Bengals Bytes (6/15): Praise for William Jackson keeps pouring in

Camp hits: Green eyes century; Ross wreaks havoc in space; Price continues grind; TBT on line
A.J. Green has never been a numbers guy but as he went off on summer vacation Thursday he did reveal one he’d like to get. The nice round number that comes with 100 touchdowns. He just likes the sound of it. And he says he wants to do it as a Bengal. Green turns 30 the week training camp starts but he didn’t look a day over 25 during the minicamp just completed. With 57 TDs and his contract up after next season, that means another extension and the Bengals’ all-time TD record. Running back Pete Johnson currently has it with 70 and Chad Johnson has the receiving TDs record with 66, which means he could break both this season.

Ced gets another say
Cedric Ogbuehi, who was supposed to replace Andrew Whitworth and instead got replaced by Cordy Glenn, is undergoing sort of a revival under first-year offensive line coach Frank Pollack. It is time to add him to the derby vying to start at right tackle opposite Glenn. As the Bengals left for their six-week break Thursday when head coach Marvin Lewis broke the mandatory minicamp, Ogbuehi professed he loves the new scheme and Pollack left impressed with how he’s moved between both tackles. With Pollack emphasizing punching and other techniques tailored for the 6-5, 305-pound former first-round pick, they’ve put Ogbuehi’s career back on track.

Willow no longer just in the wind
Marvin Lewis, coach of Greg Lloyd and Ray Lewis and Vontaze Burfict, is supposed to be the NFL’s linebacker whisperer. But his 16-season run in Cincinnati has been the Age of the Corner in a Bengaldom where good cornerbacks were usually few and far between in a kingdom known for offense.

Bengals close minicamp with talk of leadership, hard work and K-Mart
The Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up their 2018 offseason program Thursday. Before departing for various corners of the globe, they got in one last practice at Paul Brown Stadium and dropped some knowledge on reporters in the locker room afterward.

Bengals news: Tyler Eifert's status now uncertain for start of training camp
The last few years have been nothing short than frustrating for former Pro Bowl tight end Tyler Eifert dealing with persistent injuries that have significantly limited his time on the field.

Bengals top pick John Ross: Marvin Lewis was not the villain
There is no redshirt in the NFL, but 2017 was basically a redshirt season for Bengals Top 10 pick and speedy wide receiver John Ross. Chatting with FOX19 NOW and other reporters at the end of minicamp on Thursday, Ross called himself a new person and wanted to set the record straight on his unique relationship with head coach Marvin Lewis.

Cincinnati Bengals want Joe Mixon to be more complete back
The last two running backs the Cincinnati Bengals spent high draft picks on – Giovani Bernard in the second round in 2013 and Jeremy Hill in the second round in 2014 – saw a slight dip in production in their second seasons. But 2017 second-round pick Joe Mixon is hoping to reverse that trend this year.

Bengals rookie WR Auden Tate turning heads in OTAs
It was easy to predict Cincinnati Bengals seventh-round pick Auden Tate would make some noise in practices over the offseason. After all, Tate is gigantic at 6-foot-5 and 228 pounds, giving him an ability to make big plays over smaller defensive backs, which he did plenty of at Florida State.

AFC North Bytes

Lamar Jackson runs the Ravens offense for an entire day ... and eventually for good
It was impossible not to keep looking down at the roster, and then back at the field, and then back at the roster, and then double-checking with someone else nearby if, in fact, we were both seeing the same thing. Best I could tell, No. 8 was the only guy throwing the football.

Randy Fichtner: Mason Rudolph’s “been everything we’ve asked”
The Steelers wrapped up minicamp on Thursday, but the team’s rookies will be sticking around for a little more work before breaking the middle of next week. That means a little more time for third-round pick Mason Rudolph to work with the team’s coaches, including offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, ahead of training camp. To this point, Fichtner has liked what he’s seen from the rookie.

Random Bytes

Benardrick McKinney, Texans Reportedly Agree to 5-Year, $50M Contract
With Brian Cushing gone, locking up linebacker Benardrick McKinney was a top priority for the Houston Texans this offseason. A deal has reportedly been struck. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday that McKinney and the Texans came to terms on a five-year, $50 million extension.

Jon Gruden Rips CBA, Says It Stunted Christian Hackenberg's Development
Christian Hackenberg's time with the Raiders was short-lived, but new Oakland coach Jon Gruden doesn't put the blame on the quarterback. He believes the current collective bargaining agreement played a major factor.

NFLPA Reportedly Hires Multiple Law Firms to Investigate Anthem Policy Change
The NFL Players Association is reportedly preparing for a legal battle following changes to the league's national anthem policy. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, "the NFLPA has retained multiple law firms to research the options for fighting the new policy."