Bengals Bytes (11/8): John Ross giving back to community

Bengals rookie John Ross explains why community, giving back matter so much to him
One of the problems with modern media is a focus on the negative: controversial stories draw clicks and generate headlines. We don't spend enough time talking about the good things that NFL players do, so let's try it right now by talking about Bengals rookie wide receiver John Ross, who spent his bye week giving back to his community.

Bengals kicker Marshall Koehn’s crazy five days
Marshall Koehn dressed silently and alone in the darkened auxiliary locker room just offset from the main Cincinnati Bengals’ dressing area inside Paul Brown Stadium. There are a few Bengals in there – it’s a room usually reserved for the players rehabilitating season-ending injuries – but this year it’s used more often as a quiet spot to play cards.nThere is no nameplate over Koehn’s locker.

Cincinnati Bengals Tennessee Titans Preview NFL Week 10
The Bengals are coming off a meltdown in Jacksonville, resulting in a 23-7 loss to the Jaguars that dropped them to 3-5 on the year. Wide receiver A.J. Green was ejected for fighting in the first half and the offense managed just 30 yards of offense in the second half. The Bengals also suffered a special teams lapse for the third straight week in allowing a punt return touchdown and the defense allowed the Jaguars to convert 12 of 18 third downs.

TDBH: Breeden, Bengals ground Air Coryell to take command of AFC skies
Whenever anyone questions their win over the environmentally-challenged Chargers in the 1981 AFC title game staged at Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium in the second coldest NFL game ever played, the Bengals simply point to this one 62 days before when they melt quarterback Dan Fouts and his prolific Air Coryell offense on six sacks and five turnovers in the Jack Murphy greenhouse of 72 degrees. The Bengals roll to a 40-17 victory that cornerback Louis Breeden salts away when he ties an NFL record with a 102-yard-interception return with 36 seconds left in the first half as the Bengals take a 31-7 lead and knock the ballyhooed Chargers down to 6-4 and raise themselves to 7-3. “I hope nobody now looks at us as the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL,” says defensive end Mike St. Clair.

Top 50 Moments: Bengals Upset Defending Super Bowl Champ Ravens
With emotions running high at a flag-filled Paul Brown Stadium in their first game since the Sept. 11 tragedy, the Bengals respond with an upset when they beat the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens, 21-10. The highlight play on the highlight day comes courtesy of fourth-year vet Takeo Spikes, who along with fellow linebacker Brian Simmons is the heart-and-soul of a defense that has the Bengals 2-0 for the first time since 1995.

Fantasy Recap: Week 9
Finally we had a week in the NFL where a devastating injury didn’t drastically alter the landscape of fantasy football rosters. It came in a week where a lot of fantasy studs were on a bye, so hopefully the injury reaper doesn’t come back for them in Week 10 in a Final Destination replay. Outside of the lack of injuries for fantasy owners to be thrilled about, it was certainly an entertaining week of games that kept fans glued to their seats. The Eagles and Rams each put up 51 points; Brock Osweiler went full-on Brock Osweiler, insuring the Broncos offense was a fantasy nightmare; the 49ers continued their losing ways (0-9), possibly putting Jimmy Garoppolo under center as early as Week 11 after the team comes out of their bye.

Cincinnati Bengals offense plummets to last place in NFL
The Cincinnati Bengals offense has plummeted to the bottom of the NFL after Sunday’s 23-7 loss at Jacksonville. The Bengals are ranked 32nd in total offense at 269.8 yards per game and 32nd in rushing offense (72.3). And they are barrelling toward a trifecta of terrible with the pass offense ranked 28th (197.5).

Bengals' A.J. Green rightfully avoids suspension for fight
After suffering a complete dismantling by the Jacksonville Jaguars, there was one thing the Cincinnati Bengals didn’t need. Losing A.J. Green to a suspension, after his MMA-style brawl with Jalen Ramsey would have been another serious blow. But, the NFL decided to toss the Bengals a bone and spare Green the agony of serving time away from his team.

AFC North Bytes

Josh Gordon Says He Had Something in System for 'Probably Every Game' of Career
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon said "he's had something in his system for 'probably every game of his career,'" per Clay Skipper of GQ. Skipper noted the news in a Monday profile, pointing out Gordon hasn't played a game since the 2014 season and missed 51 of Cleveland's last 56 contests "because of struggles with substance abuse."

NFL 2017: Ravens Season Slipping Away
And yet despite this rather unimpressive lineup of signal callers the Ravens are just (4-5) largely because the team’s offense is stuck in the mud. But never fear Ravens Nation! Your team is still in it despite what NFL Lines suggest. Just ask John Harbaugh

Steelers' Bryant to return to action vs. Colts
Disgruntled receiver Martavis Bryant was back working with the Pittsburgh Steelers' first-team offense at practice Monday and he will slot back into the lineup when the team faces the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10. Bryant was benched in the Steelers' last game before their Week 9 bye for social-media outbursts due to his low usage. Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters he plans to play the fourth-year pro on Sunday.

Random Bytes

Tony Dungy: Jim Irsay Says Andrew Luck's Shoulder Injury Is 'Inside His Head'
Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy said Monday that Colts owner Jim Irsay suggested Andrew Luck's shoulder injury was impacting the quarterback mentally. According to ESPN.com, Dungy said the following during Dan Patrick's radio show on the Audience Network: "I don't know what's going on there, I really don't. Is he going to play? Jim Irsay made a comment about six weeks ago, 'You know, it's inside his head now.'"

Teddy Bridgewater Reportedly to Be Activated, Sam Bradford Could Go on IR
Teddy Bridgewater's long journey to rejoin the Minnesota Vikings' 53-man roster will reportedly happen this week. Per ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the Vikings will activate Bridgewater off the physically unable to perform list and are discussing whether to put Sam Bradford on injured reserve.

Colin Kaepernick Reportedly Invited to 1-on-1 Meeting with Roger Goodell
The NFL has reportedly extended an invitation to free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick for a one-on-one meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell. Per ESPN's Jim Trotter, Troy Vincent, NFL executive vice president of football operations, texted Kaepernick on Oct. 31 with the invitation, and the league is waiting for a response from the former San Francisco 49ers star.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford gets knee cleaned up, but no major issues found
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford underwent an arthroscopic procedure Tuesday in which Dr. James Andrews "cleaned up" his left knee but found no major damage, according to team sources. Bradford was returning to Minnesota on Tuesday night and will await the team's decision on whether the club will place him on injured reserve when it activates Teddy Bridgewater to the 53-man roster on Wednesday.

Leonard Fournette Apologizes for Missing Team Photo, Says He'll Be 'On Time'
Fournette, 22, was suspended for a violation of team rules that included missing a team picture day Oct. 24. Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reported Fournette was in Louisiana the day of the photo. "Leonard Fournette is not playing in today's game due to an infraction of a team rule," Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said in a statement. "This has been addressed internally and further details will not be made public."