Bengals Bytes (2/8): Making it to Canton

John Legend talks Bengals

John Legend joins Adam Schefter to discuss what it's like to sing at the Super Bowl, the struggles of being a Bengals fan and his work with trying to end mass incarceration.

10 Bengals observations from a week in Houston

There’s no convention of the sport quite like Super Bowl week and once the media center vacates for the evening, then the real information starts to swirl. So, after a week of interviews, Radio Row conversations and one of the greatest games the sport has seen, here’s a few (mostly) Bengals-centric observations from seven days at Super Bowl LI in Houston.

Hall of Fame likely a longshot for former Bengals WR Chad Johnson

Former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson wasn't happy when his one-time teammate and good friend Terrell Owens failed to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the second straight year. Owens ranks second-all time in receiving yards but bounced from team to team in the latter part of his career due to locker-room issues. Johnson told TMZ this week that he felt Owens exclusion was political.

Graham's final line: 1,260 points and a few regrets

When Shayne Graham said good-bye to the Bengals seven years ago, he had never really said hello. But when he retired from football this week, he had experienced enough to do both in graciously stepping away with many more points (1,260 to be exact) than regrets (a Frank Sinatra few) as the Bengals’ most accurate kicker ever and the tenth of all-time.

AFC North Bytes

Making the Call on Pittsburgh Steelers' Top Free Agents

Before the Pittsburgh Steelers make a single selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, they must first take stock of their own players headed for free agency and make decisions about who should stay and who should go.

Josh McCown Released by Browns

The Cleveland Browns announced Tuesday they have released quarterback Josh McCown. A 14-year veteran, McCown had spent the last two seasons with the Browns, compiling a 1-10 record as a starter. He was a part of another Browns carousel at the quarterback position in 2016 after Robert Griffin III went down with a shoulder injury in Week 1.

Picking up C.J. Mosley's option easy decision for Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens will have plenty of crucial decisions to make this offseason. Whether to keep linebacker C.J. Mosley through at least the 2018 season is not one of them. It's a no-brainer for the Ravens to exercise the fifth-year option on Mosley, which assures them of having him in the middle of their defense for the next two seasons. Baltimore has until May 3 to officially do so.

Random Bytes

We're On to the 2017 NFL (Mock) Draft

Jon Ledyard has an early 2017 NFL Mock draft, which relies on who he believes each team should take based on team need and his own evaluations. This mock was done with a heavy emphasis on need-based drafting, so some players that I currently grade as first rounders – Malik McDowell, Derek Barnett, Quincy Wilson, etc. – may have simply been passed over because the need or fit with a certain team wasn’t there.

Saints expected to hire Ryan Nielsen as defensive line coach

Defensive line coach Bill Johnson was among the assistants that the Saints let go at the end of the regular season and they’ve found his replacement.

Falcons hire Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator

It didn't take long for the Falcons to find Kyle Shanahan's replacement. The Falcons confirmed Tuesday they have hired Alabama play-caller Steve Sarkisian their next offensive coordinator. NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport was told that Sarkisian and the Falcons spoke earlier this winter after Shanahan's name bubbled up as a primary candidate for the 49ers head-coaching job, a role he accepted on Monday. Sarkisian and Falcons coach Dan Quinn share a common friend in Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

Social media reaction to Patriots' victory parade

You can't rain on this fifth Patriots parade, but you sure can snow on it. The Super Bowl champions took to the streets of Boston on a cavalcade of 22 duck boats on Tuesday morning, just two days removed from their improbable, historic comeback over the Falcons in Super Bowl LI. Here's a selection of the best social media reactions from the Patriots' fifth march through Beantown