Bengals News (12/18): To tag or not to tag?

Ten Years Later, Man-Man And Bubba Catch Dad
Leini Tonga held his hand while she gave birth to Man-Man and Bubba. His mother always looked for his hand right after he scored a touchdown for West Virginia and the Bengals, knowing he would punch the sky with his index finger for One Love. Rusty Guy held his hand as he died. But the baby Chris Henry called “Man-Man,” has his hand.

The NFL announced that Bengals DT Geno Atkins has been voted to the AFC team for this season’s Pro Bowl game.
“It’s an honor to be named to the Pro Bowl and Geno is very deserving,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. “Geno has put together another strong season and continues to show why he is one of the best defensive players in the league.”

Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green likely out the last two weeks of the 2019 season.
Green said Tuesday he’s probably not going to play in the final two games this season, wiping out all of his ninth NFL season with that dastardly ankle injury suffered in the first 45 minutes of training camp. But Dr. Robert Anderson told him the words he wanted to hear during his trip to Green Bay, Wis., when he told Green he can have a normal offseason of training and the injury won’t prevent him from continuing an All Pro career. He says he’ll be ready out of the gate as 2019 mercifully disappears into 2020.

Game Preview: Dolphins at Bengals
“There was a lot to be pleased with that happened in the game,” said Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, “but ultimately, we lost by 21 points. It got ugly at the end, so that part was frustrating.”

Dolphins’ Needham faces team that said it planned to draft him
Nik Needham, one of the two undrafted rookie pleasant surprises on this Dolphins team, figured he would on the other sideline when Cincinnati and Miami meet on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

Bengals Sign Brady Sheldon To Roster, Waive Anthony Zettel
Sheldon, a first-year player out of Ferris State University, was originally a college free agent signee of the Oakland Raiders. He spent all of 2017 with the Raiders and played in two games (no statistics), before later spending time on the Browns’ and Packers’ practice squads. He was signed to the Bengals’ practice squad on Nov. 5.

Zac Taylor regrets saying Bengals receivers were 'bullied' by Patriots defenders in loss
"I wish I wouldn't have phrased it like that (right after the game), to be quite honest with you, because you're emotional after a game like that," he said. "You watch the tape, and we just need to correct the technique, and that's what the conversation needs to be. It's a room of good character. It's important to them. They want to do it the way you want it done. I have regret in how I phrased that yesterday. It'll be a very candid conversation in that sense, accountable for everything we can do better as a group."

A.J. Green has “no problem” with franchise tag but hopes for commitment
But the truth is: Green has no idea what his future is given his contract expires after this season and he has played only nine games in two seasons.

Bengals ready to franchise tag A.J. Green if necessary
“If the two parties fail to reach an agreement before free agency opens in March, the Bengals are committed to franchise tagging the seven-time Pro Bowler to keep him off the open market, a high-level source told The Enquirer.”

Around the league

NFL reveals rosters for 2020 Pro Bowl in Orlando
The Baltimore Ravens' second-year phenom is among the starters for the 2020 Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida. Jackson leads a contingent of 12 Pro Bowl selections for the Ravens, whose representatives in the January classic include running back Mark Ingram and free safety Earl Thomas.

Roundup: Lions place QB Matthew Stafford on IR
"Obviously, have the utmost respect for Matthew and his efforts to try and do everything he could to get back and play," head coach Matt Patricia said on a conference call Tuesday. "It will be really in the best interest for him and us as obviously an organization right now to give him that opportunity to rest and heal and continue along that path."

Broncos CB Kareem Jackson suspended two games
"There are high standards for the personal conduct of all members of our organization, and we have expressed our extreme disappointment to Kareem for his poor judgment. Under the NFL Policy and Program on Substances of Abuse, he has been suspended for the Broncos' final two games of the 2019 season."

Tomlin says Devlin Hodges will start after 4-INT game
Hodges threw four interceptions in Pittsburgh's Sunday night loss to Buffalo, including two late interceptions that ultimately doomed the Steelers' hopes of completing a comeback. That fact isn't swaying Tomlin, though.

Kareem Hunt: Browns took plays off in loss to Cardinals
"Yeah, I feel like there were some plays that everybody didn't leave their 110% out there the whole play through the whole play, through the whole whistle," Browns running back Kareem Hunt said Monday, via Cleveland.com. "And we've all got to do that if we want to be successful."