Bengals Bytes (2/14): One of the most conservative offenses in the NFL

Bengals’ lack of offensive aggressiveness illustrated through yet another stat
The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t exactly known as an aggressive franchise. This conservative culture permeates throughout, from the player-personnel decisions up top, right on down to the decisions made by head coach Marvin Lewis.

NFL strength of schedule 2018: Bengals secure one of league’s easiest slates
Let the strength of schedule formula tell it, the Cincinnati Bengals have it easy in 2018. After another down season and undergoing a coaching overhaul underneath the newly re-signed Marvin Lewis, the Bengals could use a break.

Bengals’ new OL coach Frank Pollack has his eye on Alex Redmond and Christian Westerman
The Cincinnati Bengals swapped out Paul Alexander with new offensive line coach Frank Pollack this offseason perhaps in part due to the former’s overlooking Alex Redmond and Christian Westerman. Pollack isn’t about to make the same mistake. “They’re fun to watch,” said after a view interview with Dan Hoard of Bengals.com. “They play with that young, energetic buzz on the field. They’ve got a lot of stuff to clean up technically, but they’ve got some nasty in them. I enjoyed watching that.”

Cleveland Browns should sign running back Jeremy Hill away from the Bengals
When you first take a look at the Cleveland Browns roster on offense, you see some very talented names. Sadly, with the lack of a great coach and any form of continuity, the team has struggled in all facets on the offensive side of the ball. That being said, Hue Jackson doesn’t have the best group of quarterbacks on his roster. Rookie quarterback Deshone Kizer was Jackson’s second round pick in 2017, but he showed that he is nowhere near ready to be the franchise quarterback the organization wanted him to be. Fellow quarterbacks Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan are no more than serviceable backups in the NFL.

NFL mock draft 2018: Bengals take pair of Texas Longhorns in 2-round projection
The Cincinnati Bengals have several pressing needs they must address this offseason, most likely being in the 2018 NFL Draft. There is where the Bengals will likely choose to upgrade their porous offensive line, ideally with the No. 12 pick. In the latest SB Nation mock draft, they went two full rounds with their latest projection.

Inside the AJ McCarron grievance against the Cincinnati Bengals
On the most basic level, AJ McCarron just wants to play. He appeared in three games for the Cincinnati Bengals last year and threw 14 passes in two blowout losses against Chicago and Minnesota. He last started and played a full game on Jan. 9, 2016, in the AFC Wild Card game.

Meet the Coaches: Pollack Lines Up
Frank Pollack isn’t going to anoint his nine players just yet. But he is letting it be known that he wants them to have a nasty streak as long as, well, the Bengals offensive line. “You can’t go out there and be soft,” Pollack said last week as he ended his first month as the Bengals offensive line coach. “The D-lineman is going to rip your throat out. You better rip theirs out before they rip yours out. He’s got to have a little nasty streak in him. No question. It’s football. It’s not for everyone.”

TDBH: Bengals set to practice at Spinney Field
Two weeks after coach and general manager Paul Brown finishes stocking the AFL expansion Bengals in the AFL-NFL common draft, his players get a practice field today when Cincinnati City Council enacts two ordinances that clear the way for the club to move into Spinney Field in the city’s Lower Price Hill neighborhood. The Bengals are taking over three baseball fields along the west side of Mill Creek and north of the Eighth Street Viaduct on Evans Street and remain 32 years until they donate it to the city when they move to a new downtown facility that also houses Paul Brown Stadium. The site becomes best known for the rather adventurous smells emanating from waste plants ringing the facilities depending on the direction of the winds.

AFC North Bytes

Should the Browns find a veteran QB instead of drafting another 1st rounder?
The Browns will sign a veteran quarterback and they'll also draft one, probably No. 1 overall. I don't think they'll go hard after Cousins because he's the most sought-after QB on the market and could command $30 million a year. I don't think the Browns want to do that when they're hoping to find their QB of the future in this draft. I believe the Broncos and Jets, and maybe even the Vikings will pursue him.

After several changes, an updated list of the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff
The Pittsburgh Steelers are usually the picture of stability, especially when it comes to their coaching staff. However, the team certainly has had more coaching change heading into the 2018-2019 season than most. While all die hard fans keep their fingers on the pulse of the Steelers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year, there are some who might have missed some news. For those people I felt it would be beneficial to update the team’s coaching staff after several changes have been made.

Random Bytes

Derrick Johnson Won't Be Given Contract Extension by Chiefs, Will Be Free Agent
Longtime Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson is set to become a free agent, as the organization confirmed Tuesday it won't sign him to a contract extension. The Chiefs announced the decision, with team chairman Clark Hunt saying, "his tireless work ethic and passion for the game made him one of the most productive defensive players to ever wear a Chiefs uniform."

Report: Kam Chancellor Will Play in 2018 If Cleared from Neck Injury
Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor reportedly will play in 2018 if he's medically cleared after suffering a neck injury during the 2017 season and has "no plans to retire (despite some murky social media posts)," according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rapoport added that Chancellor's $6.8 million salary for the 2018 season became fully guaranteed Feb. 9.

Mike Freeman's 10-Point Stance: Just When You Thought Kaep Was Done, He's Back
If there's one thing we've learned about Colin Kaepernick by now, it's that he won't go down without a fight. So it should come as no surprise that he is, well, fighting. Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL in October. The core of his argument is that the league colluded to keep him out of football after Kaepernick began protesting police violence against unarmed American citizens.