Bengals Bytes (2/6): A focused look at Cincinnati’s free agency

Bengals’ odds for Super Bowl LIII rank among NFL’s worst
Though Cincinnati Bengals safety George Iloka seems confident, his Bengals don’t have great odds of making Super Bowl LIII. So says a newly released offering from oddsmakers out of Las Vegas in the wake of Nick Foles and the Philadelphia Eagles stunning Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

2018 Free Agency Preview: Cincinnati Bengals
With quarterback Andy Dalton under contract through the 2020 season, the Cincinnati Bengals will continue to press forward in surrounding the Red Rifle with enough supporting talent to have a shot at a deep playoff run. As such, the Bengals will be smart to address glaring weaknesses along their offensive line and add another receiving threat to pair with A.J. Green. Losing tackle Andrew Whitworth and guard Kevin Zeitler to free agency last offseason, Cincinnati took a significant step back in the trenches from a year ago. After ranking 10th in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency as a unit in 2016, the Bengals’ offensive line tied for 20th in the same stat this past season.

NFL offseason schedule and Bengals to-do list
Here are four words no football fan wants to hear (or read): “Welcome to the On the one hand, it’s nice for every every team that didn’t win the Super Bowl to get a chance to hit the rest button. Then again… there won’t be another NFL game for about six months.

TDBH: Jackson replaces long-time RBs coach Anderson
The Bengals turn to a familiar face today to replace another when the well-credentialed Hue Jackson moves into the spot vacated by the retirement of running backs coach Jim Anderson. Head coach Marvin Lewis compensates for the loss of Anderson, the NFL’s longest-tenured assistant coach during 29 seasons coaching Bengals backs from James Brooks to BenJarvus Green-Ellis, with one of his closest coaching colleagues. Lewis and Jackson begin working together in Washington, in 2002 where Jackson breaks into the NFL as the running backs coach before becoming a head coach and offensive coordinator with three clubs.

AFC North Bytes

Steelers among betting favorites for 2019 Super Bowl
You might not want to book plane tickets to Atlanta just yet, but the betting industry likes the Steelers’ chances to win the Super Bowl next season. The team was among a few consistent favorites in 2018 championship odds released by prominent Las Vegas sports books in the hours after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in the 2017 championship game Sunday in Minneapolis.

What will Ravens’ focus on offense look like
At the annual “State of the Ravens” press conference, Baltimore Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti told reporters the offense would be a focal point this offseason. While Bisciotti went as specific to say they would get pass catchers for quarterback Joe Flacco, it’s not completely clear how Baltimore will try and address their offense this offseason. So I decided to take a look at what that might look like.

Random Bytes

Matt Patricia Named Lions HC After Patriots' Super Bowl 52 Loss to Eagles
The Detroit Lions officially announced Monday that they hired New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to be their next head coach. "When we launched the search for our next head coach, I wanted to find a leader that could take us to the next level and I am confident we have found that in Matt Patricia," general manager Bob Quinn said in a statement on the team's official site. "He has been preparing for this opportunity his entire career, and he’s ready for the responsibility and its challenges."

Police Confirm Rob Gronkowski's Home Burglarized While Away at Super Bowl 52
Police are investigating a burglary at Rob Gronkowski's home, which took place while the New England Patriots tight end was in Minneapolis for Super Bowl LII. Authorities confirmed the break-in to reporters on Tuesday morning, per CBS Boston. Officers were called to the property shortly after the Pats returned to Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Monday.

Breaking Down the Most Realistic Potential Trades of the 2018 NFL Offseason
In the NFL, big trades are a rarity, at least relative to sports such as baseball and basketball. That isn't to say we never see trades. Despite the fact the new league year doesn't begin until March, we've already seen a whopper in 2018, when the Kansas City Chiefs shipped quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins for a third-round pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller.

Cancer kept my dad from Philly's last title. Ten years later, we celebrated Eagles' Super Bowl win together.
In the moments after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots for the first Super Bowl title in Philadelphia’s history, there were fireworks set off in the city, there were waves of green-covered fans roaring inside U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and there was a father and son dancing around a tiny apartment in Washington, D.C., reaching their arms to the low-slung ceiling, laughing at their own disbelief. In the aftermath of the Eagles' win, a father and son shared a moment that it seemed might elude them forever.