Kirkpatrick brings camp back to Gadsden with high-profile guests
When Dre Kirkpatrick steps back onto the turf at Titan Stadium on Saturday, he won't be alone.Along with 300 campers, Kirkpatrick will bring two of the top wide receivers in the NFL with him in Cincinnati teammate A.J. Green and Pittsburgh Steelers' Antonio Brown.The former Gadsden City and Alabama standout wanted to make his fifth annual camp bigger than ever, and he is thankful for his two friends for making it happen.
What to make of the Bengals after offseason work is through
With the Cincinnati Bengals done practicing until the start of training camp in late July, Jay Morrison broke down the roster heading into Marvin Lewis’ 15th season as the team’s coach.
Bengals think Andre Smith can be a “terrific” guard
The Bengals lost two starting offensive linemen as free agents this offseason, leaving them with openings at left tackle and right guard as they built their team for the 2017 season. They filled one of those spots by reaching out to a former member of the team, although Andre Smith’s won’t be returning as part of the plan to replace Andrew Whitworth at left tackle. Smith played right tackle in his first tour with the Bengals, but is set to take over at right guard for Kevin Zeitler.
Andre Smith Picking Up A New Position With Bengals
After playing the first five seasons of his NFL career in Cincinnati, offensive lineman Andre Smith has returned to his old stomping grounds after spending last season with the Minnesota Vikings. Looking to earn a roster spot after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Bengals in March, Smith will do so from a position he has not played in the NFL: right guard.
Kevin Minter the biggest standout for the Bengals' offseason
The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2017 season looking to get both younger and faster at the linebacker position. The acquisition of free agent Kevin Minter was supposed to be a big step in that direction. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?
The biggest risk for the Bengals this offseason
The Bengals are set to flirt with danger by making quarterback Andy Dalton play behind a patchwork offensive line. The suffering might extend beyond Dalton, as an otherwise stacked offense could be derailed if the pocket collapses regularly. The Bengals weren't able to re-sign tackle Andrew Whitworth or guard Kevin Zeitler. They were reliable and among the league's best at their positions, especially Whitworth.
AFC North Bytes
Former Ravens Linebacker Ryan Jones Shot Dead in Apartment
Ryan Jones, a former linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants, was killed on Sunday in Reno, Nevada, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. He was one of three men who were shot. He died on the scene. Jones was 26 years old.
Which NFL team boasts the best offensive trio in football?
There’s no question as to which team boasts the best offensive trio in football. The Pittsburgh Steelers, with two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell, have been among the most dominant offensive players the past three seasons. Roethlisberger has been in the top-five in passing yards per game in two of the three seasons, while Brown has been top-five in receiving yards three times in that span and Bell has placed in the top five in rushing yards twice.
Jim Brown participates in Touchdown in Israel II trip
For the second time in as many years, New England Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft helped sponsor “Touchdown in Israel II,” which saw 18 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame accompany Kraft on an ambassador trip to Isreal. For the second time in two years, thanks to the generosity of New England Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, a group of Pro Football Hall of Famers, are traveling through Israel.
Random Bytes
Lakers GM compares Lonzo Ball to Brady, Rodgers
The NFL rarely sees a father lobbying for his son the way basketball-crazed LaVar Ball lobbies for his son Lonzo, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second-overall pick in Thursday night's NBA draft. LaVar has made splashes all over the media landscape leading up to the draft, declaring his son is already better than Golden State's two-time MVP, Stephen Curry.
Drew Stanton criticizes NFL's QB development system
Drew Stanton thinks the NFL is going backward in its development of quarterbacks. The career backup has been inactive, cut, promised a chance to compete, scrubbed from the roster and forced to watch many starting quarterbacks in his 11 seasons. Stanton, a second-round pick in 2007, doesn't view the current trend of developing as a solution to the quarterback problem in the NFL. The 33-year-old specifically believes the current inactive rule hurts the development of young players.
Derek Carr: Deal was structured to help retain our stars
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr said he doesn't care that his $25 million per year deal will be quickly surpassed by a handful of NFL quarterbacks with expiring contracts looking to top the market. His main concerns? Take care of his team and his family. Both of those are now complete. Carr confirmed on Friday during a post-signing press conference that his deal was structured in order to help the Raiders ink other superstars. Khalil Mack, quite possibly the best defensive player in the league, will most likely be next along with guard Gabe Jackson. Mack is entering the final year of his rookie deal with a fifth-year option season coming in 2018. Mack will undoubtedly top the market for all defensive players, with Von Miller's six-year, $114.5 million deal ($19,083,333 per year with $70 million in practical guarantees) serving as a baseline. Jackson, a former third-round pick, is entering the final year of his deal.