Bengals News (7/24): Mike Brown gives his opinion on extending regular season to 18 games

Something Old, Something New Jolts Bengals Into Training Camp
Mike Brown, who steered the Bengals to Cincinnati when he diverted Paul Brown’s gaze from Seattle and then 30 years later kept them on the river when other cities tried to divert them to their stadiums, isn’t one to dwell on legacies.

Green Day In More Ways Than One For Boyd
It’s a good 16 months or so before the election and already wide receiver A.J. Green has his running mate for the next four years if he chooses to serve and Tyler Boyd thinks he will.

O-Line Could See Additions
In the wake of left tackle Jonah Williams’ torn labrum, left guard Clint Boling’s retirement and back-up tackle Kent Perkins’ lack of work in the spring, offensive coordinator Brian Callahan says that spot is a work in progress.

Bengals, Boyd Agree To Extend
The Bengals have ripped off one of their pre-season goals long before Saturday’s first practice when they indicated they have wrapped up wide receiver Tyler Boyd on an extension and then promptly turned their attention to doing the same with franchise player A.J. Green.

Andy Olds of Kings High School Wins Paul Brown Coaching Award
Andy Olds, who last season retired after 21 seasons (1998-2018) as head football coach at Kings High School, was named today as the 2018 season winner of the Paul Brown Excellence in Coaching Award.

Hobson’s Choice Podcast: Mike Brown Goes Camping Once Again
Bengals president Mike Brown has attended an NFL training camp in parts of eight decades. On Friday he’ll begin the 52nd season in Cincinnati helping open another one with a new head coach when he greets the team with his annual and brief opening address.

No surprise cuts for Bengals' 53-man roster following Clint Boling's retirement
The Bengals would probably like to make fourth-round pick Finley Dalton’s only backup, but based off OTAs, he certainly doesn’t look ready for that role yet. Driskel has a lot of experience now after filling in for an injured Dalton last year, so it’s likely he gets at least one more season while they develop Finley.

As the Bengals prepare for camp, have they made enough changes from 2018?
The Bengals were statistically heading towards being one of the worst defenses in NFL history before they fired coordinator Teryl Austin to try to stop the bleeding. Injuries didn’t exactly help on that front either. Aside from injuries, the biggest issue on that side of the ball were the linebackers. The Bengals released the unreliable Vontaze Burfict and drafted Germaine Pratt, probably with the intention of starting him right away. Other than that, the core of the defense hasn't really changed. The Bengals need some big performances from budding stars such as Jessie Bates and William Jackson III, along with some good health, to turn things around.

Sources -- Bengals give WR Boyd $43M extension
"We think very highly of Tyler and are thrilled to get him in the fold for the next few years," Bengals coach Zac Taylor said in a statement. "After I joined the team in February, while reviewing video of all the team's games last year, he was one of the first players that stood out to me as being a hard worker and improving steadily throughout the season. I have also gotten to know him as a person since I arrived, and it was obvious to me early on that it would be a good thing for us to seal him up for the foreseeable future."

Bengals owner Mike Brown opposes 18-game schedule
Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown said Tuesday that he is not in favor of increasing the amount of regular season games and believes the players deal with enough beating as it is.

Bengals looking out for offensive line help
They’ll also be putting work on tape that could catch the eye of other teams as they work to make up their own roster for the 2019 season. For the Bengals, that will mean keeping tabs on what offensive linemen may be available around the league.

Bengals sign Tyler Boyd to a four-year, $43 million contract extension
Boyd, a former second-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, was entering the final year of his rookie contract. After a solid first season in which he played in all 16 of the Bengals games, Boyd endured an injury-plagued 2017 season. After making just three total starts in his first two seasons, the 24-year-old receiver made 14 starts for Cincinnati in 2018 in a breakout showing.

Geno Atkins in rare company with 160 QB pressures since 2016
An anomaly back in 2010 as a fourth-round pick at a time the NFL still fidgeted over “small” defensive tackles, Atkins has gone on to put up 71 sacks while missing just seven games.

Around the league

Melvin Gordon will not show up to training camp today
Gordon is set to earn $5.6 million in the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. The 26-year-old wants the security of a long-term deal with guarantees attached. Thus far, the team hasn't been willing to make him one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL.

Duke Johnson will report to Browns training camp
Johnson requested a trade after the team signed running back Kareem Hunt earlier this offseason, hoping to go to a team with a clearer path to touches. Hunt's eight-game suspension clouds the situation. The Browns need Johnson to back up Nick Chubb until Hunt's suspension is over, while Johnson sees the future where he's a bit-part once that eventuality takes place.

Falcons GM 'confident' Julio extension will get done
"We have the utmost faith that Julio is coming here and he's taking care of his business while he's here, and we'll keep plugging away with [Jones' agent] Jimmy [Sexton],'' Dimitroff told ESPN's Vaughn McClure on Tuesday. "We have a very good working relationship and respect for Jimmy Sexton and CAA, and I'm confident [the deal] will get done."

Panthers agree to terms with No. 16 pick Brian Burns
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday morning that the Panthers have agreed to terms with No. 16 overall pick Brian Burns, according to a source informed of the situation.

18 NFL squads reporting for training camp Wednesday
On Wednesday, 18 teams -- more than half the league's 32 -- will report for work. Veterans for 13 squads (rookie previously reported) and five full teams are set to open training camp today: