Bengals Bytes (2/17): Giving back with soup donation

It's time to sell Andy Dalton to the highest bidder
If Dalton plays like ‘Average Andy’ this upcoming year, he will be looking for $25-30 Million 2019 . If you deal him now you could walk into off season with two first round draft picks. You may even have A.J. McCarron on the roster in 2018. That would give the Bengals plenty of cap space to sign Carlos Dunlap, Geno Atkins and Tyler Eifert. It would give them a chance to be active in free agency and they could seriously consider drafting a quarterback in round one. The rookie could compete with McCarron for the starting job.

Four ways the Bengals could replace AJ McCarron
AJ McCarron won his grievance against the Cincinnati Bengals today and will become a free agent. McCarron will finally get his chance to become a starting NFL quarterback – he never had that opportunity in Cincinnati. The Bengals are committed to Andy Dalton. I’m happy for McCarron. He’ll make a great addition to another NFL locker room, whether he’s a starter or not. This means the Bengals have another question mark this offseason. With a struggling offensive line, the last place you want unanswered questions is at backup quarterback. Given their recent track record with retaining or adding quality offensive linemen, let’s assume that we’re in for another rough year in the trenches. That means another rough year in the pocket for Dalton and a higher likelihood that his backup could play.

A.J. McCarron will get paid more this year than Andy Dalton
Some would say that the Bengals, now faced with A.J. McCarron becoming an unrestricted free agent, should choose McCarron over Andy Dalton. Apart from the team’s assessment of the two guys as players, there’s an important factor that is even more important to the Bengals, given that they are extremely careful with money.

AJ McCarron on winning his grievance against Bengals: 'It was just business'
Long-time Bengals backup quarterback AJ McCarron will almost assuredly leave Cincinnati this offseason as an unrestricted free agent, but he's only an unrestricted free agent because he won his grievance against the Bengals on Thursday. McCarron was supposed to be a restricted free agent, but by winning his grievance stemming from the 2014 season when the Bengals placed him on the non-football injury list, he's now completely free to leave.

Back to seeking a back-up
As Raymond Anthony McCarron Jr., heads to free agency amid ruffles and flourishes, the Bengals are quietly trying to find the next AJ. If they go back to the well they’ll be wading into the middle of April’s draft for their future back-up quarterback. It’s time to look at what the Bengals did in the offseason of 2014 now that Andy Dalton is their only quarterback on the roster who has thrown an NFL pass. Remember? They signed a battle-scarred veteran back-up with 79 career starts in Jason Campbell in March and delightedly drafted McCarron in the fifth round, where they felt he slid despite terrific makeup and experience.

Campbell's Chunky and Bengals team up for soup donation
Campbell’s Chunky donated more than 24,500 cans of soup today — equating to nearly 50,000 servings — to the Freestore Foodbank as a result of the “Tackle Hunger” program, a partnership between Campbell and the Cincinnati Bengals. “The Tackle Hunger Program reminds us that we can all play a role in making real food more accessible to those who need it most,” said Jeff Boni of the Campbell Soup Company. “Campbell’s Chunky is proud to support this program for the fourth year in a row and work with outstanding organizations, such as Kroger, the Cincinnati Bengals and Freestore Foodbank, who share our passion for the Cincinnati community.”

TDBH: P.B., Casanova take major honors at Walter Camp awards
The Walter Camp Football Foundation dinner at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., is the scene of one of Bengaldom’s more remarkable moments tonight when founder and general manager Paul Brown receives the Man of the Year Award during a program he watches one of his former players, Dr. Tommy Casanova, honored as Alumnus of the Year. Brown, 81, is beginning his sixth decade in professional football during a Hall of Fame career he has founded, coached and run two NFL teams. Just last season the Bengals franchise he begins in 1968 reaches the Super Bowl for the second time in eight seasons.

AFC North Bytes

Antonio Brown, Drake Take Housekeeper on $10K Shopping Spree
Brown, a Miami native, and Drake offered the gesture as one of several acts of kindness featured in the "God's Plan" video released Friday. At the start of the video, viewers learn that the entire $996,631.90 budget for the film was given away.

Ravens need to figure out what to do with oft-injured Jimmy Smith
Lost in all the discussion and focus on offense, the Baltimore Ravens still have some questions on defense. One of the biggest is what to do about one of their better players. Cornerback Jimmy Smith looked good in 2017 and was on his way to a Pro Bowl nomination. That was until injury struck . . . yet again. A torn Achilles put Smith on injured reserve late in the season, forcing Baltimore to push rookie Marlon Humphrey into the starting role. Though Humphrey held his own, it’s less than ideal considering what the Ravens are paying Smith.

Random Bytes

Report: WWE Wants to Sign Rob Gronkowski to Deal Close to Ronda Rousey Contract
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t NBC Sports Boston), WWE wants to sign Gronk to a deal similar to the one former UFC star Ronda Rousey recently inked with the company. When asked about the possibility of retiring from football following New England's Super Bowl LII loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Gronkowski said, "I'm definitely gonna look at my future. We'll sit down in the next couple of weeks and see where I’m at," per SI.com's Dan Gartland.

Panthers Interim GM Marty Hurney Reinstated After Harassment Investigation
According to ESPN.com's David Newton, the Panthers placed Hurney on administrative leave after his ex-wife said he had harassed her. The Charlotte Observer's Joseph Person and Michael Gordon reported a judge had reviewed Jeanne Hurney’s complaint and found "there was no evidence Hurney had committed acts of domestic violence against her." The judge also declined to grant a restraining order against Marty Hurney.

Each Team's Biggest Question Mark Heading into 2018 NFL Offseason
The Philadelphia Eagles may be Super Bowl champions, but not even they can afford to rest in preparation for the 2018 season. Sure, the NFL may not be back in meaningful action until the fall, but as we all know, football is a year-round business. Now that all 32 franchises have largely solidified their front offices, it's time for teams to start forging rosters and installing game plans. Those rosters are going to look much different in just a few months than they did during the 2017 season.