Bengals Bytes (7/18): Heaviest sleepers

Who Asked You? Reds slide, Bengals name top players
Jed DeMuesy chatted with Richard Skinner of Local12.com to discuss the Reds struggles against the Nationals and the Bengals reveal of top retired players in franchise history.

Bengals' Marvin Lewis sinks long putt at American Century Championship
Marvin Lewis drains a putt from the edge of the fairway at the American Century Championship, a celebrity golf tournament that took place during the weekend.

Alexander: Bengals’ Derron Smith’s productive homecoming in Banning
Derron Smith, who went from Banning High to Fresno State to the Cincinnati Bengals, surveyed the scene Saturday morning: His free football camp, at his alma mater, with 250 or so grade schoolers participating in football drills (and also discovering that on a hot morning it’s good to hydrate, but it’s even more fun to squirt water at the other kids).

Bengals First 50 Countdown: 40-31
The Bengals First 50 recognizes the top 50 retired Bengals players as voted on by fans and media. More than 160,000 fan votes were cast, which accounted for 50 percent of the results. The other 50 percent was determined by 24 members of the media who have covered or currently cover the team. The final list features the top 50 retired players who received the most votes, rather than a predetermined number of players at each position. Ten players will be announced each day at 10:00 a.m. on Bengals.com with a video countdown featuring Bengals radio broadcasters Dan Hoard and Dave Lapham.

Bengals 50: Coy Bacon, the sack king traded for a HOFer
Coy Bacon had a very brief yet impactful career in Cincinnati, playing just two of his 14 seasons with the Bengals. The Cadiz, Kentucky native was a college free agent out of Jackson St. who signed with Dallas in 1967 and was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in 1968 at the age of 26 – and backed up the “Fearsome Foursome.” By 1972 the 6-foot, 4-inch, 270-pound defensive lineman was a Pro Bowler. In 1973 he was traded to San Diego, where he spent three seasons before Paul Brown shipped 28-year-old wide receiver Charlie Joiner to acquire Bacon.

5 Reasons for optimism about the Bengals' season
Training camp season is right around the corner and with the start of camp also comes unbridled optimism. Count just how many times you hear that a veteran “is in the best shape of his career” or that a rookie “looks like a seasoned veteran”. The Bengals are no different. I would recommend taking anything heard from training camps with a grain of salt, but a spoonful seems more adequate.

Bengals 50: Reggie Williams impacted the field, city council, Disney
One of the most impactful linebackers in the history of the Bengals was brought to the club in the third round of the 1976 NFL draft, when Reggie Williams was picked No. 82 overall out of Dartmouth. He then roamed the line of scrimmage and beyond for over a decade, recording 16 interceptions and 62.5 sacks, which is still second in franchise history.

AFC North Bytes

Martavis Bryant wants to have a 'man-to-man' conversation with Ben Roethlisberger
Now that Martavis Bryant is back in the saddle with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he wants to have a "man-to-man" conversation with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger over his critical statements about Bryant’s suspension last year.

Cleveland Browns: No chance team would be for a Johnny Manziel return
The Cleveland Browns may not have an elite quarterback room, but there is no chance that head coach Hue Jackson would be open to a return of Johnny Manziel.

Ravens dip toe into “mixed reality,” holographic players
Virtual reality has become a growing part of training and practice regimens around the league in recent years as teams look for any possible way to improve their results on the field.

Random Bytes

Dave Gettleman Relieved of GM Duties by Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson
The Carolina Panthers have relieved Dave Gettleman of his general manager duties, according to team owner Jerry Richardson. "After much thought and a long evaluation of our football operations, I have decided to relieve Gettleman of his duties as general manager," Richardson said in a press release Monday. "I want to thank Dave for the role he played in our success over the past four seasons. While the timing of this decision is not ideal, a change is needed."

Every NFL Team's Biggest Sleeper Heading into Training Camp
Everyone loves to root for underdogs in the NFL. Fans become instantly attached to players who seemingly come out of nowhere to experience success. While it often seems that way, that's never truly the case. Those players earn their way onto the field with hard work and a penchant for making plays.

Ezekiel Elliott Involved in Incident at Dallas Bar; Police Report No Arrests
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott was reportedly involved in an altercation Sunday night at a Dallas bar, though no arrests have been made. Not much is known about the events leading up to the incident, which took place at Dallas' Clutch Bar. Police confirmed that no arrests have been reported.

Kirk Cousins, Redskins Fail to Agree on Contract Despite 'Repeated Attempts'
The Washington Redskins failed to agree to terms with quarterback Kirk Cousins on a long-term deal before Monday's franchise tag deadline. Team president Bruce Allen released a statement on the negotiations, effectively blaming Cousins for not accepting a contract despite "repeated attempts" at a deal