Bengals News (6/9): Breaking norms

Bengals Booth Podcast: Remembering the Rattler, Ken Riley
It's the "Remembering The Rattler" edition of the Bengals Booth Podcast as celebrating the life of Ken Riley with his former teammate Bob Trumpy, followed by a 2017 interview with The Rattler after he was voted among the best players in team history.

Former Bengals remember the legendary Ken Riley.
"I was just talking to him the other week about how he had to cancel his golf tournament," said Ken Anderson, the other Kenny from those Bengaldom glory days who played quarterback and who shared with him a claim to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as charitable endeavors. "He was going to come up here this season for our Legends Weekend. So sad. Only 72. Only a year older than me. A consummate pro. Just such a great person, a great teammate."

Around the AFC North: How Joe Burrow Is Getting Ready Amid COVID-19
This has been a unique offseason for everyone, including the NFL's No. 1 draft pick, Joe Burrow. Restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and scheduling conflicts have prevented Burrow from hooking up with teammates for workouts.

Ken Riley Obituary: Legendary Cincinnati Bengals cornerback, dies at 72
Riley played quarterback at Florida A&M University and was a candidate for a Rhodes Scholarship. He was drafted by the Bengals in the 1969 draft and they switched him to cornerback since they drafted quarterback Greg Cook. Riley took to the position well and played cornerback for the Bengals for all 15 of his NFL seasons. His 65 career interceptions are number 5 all-time but inexplicably he was only elected to the Pro Bowl once and is not in the Hall of Fame. He played in Super Bowl XVI when the Bengals lost to Joe Montana and the 49ers. After the NFL, he was the head coach at Florida A&M for eight seasons.

Kendall Futrell might be Bengals’ top UDFA to watch
Futrell was the most productive member of the East Carolina defense last year and his potential scheme versatility is what has Bengals coaches so excited, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:

Bengals rookies could get to PBS before July based on NFL talks
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL and NFLPA are currently engaged in discussions to permit certain groups of players on a limited basis to return to team facilities before the end of June.

Why the Bengals' past means nothing in regards to their future
A popular narrative this off-season surrounded around the idea that the Cincinnati Bengals are a bad franchise, in part because they have never won a championship. Most national pundits look at Cincinnati as an afterthought when it comes to winning the Super Bowl. But, is this really a fair take?

Early mock draft has Bengals securing a star defensive end
Mock drafts at this point in the year can often be a futile exercise. Things often drastically change in prospect rankings and teams either overachieve or fail to meet expectations, causing the draft order to be quite skewed. However, it does serve as a good starting basis for how analysts think the Cincinnati Bengals will perform in 2021, what the weaknesses on their roster may still be, and which prospects fit best in stripes.

Around the league

NFL issues guidelines for protocols for players' return
Pelissero reported that while no dates have been set yet and no minicamps are expected, the NFL and NFLPA are discussing the possibility of certain players -- such as rookies and veterans who changed teams and need physicals -- returning to club facilities on a limited basis before June 26, per sources informed of the situation.

2020 NFL season: Key homegrown player for each AFC team
Performing this same exercise last offseason, we spotlighted Lamar Jackson, Dalvin Cook, Michael Gallup, Chris Godwin and Courtland Sutton. Let's see if this year's group can prove as flashy, with a focus on players still on their rookie contracts.

Jurrell Casey says Titans traded him away 'like a piece of trash'
Casey wasn't pleased by the way he was dealt, going from a key veteran on Tennessee's defense who was hopeful his team would be able to retain key players like Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry, to a trade chip sent away to clear needed cap space. Casey didn't hold back in voicing his displeasure with the way he was dealt while appearing on Devin and Jason McCourty's "Double Coverage" podcast.

Steelers plan to hold training camp at Heinz Field
Pittsburgh typically holds training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, but was forced to put together different accommodations for its training camp due to the restrictions implemented by the league because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Steelers are one of a handful of teams (Cowboys, Panthers, etc.) who have to rethink their training camp plans, and they're the first to announce their new intentions for 2020.

Pro Football Hall of Fame to reopen doors June 10
"We stand ready to provide inspiration to fans eager to celebrate excellence," said David Baker, president & CEO of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said in a press release. "And we will do so in a responsible manner that puts the safety of the visiting public and our dedicated staff at the forefront of each decision we have made in reaching this point and that we will continue to make moving forward."