Bengals Bytes (5/20): Keeping the confidence

Classic Lewis keeps watering the kids

Orchid Wang is your typical Marvin Lewis scholar, which means she’s atypical. Which means her resume is more well-rounded than one of the golf balls she has hit well enough to be all-state. Sure, she can hit it long in the classroom (a National Merit Commended Scholar and Sycamore High School’s Female Fall Scholar Athlete), but she can also drive it straight through extracurricular (president of the orchestra council and owner of a superior rating for a violin duet and trio from a Ohio Music Education Association event) as well as get it up and down in the community (a volunteer teaching assistant at the Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Learning Association and a coach for the Lady Aves Spring Jr. Golf Camp.)

Quarterback Confidence for the Bengals

One of a few teams (including Carolina and Tampa Bay) whose draft seemed to be aimed at making its quarterback's life easier, Cincinnati used a top-10 pick on speedy wide receiver John Ross and a second-rounder on controversial but talented running back Joe Mixon. You can draft like that when you're confident in your quarterback situation, and the Bengals are.

NFL GM rankings: Bengals not as bad as you might expect

Considering the Cincinnati Bengals don't have a general manager per se, fans might fear the worst upon learning that Steven Ruiz of USA TODAY Sports' For The Win blog ranked every NFL general manager from worst to first. But Ruiz didn't slam the Bengals for having the league's only four-headed (Marvin Lewis/Mike Brown/Katie Blackburn/Duke Tobin) GM, ranking the team 12th of 32.

Domata Peko: 'Over here, we’re talking about winning championships'

Domata Peko, who spent the first 11 years of his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals before agreeing in March to a two-year contract with the Denver Broncos, made remarks about his former team published in an article by denverbroncos.com's Aric DiLalla that are sure to raise eyebrows in the Bengals' locker room and among fans.

Who Dey notes: Bengals' Mixon hot topic, ESPN grade

Has there been a Bengals player with more media coverage than Joe Mixon? In all my years watching the Orange and Black, this has to be the ultimate in overkill. Outside of putting him in a photoshopped men’s romper, how much more can be said about the former Sooner? There’s talk about the Bengals culture being the wrong atmosphere for the young man. Can we just stick to the football aspect of his career and move on? He’s certainly a hot issue. But, it’s starting to wear thin.

Bengals linebacker Vinny Rey drops by Local 12 studios

Brad Steinke chatted with Bengals linebacker Vinny Rey to discuss football, life as a new dad, and Rey's involvement in the Aruna Run 5K coming up on Saturday.

AFC North Bytes

Pittsburgh Steelers' tight end plan: More Jesse James, more receivers

There's no way around it: Ladarius Green's four-year, $20-million contract will go down as one of the Pittsburgh Steelers' worst free-agency signings. That's not Green's fault, of course. The ankle surgery in 2016 affected his speed even after he returned to full health. Concerns over concussions followed him to Pittsburgh, then eventually followed him out of town after a Week 15 hit sidelined him. He never had a chance to maximize his enormous potential.

Myles Garrett, Browns Agree to 4-Year Rookie Contract

The Cleveland Browns and defensive lineman Myles Garrett, the first overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, came to terms Friday on a four-year rookie contract, the team announced. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the contract is worth $30.4 million with a $20.25 million signing bonus.

Ravens news, notes and opinions on possible RB fit and Waller potentially changing positions again

It isn’t clear whether the Ravens pursued free agent LeGarrette Blount at any point or they just considered the possibility, but any temptation to add the big running back is now moot after the former New England Patriot signed a 1-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday.

Random Bytes

Tom Brady's Agent Denies QB Suffered Concussion Last Season

Don Yee, the agent for New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, said Friday his client didn't suffer a concussion during the 2016 NFL season despite a claim made by his wife, Gisele Bundchen. Adam Schefter of ESPN passed along comments from Yee about the situation.

Ryan Fitzpatrick Signs with Buccaneers After 2 Seasons with Jets

Following a tumultuous 2016 season with the New York Jets, Ryan Fitzpatrick, 34, is headed for a fresh start with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Terms of the agreement have yet to be confirmed after the Bucs announced the signing. However, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the agreement is for one year and $3 million.

How a covert visit to Chapel Hill solidified the Bears' conviction in Mitch Trubisky

Admittedly, it was a small task. But in the pre-draft process, every minute detail counts. So on March 16, Bears general manager Ryan Pace found himself curious to see how Mitch Trubisky would handle a routine assignment.

ESPN's Holly Rowe says her cancer has returned and spread

Between dashing for interviews with coaches and chatting with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Holly Rowe was back in her element Thursday night. It was a welcome respite for ESPN's veteran sideline reporter nearly two years after her initial cancer diagnosis.