Bengals News (6/17): Collecting Buckeyes

Mike Daniels is the Bengals representative for the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship program
At 35, Mike Daniels is a self-confessed young man in a hurry. And now his single-minded sprint has had a head-on with history during the past few days when he popped into the Bengals' virtual picture last week as one of the coaches in the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship program.

Joe Burrow projected to have a better season than Baker Mayfield
Mayfield threw 27 touchdown passes in 2018, setting a new rookie record. He made 13 starts for the Browns and gave fans hope that winning football was right around the corner for Cleveland. Pro Football Focus doesn't expect Burrow to break Mayfield's record for touchdown passes this year, but they do think the 23-year-old will have a better 2020 season.

One analyst says the Bengals' biggest weakness is on defense
Cincinnati has made drastic changes over the past few months. They completely remade their defense, drafted Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick and placed the franchise tag on A.J. Green, who missed all of last season with an ankle injury.

NFL preseason workouts: Cincinnati Bengals adapting to unique schedule
These coronavirus pandemic shutdowns affected all sports. As the NBA, MLS and NHL and other leagues prepare to restart their seasons, the NFL extended its virtual offseason through June 26. Coaches are allowed to work out of team facilities, but players are unauthorized. Cincinnati Bengals coaches have adjusted to the virtual offseason, however like all coaches around the NFL, they acknowledge there are limitations and challenges coaching players exclusively in front of laptops.

The Bengals now lead the league in former Ohio State players
In recent years, the New Orleans Saints rostered the most former Ohio State players, a fact that drew media attention due to their overwhelming success. This offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals quietly took that mantle with a total of six former Buckeyes apart of their team.

Ravens rivalry with Bengals could be the key to future of the AFC North
While Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton were able to be the annoying thorn stuck in the Ravens season, twice a year, Lewis and Dalton failed to win a single playoff game. The Ravens lead the all-time series 25-23 according to The Football Database, which is almost strange when you think about it. The Ravens have been around since 1996 and have won two Super Bowls. The Ravens have won the AFC North six times. The Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since the year I was born.

Around the league

NFL all-decade - Best player on each AFC North team, every position
From the top players to the best free-agent signing to the worst call by a referee, ESPN's NFL team remembers the people and moments of impact -- good and bad -- from the past 10 years. And NFL Nation reporters select the two best players of the decade from their teams, the top coach and assemble all-division teams of the 2010s.

Buccaneers unveil first look at Tom Brady in uniform
Although the pictures weren't taken in the midst of a potential game-winning drive, the 41-photo gallery gives fans more than enough shots to hold themselves over with until the season begins. Up until now, only photoshopped looks of the six-time Super Bowl champion in his new threads were available to gaze upon; Tuesday's announcement makes the unreal free agency signing feel more rooted in reality.

Darren Waller believes Raiders could have a 'top-five offense'
"If you look at things across the board, starting with the offensive line and the quarterback, with improvement at the receiver positions and the tight ends trying to be consistent, I think our offense has a chance to do a lot of great things and put up a lot of great numbers," Waller said Tuesday in an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio, per NBC Sports Bay Area. "The big thing for us is finishing in the red zone this year. I know that we're doing everything in our power to improve upon that. I don't feel like having a top-five offense is out of the picture."

Could Colin Kaepernick return to the NFL? Five logical team fits
There's some legitimate momentum growing for something that once seemed impossible. Amidst all the turmoil generated in the wake of George Floyd's killing, the NFL is opening a door to the possibility of Colin Kaepernick's return. It first started last Thursday with the league pledging $250 million to combat systemic racism and historic injustices faced by black people, while also showing a willingness to work directly with Kaepernick on tackling those issues. Within hours of that announcement, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll -- whose Seahawks had considered signing Kaepernick in 2017 -- told local reporters that another team recently had reached out to Carroll to discuss that offseason visit three years ago.

Fred Taylor heads Maurice Jones-Drew's top five NFL teammates
I battled against him multiple times when he was in Buffalo, learning quickly that he was everything you'd expect a Penn State LB to be. He was tough as nails and the ultimate competitor. In our game against the Bills in 2009, Posluszny went to tackle me in the red zone and unintentionally grabbed my face mask, pulling my helmet around and turning me around for a loss. He later apologized for it, but man, he was relentless on the field. When he came to Jacksonville, that's when I realized why he was so good. He took a methodical approach to film study and preparation and fought hard for everything, which naturally lifted the effort of everyone in the locker room. He was tough to face in practice but he made me better because he was always prepared and went about his business. He earned one Pro Bowl nod in his career (2013), but his play definitely merited more.