Bengals Training Camp: Praise for Geno Atkins continues

The updates concerning Geno Atkins are insufferable, if you're an obsessively worried fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens or an uncomfortable quarterback scheduled to play the Cincinnati Bengals. Nearly 21 months after suffering a torn ACL against the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football -- a night where Samhain took vengeance on Cincinnati's happiness -- the reviews are in: Atkins is back!

CBS Sports NFL writer Pete Prisco visited Cincinnati during the Bengals' joint practices with the New York Giants. Prisco writes that "there were times where Atkins exploded into offensive linemen and pushed them deep into the pocket. He destroyed guard Adam Gettis in one drill. Get used it. The guy has been a one-man wrecking crew this summer in Cincinnati. Healthy again, Atkins is poised for a big season. Geno can't be blocked isn't just lip service. I saw it with my own eyes. Atkins is back."

While Prisco's impression isn't new, it's refreshing to hear an outside perspective, compared to the coaches and local media that have praised Atkins all spring. One beat writer called him the best player on the field, whereas defensive coordinator Paul Guenther added "he looks as good as anyone" while his position coach, Jay Hayes, simply called him "scary."

During the story with Prisco, Guenther added another compliment to the army of praise directed at Atkins. "He's our best player," Guenther said. "He's come back in great shape. He's responded. When he came back in the spring, the quickness was back. You could see he was Geno again."