Bengals Bytes (7/30): Young linebackers showing their speed

Could the Bengals Extend Carlos Dunlap During Camp?
There are several Bengals players up for extensions this season, but few are more valuable than Carlos Dunlap. Dunlap has been a crucial member of the Bengals since he came to the team in 2010. Now, after the Bengals have squeezed surplus value off his rookie contract and first extension, he’s finally ready for a payday.

Bengals training camp storyline of the week and rookie to watch
Cincinnati Bengals training camp has told the story of an offensive line seeking an identity and a strong group of wide receivers looking nearly impossible.

Bengals training camp: Day 4 observations
With the arrival of full pads came some interesting developments in all facets of the game. The offense is trying to figure out who to play where up front, the defense is trying to figure out how to get all that talent on the field and special teams is grappling with new leaguewide rules.

Quick hits: Jefferson seeing the light; Evans' impact; Handing it to Tate
For young NFL linebackers, it’s all about the light coming on. The time they take in the dark harnessing their bounty of talent to fit into the intricacies of the position varies and you can see the different stages of light in the early days of the Bengals training camp as they move from night to day.

Camp report: Dunlap goes to replay
A close call over wide receiver John Ross, but when Ross couldn’t corral his last ball of the day the nod went to Evans after another day he prevented catches from being made. Plus, the first day of full pads usually belongs to the defense.

Carlos Dunlap: I would love to get a deal done with the Bengals
Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap is heading into the fifth and final year of his five-year contract, and he’d like to get a new deal done. Dunlap said today that he’s hoping to work out a new deal now, rather than hit free agency next year.

BX: Under the radar contract extension candidates
Training camp has just gotten real for the Cincinnati Bengals, as this weekend marked the first days in pads. Off the field, it has started the clock toward the club’s artificial deadline of Sept. 8 for contract extensions, which is the day the team heads out to Indianapolis.

Former Tennessee Vols WR Josh Malone poised for bigger role with Bengals?
Former Tennessee Vols wide receiver Josh Malone is a big play waiting to happen. Vol fans know this. They saw it time and time again in 2016, when Malone reeled in 11 touchdowns, the third most in UT history.

Tyler Boyd's wild ride to opportunity
Coming off a rookie season which ranked among the most productive in Bengals history for a receiver, Boyd endured a frustrating journey through legal trouble, the training room and coaches' doghouses in 2017. All that drama before pulling off one of the most improbable game-winning plays for his team in years to conclude the season in Baltimore.

Sam Hubbard's family orders a record 164 customized jerseys from the Bengals Pro Shop
Hubbard, the Cincinnati Bengals' rookie defensive end and former Ohio State and Moeller High School standout, has not played a snap in a preseason game. Yet there will be 164 customized jerseys delivered to his family and friends in two batches in the next week or two.

Random Bytes

Terrell Owens: Jerry Jones Is 'Being a Bully,' Taking Away Players' Rights
Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens said team owner Jerry Jones is "being a bully" for his comments regarding players protesting police brutality and inequality by kneeling during the national anthem.

Monday Morning Digest: Breakout Stars Ready to Dominate
"I definitely want to be dominant this year," he said in a start-of-camp press conference. "And any opportunities that I get, take the most advantage of them. Make plays for this offense, be a consistent back, make plays any chance that I'm in there and just do what I'm asked and help this team win games."

Ndamukong Suh: Aaron Donald 'deserves more than what I got'
Suh, who joined the Rams last spring on a one-year, $14 million free agent deal, undoubtedly knows the market. In 2015, he signed a six-year, $114 million contract with the Miami Dolphins that included $60 million guaranteed and at the time was the richest contract for a defensive player in NFL history.

Aaron Rodgers on Tom Brady, Playing Past Age 40
He swore off milkshakes years ago, one of many changes he’s made as he’s discovered his new motivation: be a starter at age 40. How consulting with the Patriots legend is helping Rodgers get there. Plus, looking for a Super Bowl hangover in Foxboro, how the Vikings are building an offense for Kirk Cousins, and how Matt Patricia is bringing a taste of the Patriots to Detroit, but trying not to be Bill Belichick. Also, why a Julio Jones deal got done, why Sam Darnold’s deal should already be done, why Dalvin Cook is in for a big year and much more

Who's the Talk of Every NFL Team's Offseason So Far?
At times, the negative seems to outweigh the positive, but that's a byproduct of the 24/7 news cycle. So much occurs during the six months after the Super Bowl and the start of training camp that it's impossible to keep up with everything.