Bengals News (6/23): Sneaky good

NFL rookie QB projections: Ranking Burrow, Tagovailoa, Herbert for '20
Below you'll find an early look at my rookie quarterback rankings, cultivated from the logic and research (mostly working with coaches to help refine expectations) that I've been plugging into my pre-training camp model. The projections will certainly adjust as we get closer to the season -- and thus, collect more relevant intel -- but here's how the top three rookie QBs stack up in terms of Year 1 production/fantasy value:

Bengals Booth Podcast: Interviews with NFL Network's Adam Rank and tight end Drew Sample
It's the "Good Vibrations" edition of the Bengals Booth Podcast speaking with NFL Network's Adam Rank. Plus, catching up with tight end Drew Sample.

Here's why current, former Bengals players say they didn’t take a knee during anthem
He called on league owners to release anyone who got involved in the movement. The next day, the Cincinnati Bengals got on a flight to Green Bay to face the Packers. As the idea of kneeling that Sunday picked up steam across the NFL, some Bengals players were also thinking of kneeling during the anthem.

Bengals won’t take long to name Joe Burrow the Week 1 starter
But Taylor himself once again confirmed he has yet to name anyone the starter under center. That said, he didn’t shy away from quickly confirming Burrow will get the first snap in a training camp, per SI’s Albert Breer

Around the AFC North: Jadeveon Clowney Could Still Land in Cleveland
There have long been rumors about the potential end of A.J. Green's tenure with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was talked about frequently as a trade target at last year's deadline, and there were questions about whether the Bengals would retain him this offseason as he hit free agency.

Bengals' Taylor: Burrow 'as advertised' during virtual offseason
"He's been great," Taylor told MMQB's Albert Breer. "As advertised is the best way to put it. You can tell he spends a lot of time on his own being prepared with questions and he's doing a great job taking ownership, which is important for a quarterback to do, and he's doing everything he can to own this offense. (I've) been really impressed with him, but not surprised."

6 things the Bengals must do to sneak into the playoffs in 2020
It was an exciting offseason for the Cincinnati Bengals. After spending big in free agency for the first time in what feels like centuries, they took Heisman winner Joe Burrow with the first pick in the NFL Draft. Nationally, expectations for the Bengals remain low. Among Bengals’ fans, however, expectations are high as ever. Fans should temper these expectations, no team has ever won a Super Bowl with a rookie quarterback. Still, Cincinnati could sneak their way into the playoffs by doing these six things.

Zac Taylor and the rest of the Bengals coaches got creative during the virtual offseason program
They had a draft to decide which players would go where. Two veterans that were on the roster last year served as team captains. They had to take a rookie in the first round, then a defensive veteran in the second round. In some rounds they were required to take one of the Bengals' free agent additions.

Josh Bynes has shot to show Bengals got one of best free-agency steals
Josh Bynes was a quieter addition though. Bynes wasn’t a big name on the market and over the past few years he’d bounced around three different teams, most recently Baltimore.

Around the league

Dak Prescott signs franchise tender with Cowboys
The move was expected after the team's virtual offseason ended. If Prescott planned to hold out beyond the spring program -- which the QB eschewed -- he wouldn't have signed the tender. The signing means Prescott will attend Mike McCarthy's first training camp in Dallas.

Harbaugh disagrees with Lamar's take on playoff loss
The Ravens had won 12 straight games to close the 2019 regular season at 14-2. After a playoff bye week, Baltimore was blitzed by the Titians, losing 28-12. Jackson was stymied for much of the early stages of the game, committed three turnovers and was sacked four times.

Miss State RB: I won't represent 'this State' until flag is changed
The Mississippi flag is the nation's only state flag that features the Confederate battle emblem. The flag is among the symbols that have generated additional scrutiny since the killing of George Floyd while in police custody in Minnesota last month, and the subsequent decision by NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag from its events. Last week, Mississippi lawmakers discussed options that included a statewide referendum to determine the flag's fate and the adoption of a second state flag. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves wrote in a Tweet on Monday that he is against the idea of a second state flag, which drew Hill's response.

Jamal Adams 'trying' to get traded to Cowboys
The 2019 All-Pro has become disgruntled about not getting a contract extension done with the Jets and is attempting to force his way out of New York. NFL Network's Kim Jones reported last week that while Adams wants to move on, the Jets continue to believe Adams will remain on the team in 2020.