Bengals Bytes (6/10): Something to prove

Cedric Ogbuehi Is The Bengals Player With The Most To Prove In 2017
Let’s be blunt, Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi was awful last season, both in his play at right tackle and in a few games at left. As a former first-round pick, much was expected of the former Texas A&M prospect last season, despite appearing in just five games as a rookie. Ogbuehi was touted for his athleticism and movement skills in college. While there were flashes of his talent with the Aggies, Ogbuehi was beaten far too often, leading to concerns that he was all about ability and very little about technique or power.

Bengals lock up Jordan Willis, entire draft class signed
The Cincinnati Bengals have their entire 11-man draft class under contract as third-round pick Jordan Willis agreed to his four-year rookie deal on Thursday. Willis was the last rookie to agree to his deal but has been practicing in every organized team activity over the last month on a participation waiver.

Why this could be the Bengals' year to get it done
The window of opportunity in the NFL is one that many teams want to look through. Unfortunately, the time it stays open varies from one franchise to the next. Bengals fans have been exposed to various instances of emotional trauma disguised as potential. In other words, promising versions of the team on the banks of the Ohio River have seldom delivered the good. But, this year’s edition of the Bengals could raise more than a few eyebrows.

Are Bengals Super Bowl contenders?
Can the Cincinnati Bengals be a Super Bowl contender in 2017? The idea of the Bengals making a playoff run this year cooled off considerably after a 6-9-1 season in 2016. Despite five straight playoff appearances from 2011-2015 there’s a lot of skepticism surrounding the team’s chances this year.

Green helps set the community table
The kid steps out of the line with the other 11-year-olds catching a football almost as big as them on Sycamore High School’s hotel lobby-like carpet, sticks out his hand with a smile wider than A.J. Green’s catch radius, and introduces himself with his nickname from the Price Hill rec center. “Deuce,” he says, a big play on his first name.

Hobson's Choice Podcast: Kevin Huber
It may be time to start talking about homegrown Kevin Huber as the greatest punter in Bengals history. Huber comes into his ninth season as the club’s all-time leader in average for gross punting and net punting, more than a yard ahead of each of his closest pursuers, as well as the all-time leader in punts inside-the-20 while owning the Bengals’ top five average net seasons in an entire career spent under special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons.

AFC North Bytes

Steelers OTAs Recap Day 9: More players speak out about Le’Veon Bell missing OTAs
In the first week of Pittsburgh Steelers Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Ben Roethlisberger spoke to the media about not having Le’Veon Bell in attendance. Most shrugged off the comments, knowing Bell was still recovering from groin surgery a few months prior.

Eric Decker Trade Reportedly Discussed by Ravens, Jets
The Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets have reportedly discussed a trade centered around veteran wide receiver Eric Decker. Citing sources, The MMQB's Albert Breer reported Thursday the two sides "have had trade talks." On Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter relayed word the Jets plan to release or trade Decker by week's end.

Tyvis Powell Cut by Browns on Day He Was Slated to Throw 1st Pitch for Indians
On the same day he was supposed to throw out the first pitch at the Cleveland Indians game, the Cleveland Browns released safety Tyvis Powell on Friday, according to Zack Meisel of Cleveland.com. The Browns announced Friday that they waived Powell just four months after acquiring him off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks.

Random Bytes

Olympics adds 3-on-3 basketball as a new event for 2020 in Toyko
Three-on-three basketball has officially made the final cut for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The International Olympics Committee finalized the news on Friday in a widely expected press release.

Derek Carr Could Reportedly Receive Contract Worth $25 Million Per Year
The Oakland Raiders and quarterback Derek Carr have been engaged in discussions about a contract extension throughout the offseason, and the eventual price tag on an agreement could be mammoth. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, "it is very possible" Carr could be the first quarterback in the NFL to make $25 million annually.

The Biggest Revelation from Every NFL Team's OTAs
This time of year in the NFL is something of the calm before the proverbial storm. We're past the flurry of free-agency activity and the NFL draft, but not yet into training camp and the preseason. The lazy days of summer, so to speak. Of course, there's really no such thing as "lazy days" in the National Football League. We may not have hit high gear just yet, but there's always something going on.

Every NFL Team's Biggest Mistake of the Past Decade
Looking back on 10 years in the NFL is a good way to make yourself feel very old, very fast. Remember that time when Jim Mora was the Seahawks' head coach for like 10 minutes? And that other time when Pat White being a top-45 draft pick was a real thing? Those are just two sources of misery around the league over the past decade.