Bengals Bytes (12/10): Success of Cincinnati follows success of their drafts

Hamilton County set to ignore $2.67M stadium payment to Bengals
County leaders might skip a $2.67 million payment to the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamilton County taxpayers are expected to pick up some of the tab for this season's football game-day expenses at Paul Brown Stadium. The bill is due early next year.

Cincinnati Bengals: NFL Draft classes can build up, tear down seasons
Despite a fourth-consecutive playoff loss, a young nucleus of players was developing into one of the deepest rosters in the NFL. They extended the quarterback and boasted one of the game’s best receivers. The defense continued to play at a top-10 level, and all signs pointed to a potentially special 2015 season.

5 things to watch for in Cincinnati Bengals game vs Chicago Bears
While mathematically still alive for the playoffs, the reality of the situation is that today’s game against the Chicago Bears will be more of a test of will and pride than X’s and O’s for the Cincinnati Bengals. And more often than not, the Bengals have passed those types of tests when they’ve been presented with them under head coach Marvin Lewis.

Adams Jones' season ends on IR; McRae Bengals debut a college reunion
The oldest Bengal fell victim to injured reserve Saturday when cornerback Adam Jones’ season ended with a partially torn groin he received ending the Steelers’ first series Monday night with an interception. That gave Jones, 34, 12 career picks in eight seasons as a Bengal, good enough to put him in the club’s all-time top 20. It broke a seven-player logjam with 11 interceptions and he’s now one behind Ashley Ambrose and Marvin Cobb.

Media Roundtable: Battered Bengals, wounded Bears tee it up
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis is poised to show old Pitt coaching buddy John Fox, head coach of the struggling Bears (3-9), the best of his skills when the two meet Sunday (1 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Channel 19) at Paul Brown Stadium. Lewis is a master motivator known for getting his teams ready to play no matter the obstacles and he’ll need all his guile six days after the 5-7 Bengals lost a soul-sapping, bone-crushing, walk-off game to the Steelers that left their roster and play-off hopes spare.

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones placed on injured reserve with a groin injury
The Cincinnati Bengals have placed cornerback Adam Jones on injured reserve, the team announced Saturday. Jones injured his groin while making an interception against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Monday night. He will end his season with nine starts, one interception and four pass deflections. Jones was also one of the team's kick returners and had a punt return for a touchdown that was called back due to a penalty earlier in the season.

4 things to watch: Bears-Bengals
Ineffective most of the season, the Bears offense has regressed the last two weeks, mustering only 140 total yards and eight first downs against the Eagles Nov. 26 and 147 yards and eight first downs versus the 49ers last Sunday. The offense has produced only six touchdowns in its last six games and ranks last in the NFL in total yards and passing yards. Sunday in Cincinnati, the unit will face a Bengals defense that will be missing five starters due to injuries in linebackers Vontaze Burfict (concussion) and Nick Vigil (ankle), cornerbacks Adam Jones (groin) and Dre Kirkpatrick (concussion) and safety Shawn Williams (hamstring).

AFC North Bytes

Ravens offensive line turned from glitter to gold after sustaining multiple losses
To begin the season, the Baltimore Ravens lost LG Alex Lewis and rookie backup guard Nico Siragusa to season-ending injuries. Hours before day one of training camp, they also lost G/C John Urschel to retirement. The Ravens were in big trouble. Compounding onto the losses, right guard Marshal Yanda in suffered a season-ending ankle injury back in week 2. Everybody officially hit the panic button soon after.

NFL Betting Odds: Steelers 4.5-point favorites at home vs. the Ravens
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens are set to kick off the second act in their 2017 regular-season rivalry on Sunday Night Football in Week 14. When the two teams go head-to-head at Heinz Field, there will be a lot on the line.

Kenny Britt Cut by Browns After Signing 4-Year, $32.5M Contract in Offseason
The Cleveland Browns informed veteran wide receiver Kenny Britt on Friday that he will be waived by the team, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Britt is in the midst of the first year of a four-year, $32.5 million contract he signed with the Browns during the offseason, per Spotrac.

Random Bytes

Tom Brady Has Been 'Feeling Bad All Week' After Josh McDaniels Altercation
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said Saturday that his verbal altercation with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels during the team's 23-3 win over the Buffalo Bills in Week 13 has weighed heavily on him throughout the week.

Fox Posts Ad Seeking Actors in Los Angeles for Rams Pregame Show vs. Eagles
Fox NFL Sunday is seeking actors to play Los Angeles Rams fans ahead of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. On Friday, Daniel Craig of Philly Voice provided details from a Project Casting post, which said the pregame show's producers seek "actors, models and talent" to audition for a role on the broadcast taking place from outside the L.A. stadium Sunday morning.

Cameron Wake Says NFL Safety Rules Favor Offensive Players
Count Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake among those who believe the NFL's rules on safety are meant to favor offensive players. Wake thinks the league needs to make everyone's safety a priority if it really wants to reduce the risk of serious injuries.