Bengals News (6/24): Bold predictions for Cincinnati’s 2019 season

AFC North : Odell Beckham’s rant, Roethlisberger’s ‘normalcy’ comment
But the Pierce thing is tough to ignore. The budding star defensive lineman showed up at mandatory camp well over his billed 340-pound listing and the team sent him off, considering it a safety issue.

Bengals 53-man roster prediction
Coming out of mandatory minicamp, where things stand seems rather clear. Here’s a look at a projected final 53 before training camp, with the full article here.

4 bold predictions for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019
That 7-8-1 record was good enough to climb out of last place in the division, as the Bengals went 6-10. Now the Browns are trending up, as are the Baltimore Ravens. Although the Pittsburgh Steelers have some issues, you can’t count out Ben Roethlisberger and company just yet.

Around the league

Bills' LeSean McCoy: 'It's hard to replace a guy like me'
"It's hard to replace a guy like me," McCoy told reporters Saturday, per PennLive. "I'm a good player and I feel like now, this year, they put a lot of guys around me. The front office got me some big hogs up front. And we'll see what happens this year. I feel good and hopefully this year will speak for itself."

Giants LT Nate Solder expects to be ready for camp
Solder told The Athletic's Dan Duggan that his ankle is "progressing really nicely" and he expects to be full-go for New York when training camp kicks off on July 26.

Patriots' Sony Michel running at full tilt after scope
Michel is "progressing quickly" from his offseason arthroscopic knee surgery and has been running at "full tilt," multiples sources told NFL Network's Mike Giardi. The running back is reportedly receiving treatment at the TB12 Sports Therapy Center in Foxborough, spending "considerable time" there.

Brett Favre: Let QB Aaron Rodgers 'play his game'
The two faces of the Packers are well aware of this apparent conflict. In a column by NFL.com's Michael Silver published last week, LaFleur said even he was curious to see how their two styles of coaching and playing will be reconciled in the coming season. Rodgers similarly told Silver that the QB shouldn't be expected to "turn off 11 years (of recognizing defenses)" just because LaFleur's system allows for more limited audibiling.

Robert Quinn ready to 'pin my ears back' with 'Boys
Quinn, who was swapped for a 2020 sixth-round pick, was attracted to the attacking nature of the Dallas defense. While the Cowboys' D was stellar last season en route to winning an NFC East title, sacks weren't exactly in abundance. Demarcus Lawrence's 10.5 sacks were a team-high, with Randy Gregory's six sitting at second and the team's 39.0 tying the team for 16th across the NFL. Fine, but certainly not great. Perhaps Quinn can change all that.

No excuses for Broncos TE Jake Butt in comeback
"I'm used to being a guy that the team can rely on, used to being at the top of the depth chart," Butt said via the Denver Post. "For me, I'm probably going to be starting off at the bottom and work my way up. It's a whole different deal for me, but it's nothing I'm going to shy away from. I'm excited about the competition. I know what I can do as a football player."