the Steelers’ offense during organized team activities and minicamp. The Steelers have reliable starters all over the field, so becoming one isn’t as big a part of the criteria as it was for the defensive prove-it players. Instead, let’s examine which players face an especially crucial year in their trajectory.

OTL Report: How College Athletes Avoid Criminal Charges
College athletes at major schools across the country often avoid charges in criminal cases. They have access to high-profile lawyers; the athletic departments play major roles in the investigations; and witnesses are intimidated, indirectly or otherwise, according to an investigative report by ESPN’s Outside the Lines.