Bengals Bytes (8/11): Slow start

Hot Takes
The starters for the Bengals and the Vikings played a lot more against each other during Wednesday’s joint practice before a crowd of 1,950 than they will in Friday night’s pre-season opener (7:30-Cincinnati’s Channel 12) and here are some hot takes from the hottest practice of training camp that ended in 90-degree weather just before 5 p.m.

Vikings defense wins the day in joint practices with Bengals
The Vikings just walked off the practice fields outside Paul Brown Stadium following their first day of joint practices with the Bengals. The heat was punishing, with humidity around 100 percent, after showers hit the area in the morning and sprinkles brought temporary relief in the afternoon.

Cincinnati safety George Iloka considered Vikings’ offer before re-signing
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer pretended Wednesday he still coached George Iloka. He playfully offered the Bengals safety instructions before the teams participated in a joint practice. No doubt Zimmer wishes he still had Iloka.

Rudolph enjoys homecoming, Bengals offense seeks improvement
It’s been a long wait for Kyle Rudolph, but the Cincinnati native should finally get a chance to suit up and play on the turf inside Paul Brown Stadium for the first time in over a decade.

Training Camp Report: 8/10
Bengals.com recaps the first joint practice against the Minnesota Vikings

Vikings vs Bengals preseason week 1: 5 things to watch for
The Minnesota Vikings will see their first preseason action on Friday, August 12, 2016. Here are the five biggest things to watch for against the Bengals.

8-10 Marvin Lewis press conference transcript: Recalling Mike Zimmer edition
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon just prior to the team beginning the first of two joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings and here is a transcript

Domata Peko and Pacman Jones talk about Mike Zimmer
Mike Zimmer returned to town today. You can listen to what he had to say here. Two current Bengals took time out to talk about their former coach. First, you'll hear from Domata Peko. Then, we checked in with Adam Jones. They also talked about the benefits of practicing with the Vikings.

With a little nudge from a Hall of Famer and position change, Hunt looks to flourish
Injuries, inexperience and better players in front of him prevented Margus Hunt from getting on the field much for the Bengals as a defensive lineman in his first three years with the team, but the 2013 second-round draft pick is hoping an offseason pass-rushing tutorial at the home of an NFL Hall of Fame member and a bit of a position switch will change that in 2016.

Bengals express admiration for Mike Zimmer as Vikings coach returns
Adam Jones made it clear late Wednesday morning that the next three days still will be all about his team, despite the return to town of a man who the Cincinnati Bengals cornerback contends taught him a lot about playing the position in the NFL.

Bengals rookie Billings getting MRI after practice injury
Bengals rookie defensive tackle Andrew Billings will undergo an MRI after he left Wednesday’s joint practice with the Vikings on a cart.

AFC North Bytes

Cleveland Browns, agent Drew Rosenhaus meet to discuss injured DE Desmond Bryant's salary
The Browns and agent Drew Rosenhaus met Tuesday to discuss whether the team would be willing to pay injured DE Desmond Bryant any portion of the base salary he is due this season, per a source.

Practice Report: The return of Big Ben
QB Ben Roethlisberger was back for Round 2 against Detroit after missing Tuesday’s joint practice with the Detroit Lions due to an excused absence for personal reasons.

Ravens To Air Michael Phelps' Race During Preseason Opener At M&T Bank Stadium
Fans inside M&T Bank Stadium for the preseason opener Thursday night will also get to cheer on another Baltimore sports star. The Ravens are planning to air Michael Phelps’ 200-meter individual medley finals race on the RavensVision video boards during a commercial break of the matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The race is scheduled for 10 p.m., and Phelps will be going after his 22nd career gold medal (as long as he qualifies for the finals, which is expected).

Random Bytes

Hannah Storm Announces Live On SportsCenter That John Saunders Is Dead
Longtime ESPN personality John Saunders is dead, as reported live this morning on SportsCenter by anchor Hannah Storm. Saunders, who was 61, spent 30 years at ESPN and hosted The Sports Reporters for the past 15 years.

FOX Sports Announces NFL Broadcast Teams for Super Bowl Season
FOX Sports today unveiled the broadcast teams for the network’s 23rd season of NFL coverage, which culminates with the exclusive presentation of Super Bowl LI, FOX’s eighth, live from Houston’s NRG Stadium on Feb. 5, 2017. The announcement was made by John Entz, President, FOX Sports Production.

Los Angeles Rams cut Deon Long for having woman in dorm
A fairly minor Los Angeles Rams transaction became more interesting on Tuesday when it was revealed that coach Jeff Fisher cut Deon Long after the wide receiver brought a woman into his training camp dorm.

Jimmy Graham comes off the PUP list
Graham took part in Wednesday's session, according to Stephen Cohen of SeattlePI.com. Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times noted that the "obvious assumption" is that Graham is off of the physically unable to perform list, given his activity at practice.

NFL Training Camps 2016: Updates, Rumors & Analysis for August 10
We're already speeding toward the point in training camp when one simple but uncontrollable goal casts a shadow over everything else: staying healthy or getting healthy.

Whisenhunt back on board to run Chargers' offense
Ken Whisenhunt returned to the San Diego Chargers and it's difficult telling who's happier: Whisenhunt or Philip Rivers? Whisenhunt, the team's offensive coordinator in 2013, is back in the same role. Rivers, who had one of his best seasons in '13, remains the quarterback of a team looking to rebound from a 4-12 record, its worst season since 2003.

Chiefs GM 'confident' Berry will be back by Week 1
We're two weeks into the 2016 preseason, and there's still no sign of Eric Berry at Chiefs camp. The Kansas City safety has not reported to training camp since he and the team failed to reach an agreement ahead of the deadline to sign franchise tagged players. Berry, who earned Comeback Player of the Year in 2015 after beating Hodgkin's lymphoma and leading the Chiefs to the playoffs, will have to play under the $10.8 million franchise tag for one season if and when he returns to the team.