Bengals Bytes (6/29): Tyler Eifert faces pivotal season

No. 4 Cincinnati Bengals play of last 30 years: Gio Bernard spins Dolphins in circles
Almost always the legacy of a great play has no connection to where it happened. Could be home, could be away, could be on a mud-drenched high school field. Whatever. Magic lives between the lines. In the case of Giovani Bernard’s incredible, sideline-to-sideline, 35-yard touchdown escape on Thursday Night Football in 2013, the “where” matters as much as any factor.

Bengals attend Sam Beal Pro Day ahead of 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft
The Cincinnati Bengals should know all about Sam Beal after drafting his Western Michigan teammate Darius Phillips in the 2018 NFL draft. Beal, one of the highlights of an extremely talented 2018 NFL Supplemental Draft, held his pro day Thursday.

If you could only have one, which Bengals star would you extend this year?
It’s certainly a debate worth having, as both Atkins and Dunlap are going to start slowing down eventually and the team has drafted well to reinforce the future of the line. Dennard is one of the NFL’s better slot players recently, though extending him banks on his continued development.

Agent's Take: Andrew Luck, Joe Flacco among 12 players who are facing a pivotal season
A back injury requiring surgery limited Eifert to two games in 2017, which has been a recurring theme with him. Eifert has played only 39 games during his five NFL seasons because of various injuries (ankle, back, elbow, etc). When healthy, Eifert is one the NFL's best red-zone threats. He led NFL tight ends in 2015 with 13 touchdown receptions while earning a Pro-Bowl berth. The injuries made Eifert an ideal candidate for a one year prove-it deal, which he signed to remain in Cincinnati.

AFC North Bytes

Baltimore Ravens: Will WR Corps Finally Shine?
How long you may ask? The last time the Ravens had a decent group of WRs was in 2014, when the corps included Steve Smith, Sr. (again shutting up the haters, this time about his age), Torrey Smith reaching 11 TDs (the first time a Ravens WR had earned double-digit TDs since Michael Jackson in 1996, wow) and Marlon Brown having literally the only good season of his career.

Bills teammate Eric Wood loves what Tyrod Taylor can do for Browns
Testimonials from players on other teams are always great affirmations of talent. Cleveland Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor got just that from his Pro Bowl center with the Buffalo Bills, Eric Wood. Wood joined the Jim Rome Show and had very positive things to say about Cleveland’s new starting quarterback.

Random Bytes

Jameis Winston Officially Suspended 3 Games, QB Issues Apology to Uber Driver
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston issued an apology Thursday after the NFL officially informed him of a three-game suspension for allegedly groping an Uber driver in March 2016.

Percy Harvin Discusses Anxiety, Finding Place in Gainesville in SI Interview
Percy Harvin opened up in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated's Michael McKnight and explained that he was dealing with anxiety throughout his eight-year NFL career.

DeAndre Hopkins Works Out with 50-Plus Athletes After Social Media Invitation
Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins took a creative approach to giving back to his community recently. After putting out a Twitter request Tuesday, Hopkins had more than 50 young athletes show up to Houston's Hermann Park on Wednesday for a chance to workout with the two-time Pro Bowler, per Fox 26's Mark Berman