Bengals Bites (8/5) - Backup Ready

Will Johnny Manziel be good enough to be the Browns' backup plan? - Waiting For Next Year
The real question about Johnny Manziel is whether he’s even the best backup quarterback the Cleveland Browns have. It’s a conundrum for the Browns as they look for their best and most strategically advantageous 53-man roster. The only thing worse than a first-round quarterback who isn’t ready to start is a first round quarterback who isn’t even your best backup option on the roster. On a roster with Thad Lewis, Connor Shaw and even Terrelle Pryor, it’s reasonable to wonder if Manziel is even close to the best backup at this stage of his career.

Report: Los Angeles-area venues shying from temporarily hosting NFL team - Sportsnaut.com
The San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders and St. Louis Rams have each been connected to rumors of relocation, but Los Angeles-area venues aren’t rushing to open their doors for the NFL teams.

Geno Atkins 'best player on the field' in Bengals camp - NFL.com
Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins has dominated the early days of training camp on the heels of an impressive offseason. Is Atkins ready to recapture his dominant 2012 All Pro form?

Camp report: tight battle

Regrettable lines from HBO's 'Hard Knocks' - NFL.com

Walkthrough: Who could Bengals least afford to lose?

Ruling mischaracterizes Brady’s testimony about communications with Jastremski | ProFootballTalk
When the NFL released the 20-page, single-space ruling upholding the four-game suspension imposed on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady without also releasing the transcript, it was impossible to verify the accuracy of any conclusions reached in the ruling. The transcript has now been released, and plenty of comparing-and-contrasting is going on.

CINCINNATI: Bengals veteran tackles determined to hold onto starting job | Cincinnati Bengals | Kentucky.com
Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith could see what's next when the Bengals took offensive tackles with their first two picks in the draft. For now, they're dug in as the starters, refusing to give the team a reason to replace them.

Cincinnati Bengals' Darqueze Dennard wants to become a complete corner - Cincinnati Bengals Blog - ESPN
Bengals cornerback Darqueze Dennard learning to play 'off' coverage, part of the process as he works to become a complete player.

Leon Hall: Bengals' veteran turns corner after two Achilles tears - Story
The 30-year-old cornerback is making a good impression in Cincinnati Bengals camp. It's remarkable that he's still playing well enough to start in the NFL.

Bengals' Lewis continues to support Dalton | Sports - KTUU.com Anchorage

DE PERE, Wisc. -- With a legal matter and a likely NFL suspension hanging over him, veteran tight end Andrew Quarless revealed Monday why he missed the start of training camp last week. An emotional Quarless told reporters after Monday's pr...

Ravens assistant alerted Colts to issue with footballs | ProFootballTalk

In the days before they played the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, the Colts were alerted by the Ravens to pay special attention to potential problems with the game balls. Colts equipment manager Sean Sullivan sent an email to G.M.

Ray Rice says he's 'rehabilitated man,' eyes NFL return

“I’m not afraid to say right now I'm a rehabilitated man,” Rice said in a one-on-one interview with Jemele Hill. “Some people will probably never forgive my actions but I think … over time I want to be able to rewrite the script."

Here Are The Emails That Helped Start Ballghazi

Like all great soap operas, it’s easy to lose track of where all the drama began. Here, thanks to the massive amount of paper filed by the NFL player’s union in federal court, is a piece of Ballghazi’s birth, first pointed out by the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin. It’s Jan. 17, 2015, and Indianapolis Colts equipment manager Sean Sullivan sent this email to Colts general manager Ryan Grigson—passing along some information about the Patriots’ reputation, as well as some insight given by a Ravens coordinator.

Ravens' John Urschel drives 2013 Nissan he bought for $9,000 (photo)

Urschel is an extremely frugal fellow — he insists he lives on $25,000 a year — who clearly understands that nothing is guaranteed, especially in the cutthroat world of the NFL. This might help explain why he drives a 2013 Nissan Versa he paid $9,000 for shortly after being drafted, an expenditure he justified by calling the car a gift to himself.

Jadeveon Clowney's father arrested for attempted murder outside strip club | Larry Brown Sports

David Morgan, who goes by the nickname “Chili Bean,” allegedly fired several shots at an employee who works at the Crazy Horse Showclub in Rock Hill after he had been removed from sitting on the stage. The victim told police he spotted Morgan around the back of the property at around 2:15 a.m., at which point Morgan shot at him.