Bengals Bytes (5/6): Party pooper

Inside Joe Mixon's first 37 hours as a Bengal
The opening moments of Joe Mixon’s professional football life were stripped down to its bones. He was home in Oakley, California, lifting threes, playing teams with siblings and navigating a game of H-O-R-S-E, like he did in a not-too-distant-childhood.

The Broo View: Joe Mixon controversy can be trumped by one thing for many Bengals' fans -- winning
The Bengals are now employing someone who slugged a woman in the face. Unfortunately, in today's NFL this isn't exclusive turf. Domestic violence has long been an issue with the National Football League. While the NFL enacts what seems to be ever-evolving discipline to this, and while it partners with groups designed to raise awareness and, hopefully, eradicate this plague on our society, the NFL continues to offer employment to offenders.

5 quarterbacks who are very happy about their team's NFL Draft
Every team has a different priority during the NFL Draft. Some franchises are rebuilding, some are in win-now mode. Some teams need defense, some want the best player available, and some need a quarterback. Other teams with established veteran quarterbacks can look to help their signal-caller in the draft by adding offensive weapons and protection on the offensive line.

Glance at 2017 CFA class
A glance at the Bengals college free agent class as rookie minicamp opened Friday.

Following in (light) footsteps
Jim Anderson, who coached 14 different Bengals runners to 100-yard games before retiring four years ago, wasted no time to take a look at the next one Friday when the club conducted the first day of rookie minicamp at dreary, drip-dry Paul Brown Stadium.

Notes: Lewis nixes Billy-Ross race; Lawson steps (up) quickly; Boom sidelined
The Bengals had Auburn pass rusher Carl Lawson as their No. 1 guy on their third day draft board in the fourth round for his attitude as much as his talent . He’s known as a no-nonsense, tough, all-out player, and that came through loud and clear Friday morning when he came back into the locker room after his first NFL walk-through.

Marvin Lewis news conference transcript
It was a good first day. It was a lot of fun to be back out on the football field and actually doing real football. Seeing offensive players work up against defensive players was really good. It was good to get the young guys out there and get them moving around. I thought from the meetings this morning, to the walkthrough, to coming back in the afternoon and being able to practice things that were installed in the meetings, both this morning and the afternoon — I thought the guys did a good job.

John Ross of Cincinnati Bengals open to racing Billy Hamilton of Cincinnati Reds in future
Bengals rookie wide receiver John Ross might just be the fastest man in the league after running the 40-yard dash in a record 4.22 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.

That has led to quite a few people challenging him to a race. Perhaps the most notable is Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton, who told reporters Thursday that he'd love to challenge the wideout for charity.

Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown supports drafting of Joe Mixon
Bengals owner Mike Brown published a letter in the Cincinnati Enquirer on Friday, pledging his support for the controversial selection of running back Joe Mixon in the second round of the NFL draft.

The Bengals have received criticism for drafting Mixon, who punched a woman in the face and fractured her jaw during his freshman year at Oklahoma in 2014. Mixon, who recently settled his civil suit with the woman, Amelia Molitor, was considered a first-round talent but slid to Day 2 of the draft.

Can Bengals, Women Helping Women work together?
The head of Women Helping Women says she’s grateful the Bengals gave her a meeting this week and she’s looking forward to continuing their discussion.

Kristin Smith Shrimplin told WCPO she reached out to the Bengals out of concern over their controversial decision to draft Joe Mixon last week.

Bengals' John Ross: Will miss OTAs
Ross (shoulder) will miss the entirety of the Bengals' OTAs, Jim Owczarski of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Ross is in attendance for rookie minicamp this weekend, but he'll return to Washington in order to complete his course work in anticipation of graduation in June.

AFC North Bytes

DeShone Kizer, eager to contribute, ready to embrace role in Browns QB room
DeShone Kizer didn’t back down from the spotlight cast on him as the newest member of the Browns’ quarterbacks room.

The former Notre Dame standout and second-round draft pick spoke of a desire last week to contribute as much and as early as possible upon arriving at the team’s Berea facility.

Pittsburgh Steelers' Martavis Bryant best value in fantasy football
Seeing Martavis Bryant as the No. 42 overall wideout in ESPN's fantasy football points-per-reception summit ranking is a bit jarring.

On talent alone, Bryant is more like No. 4.2.

That's never been a question with him. The question -- really the only question, and why this ranking can be justified -- is whether the Pittsburgh Steelers can count on Bryant.

Ravens Sign 5 Draft Picks Including First-Round CB Marlon Humphrey
According to OverTheCap.com, Humphrey will receive a four-year contract worth $11,847,480, which includes a signing bonus of $6,756,348. The contract also has a fifth-year option for the team to consider in 2020.

Humphrey, 20, was selected with the No. 16 overall pick by the Ravens and is considered to be one of the best cornerback prospects in a deep 2017 draft class at the position.

Random Bytes

The comprehensive guide to winning rock-paper-scissors
Always throw the same thing. Or don’t! We’re talking about rock-paper-scissors. It’s one of this country’s longest-standing pastimes, and it might be the game with the lowest barriers to entry. It requires a simple series of hand movements and, uh, not much else. If you crave competition, there’s no easier way to get it than saddling up for an RPS duel against a friend.

Biggest Questions That Can Be Answered Right Away in Rookie Camps
The NFL doesn't provide rest for the weary. Rookie minicamps are next on the docket.

For many of the recent draftees, they've been going nonstop since August.

Fall camp led to the regular season and into bowl games. Once the on-field portion of the process ended, many went straight into training for the NFL combine. Some enjoyed the awards circuit, Shrine Game and/or Senior Bowl.

Aaron Hernandez's Suicide Note to Fiancee Shayanna Jenkins Released by Court
The suicide note Aaron Hernandez wrote to fiancee Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez was released publicly Friday by Bristol County Superior Court, per WCVB.

Bianca Buono of ABC6 in Providence, Rhode Island, tweeted a photo of the note

What Every NFL Team's Rookie Class Must Accomplish in 2017
The draft is one of the most exciting times of the year in the NFL, but now it's time to dissect every pick and look at how each team's new players figure to impact the 2017 season.

Some teams selected multiple players who should start in Week 1 (looking at you, Cleveland), while others aren't expecting to get much out of their rookie class right away (Patriots).

Adam Gase Defends Jay Cutler, Says Rumors About Him Were 'Bulls--t'
Former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator and current Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase stood up for Jay Cutler during a press conference Friday.

According to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Gase said the following about the former Bears quarterback: "A lot of things that were said about him were bulls--t."