Bengals Bytes (4/21): Special start

Message From Mike Brown to Fans (Bengals)

An Open Letter to Bengals Fans.

This season will mark the Bengals’ 50th season in Cincinnati. Since we were formed in 1968, we have enjoyed great support – first at Nippert Stadium, then at Riverfront Stadium, and now at Paul Brown Stadium. Throughout all those years, there has been one constant: you, our fans. We appreciate your support, and I say "thank you" on behalf of the entire organization. We look forward to celebrating our team’s history with you this season.

50 years later: legacy on the river (Bengals)

With the Bengals kicking off their 50th anniversary season Thursday at Paul Brown Stadium, Mike Brown recalls how it is almost miraculous that it all came together in the late 1960s in Cincinnati. No generation gap then as Paul and Mike Brown proved to be a formidable father-son team that left their bond on the riverfront.

Fifty years comes down to 15 minutes.

Bengals president Mike Brown, framed by a riverfront he helped transform twice, has to navigate the mist like one of those steamboat captains in a bygone Ohio River. Only this time he is peering through the vapors of history for a moment plucked from 1967 in a corner of 2017 and Paul Brown Stadium.

Fifty years.

2017 Bengals schedule by the numbers (Bengals)

The first Paul Brown Stadium opener in the Green-Dalton Era should be a red letter day for Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green in his first game back since partially tearing his hamstring and missing the last seven games of 2016. Green always seems to come up big in openers and against the Ravens. The last time he did both (2014 in Baltimore) he won the game with 4:58 left on a 77-yard bomb, one of three fourth-quarter comebacks in the six Green-Dalton openers.

For openers, home sweet home on Bengals 2017 schedule (Bengals)

Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn asked and in turn she received the club’s first Paul Brown Stadium opener in the seven seasons of the A.J. Green-Andy Dalton Era. The Bengals kick off their 50th anniversary season with not one but back-to-back home games to start the year for the first time since 1983.

Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn asked and in turn she received the club’s first Paul Brown Stadium opener in the seven seasons of the A.J. Green-Andy Dalton Era. The Bengals kick off their 50th anniversary season with not one but back-to-back home games to start the year for the first time since 1983.

Cincinnati Bengals have brutal November road stretch (ESPN.com)

After catching a break in the early going with several home games, the Bengals' road will get progressively tougher.

The Bengals had their first losing season since 2010, and it showed in terms of national interest. Cincinnati has only two prime-time games this season, hosting the Texans on Thursday night in Week 2 and the Steelers on Monday Night Football in Week 13. The Steelers will be another tough opponent this year, and the road to the AFC North likely will go through them.

2017 Cincinnati Bengals game-by-game predictions (ESPN.com)

What appears to be a manageable schedule, especially in the first five weeks, could help the Bengals rebound from a disappointing 2016 season.

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming off one of their worst seasons in years, finishing 6-9-1 in 2016. However, they get a home season opener for the first time since 2009, and a favorable early schedule before their Week 6 bye. Road trips to the Packers and Broncos are going to be tough, as well as a Monday night game against the Steelers. While the Bengals went through some changes in the offseason, the schedule seems easier this year, which could set them up to bounce back.

Bengals Draft Strategy: Specialists (Cincinnati.com)

The Bengals haven’t found much value in using draft picks on specialists in the Marvin Lewis era.

Seventh most important. The Bengals have veteran Randy Bullock under contract at a minimum salary through 2018 after going 5-for-6 on field goals and 6-for-6 on extra points in three games with the Bengals in 2016. The Bengals also have undrafted free agent Jon Brown under contract. He was signed last offseason but was released after being injured and never appearing in practice or game action.

Texans-Bengals kicks off Thursday Night Football schedule (ProFootballTalk)

There have been plenty of criticisms about Thursday night games over the years, but they aren’t going anywhere and this year’s schedule of games under the Thursday Night Football banner includes a few late-season Saturday and Monday games as well. The package will also be featured on a variety of broadcasters this year. NFL Network…

There have been plenty of criticisms about Thursday night games over the years, but they aren’t going anywhere and this year’s schedule of games under the Thursday Night Football banner includes a few late-season Saturday and Monday games as well.

AFC North Bytes

How WR Antonio Brown flipped the NFL draft on its head in 2010 (ESPN.com)

There are lessons to be learned -- 21, to be exact -- from how Antonio Brown, one of the NFL's best receivers, slipped to the 195th pick of the draft.

The draft clock ticked into the late afternoon as Bruce Arians burned nervous energy inside the Pittsburgh Steelers' war room.

Before the team submitted selection No. 195, head coach Mike Tomlin asked the question Arians wanted to hear.

An early stroll through the Browns' 2017 schedule (ESPN.com)

Hue Jackson's second season as Browns coach starts and ends with the Steelers.

There’s no point in playing the schedule game until after the draft.

I mean, the Browns will be a different team a week from now. What with Myles Garrett rushing the passer and Jimmy Garoppolo spinning the ball to O.J. Howard ... huh? Well, let’s just wait and see on all that.

Way-too-early Ravens 2017 regular season prediction (Baltimore Beatdown)

With the 2017 NFL schedules released Thursday evening, here are my way-too-early predictions for the upcoming Ravens season... Week 1: Cincinnati Bengals (away)- Win Week 2: Cleveland Browns...

With the 2017 NFL schedules released Thursday evening, here are my way-too-early predictions for the upcoming Ravens season...

Random Bytes

2017 NFL Schedule: W-L Predictions for Every Team (Bleacherreport.com)

Predictions are never an easy task for us football writers. Not only are we guaranteed to be wrong in some way, but people yell at us—yeah, I'm talking about you! "You idiot! ...

Predictions are never an easy task for us football writers.

Not only are we guaranteed to be wrong in some way, but people yell at us—yeah, I'm talking about you!

Bud Grant gearing up for his final garage sale, with bobbleheads (ProFootballTalk)

Former Vikings coach Bud Grant’s garage sales have become almost as famous as his coaching career. But about to turn 90, Grant said the one coming up next month will be his last. The reason why is as pragmatic as Grant himself. “I’m running out of stuff,” he said, via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer…

Former Vikings coach Bud Grant’s garage sales have become almost as famous as his coaching career.

But about to turn 90, Grant said the one coming up next month will be his last. The reason why is as pragmatic as Grant himself.

NFL has spent $12.8 million on new soccer/football stadium in London (ProFootballTalk)

At a time when NFL teams are moving from city to city to find more lucrative stadium options, the league is putting some money into a stadium overseas. The NFL has spent $12.8 million on the construction of a new stadium for soccer team Tottenham Hotspur in London, according to ESPN. Tottenham and the NFL…

At a time when NFL teams are moving from city to city to find more lucrative stadium options, the league is putting some money into a stadium overseas.

Chiefs vs. Patriots to Open 2017 NFL Regular Season Schedule in Foxborough (Bleacherreport.com)

The New England Patriots will open their 2017 title defense at home against the Kansas City Chiefs , the NFL announced Thursday. The teams will face off Thursday, Sept. 9...

The New England Patriots will open their 2017 title defense at home against the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL announced Thursday. The teams will face off Thursday, Sept. 9.

New England and Kansas City last met in the 2015 season's divisional round, with the Patriots earning a 27-20 victory.