Bengals Bytes (4/14): Former Ben-Gals cheerleader addresses discrimination

Report: Bengals meeting with Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey
The Cincinnati Bengals acquired left tackle Cordy Glenn from the Buffalo Bills in a trade earlier this offseason. However, that isn’t stopping the Bengals from taking a look at one of the top tackle prospects in the draft. According to Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com, the Bengals hosted Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey with a dinner Thursday night in Cincinnati.

Goodberry: Bengals Q&A as the NFL Draft approaches
It's now the season of smokescreens and misinformation as we enter the final few weeks before the NFL Draft. As teams build their draft boards, rumors and...

2018 NFL Mock Draft: Predictions of Cincinnati Bengals' selections, team needs
They need some beef to put next to six-time Pro Bowl three technique Geno Atkins. They are hopeful that 2016 fourth-rounder Andrew Billings, a nose tackle, rebounds in his second year after a knee injury wiped out his rookie season. Last year's fourth-rounder, Ryan Glasgow, proved he will be a blue-collar contributor at both nose and behind Atkins in a rotation. But they need some size. Billings is 6-foot-1, and Glasgow is at around 300 pounds. They could use some more height and weight

Cincinnati Bengals 2018 NFL Draft strategy: Running backs
Nine out of 12. This will be about backfilling the position with a depth piece. They’d like to find some special teams impact. That means a guy who can take over as kickoff and/or punt returner would be part of the equation. Beyond more special teams impact as we wait to see if free agent Cedric Peerman will return, the Bengals are looking for somebody at this position who can do something different than the skill set they currently own – whether speed, receiving, returning, anything.

Andy Dalton anticipating overhaul of Bengals offense
Andy Dalton has gone through several offensive changes during his eight-year NFL career. However, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback is anticipating the biggest overhaul of his tenure this offseason under offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. "When we've changed coordinators in the past, the offense and the scheme and everything has stayed pretty similar," Dalton told the team's official website this week. "I think this is going to feel a whole lot different than what we've done and the way we've done things."

Bengals seek to 'Build it better," as workouts begin
With the Bengals offense and defense underdoing overhauls, players are also going to see changes in the weight room when they arrive Monday to begin their off-season workouts that start head coach Marvin Lewis’ 16th season. “That’s the theme. That’s the directive from Marvin. Change. Get better. Through the whole building,” said Chip Morton Friday as the Bengals head strength and conditioning coach made his final tweaks to the program.

TDBH: Warrick selection ushers in new era
The new is pushing out the old today with Paul Brown Stadium on the verge of opening in August. The Bengals’ first draft of the 21st century is the last one held at Spinney Field on the first day of their web site. The country’s most exciting player, Florida State wide receiver Peter Warrick, graces Bengals.com as the draft’s fourth pick all but guarantees the departure of Carl Pickens, the franchise’s all-time leading receiver. When the Bengals select Warrick’s college running mate, Florida State wide receiver Ron Dugans, Pickens’ exit is now a mere formality. Pickens triggerman Jeff Blake is already in New Orleans and now the Bengals are quarterbacked by untried sophomore Akili Smith and backboned by perennial 1,000-yard rusher Corey Dillon in a new era of offense.

TDBH: NFL sked makes Bengals ready for prime-time players
The final reward for the NFL's best turnaround in 2003 under head coach Marvin Lewis has turned the Bengals from America’s 1 p.m. team into a network attraction. When the NFL releases the 2004 schedule today, Cincinnati gets its first prime-time double-header in history when Paul Brown Stadium hosts its first two regular-season night games ever. The league re-discovers the Bengals with the help of their charismatic coach and a former No. 1 draft pick playing quarterback. The Bengals break their 12-year drought on Monday Night Football with an Oct. 25 game against the Broncos at PBS at 9 p.m. on ABC.

Laura Vikmanis, former Ben-Gals cheerleader, addresses discrimination
Former Cincinnati Ben-Gal Laura Vikmanis, who made headlines in 2009 at age 40 as the oldest NFL cheerleader, addresses gender-based discrimination allegations and a complaint recently filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by former New Orleans Saints cheerleader Bailey Davis in an opinion piece for NYTimes.com.

Random Bytes

Is Saquon Barkley Really a Generational RB Talent?
The 2018 draft class is fascinating for a number of reasons. As many as five quarterbacks could go in the first round, and there's a surplus of talent at other positions. With question marks attached to all those quarterbacks, there's a race for the title of "best player in the draft" outside the game's most important position.

NFL Accusing Lawyers in $1 Billion Concussion Settlement of Fraud
The NFL filed a motion in U.S. District Court on Friday in hopes of having a special investigator appointed to oversee attorneys and doctors representing the players who agreed to a $1 billion settlement with the league over concussions.

Dez Bryant Wants to Stay in NFC East, Says It's Personal After Cowboys Release
After being released by the Dallas Cowboys on Friday, Dez Bryant wants a shot at his now-former team. Two shots, if possible. The team made the move official after Bryant met with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at Dallas' practice facility. On his way out, the longtime Cowboy hinted that he wanted to stay in the NFC East by telling reporters he'd see Dallas twice next season, per Mickey Spagnola of the team's official website.

Dez Bryant Cut by Cowboys in Meeting with Jerry Jones
The Dallas Cowboys reportedly released wide receiver Dez Bryant on Friday. ESPN's Adam Schefter and Todd Archer reported Friday that the Cowboys planned to part ways with Bryant barring a "change of heart" following a meeting between the wideout and team owner Jerry Jones. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport later reported Bryant had been released and noted the meeting was short.