Bengals Bytes (6/15): Humble Roots

Bengals Bytes

The Humble Roots of Giovani Bernard - NFL.com
Even today, with millions of dollars in his bank following a sizable contract extension, Bengals running back Giovani Bernard won't spend ostentatiously. His girlfriend's parents live 10 minutes from the Bengals' facility, and the running back spent his rookie training camp last summer living in their basement. He freely says he would've stayed there longer if he wasn't worried about inconveniencing anyone.

No big changes at mandatory mini - Bengals.com
The Bengals opened their three-day mandatory minicamp Tuesday afternoon and don’t look for a lot of changes. Not from the three practices compared to the nine voluntary practices that came before and not from the offense Ken Zampese inherited from offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.

Uzomah on the move for Bengals - AL.com
Former auburn tight end and current Bengal C.J. Uzomah got an introduction to playing tight end in the NFL last year . Now he's getting the full lesson of playing all over the offense. "The hardest thing is being moved around a lot," Uzomah said of his second offseason of work with the Cincinnati Bengals. "Last year, it was just, 'All right, you're going to be this position, like a wing position. Learn that.' Now it's like: Know the wing, know fullback, know the Y, know everything."

Bengals notes: No rough edges for Dalton, Zampese
At the beginning of his sixth season under center with the Cincinnati Bengals, quarterback Andy Dalton will have a new voice calling plays for the third time.

5 observations/notes from June 14 Bengals minicamp session - WKRC
The Bengals opened their three-day mandatory minicamp Tuesday afternoon. Here are five observations and notes from the first of the three sessions, including bits on Rey Maualuga, Giovani Bernard, Chykie Brown and more.

After Giovani Bernard, more Bengals extensions could be looming
Nearly a week after the Cincinnati Bengals re-upped running back Giovani Bernard on a three-year extension that will keep him around through the 2019 season, coach Marvin Lewis intimated Tuesday that more extensions could be on the horizon this summer.

AFC North Bytes

Ben Roethlisberger wanted Pittsburgh Steelers to sign Eric Weddle - ESPN
After the Steelers signed former Chargers tight end Ladarius Green, Ben Roethlisberger got intel on his new target from buddy Eric Weddle, the longtime Chargers safety. Weddle, who signed a lucrative deal with Baltimore this offseason, was apparently recruited by Big Ben to join the Steelers. Roethlisberger's attempts failed though as Weddle instead signed with the Ravens.

Le'Veon Bell Denies Report Of Skipped Drug Test - Steelers Depot
Pittsburgh is already without offensive playmaker Martavis Bryant for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy, so you can imagine Steelers Nation was in shock Tuesday after Mark Madden reported a "pretty strong rumor" that Le’Veon Bell had skipped a drug test, resulting in a failure, and leaving him vulnerable to a suspension.

Eugene Monroe: Ravens 'distance themselves from me and my cause' - Baltimore Ravens Blog- ESPN
Adding to the Ravens' woes, offensive tackle Eugene Monroe mentioned the Ravens in his campaign about the benefits of medical marijuana, saying he's not getting support from the organization. "I don't say these things to slander the NFL or my team. I say them because we need a solution. We need change in our health care," Eugene Tweeted.

Has the Baltimore Ravens drafting declined? - Baltimore Beatdown
Most everyone is in agreement that the Ravens roster is not as talented as it once was. Free agency plays a part in roster construction, but the Ravens franchise has always built through the draft first and foremost. However, the five draft classes from 2011 to 2015 have not produced the volume of elite level players that the Ravens have grown accustomed to. Matt Elam, Arthur Brown, Courtney Upshaw, Maxx Williams and Breshad Perriman are  all guys who were largely expected to be big-time contributors, but have yet to make a real impact in the pros.

Random Bytes

17 potential Deflategate outcomes, ranked from most likely to most absurd - SBNation.com
The controversy that never will go away, DeflateGate will begin its next chapter in the coming weeks when a federal appeals court decides whether to grant Patriots quarterback Tom Brady a rehearing in his case against the NFL. For the second straight year, talk about deflated footballs will dominate the summer months.

Bosa skipping Chargers minicamp due to contract dispute - Pro32
Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa doesn’t have a contract, putting him fully within his rights to refuse to report to a minicamp that is mandatory only for players under contract.

Unsigned Joey Bosa holds out from minicamp - San Diego Union Tribune
Joey Bosa handled his business at Chargers Park for the past month, attending nearly every team function and improving over the course of organized team activities. But his spring has come to a sudden, apparent end. It's business.

Colin Cowherd, Jason Whitlock make good first impression with 'Speak for Yourself' - Sporting News
With all the doubters surrounding FS1’s "Speak for Yourself," it was important for Jason Whitlock and Colin Cowherd to make a good first impression with TV viewers. They did, with Whitlock nailing a key dynamic of Game 5 of the NBA Finals at the top of the show.