Bengals News (1/7): Missing out

Bengals.com gives its annual 2020 awards for MVP, top rookie and other honors.
Whatever is the NFL equivalent of a purple heart, we're giving them out today in the form of the Bengals.com end-of-season "Way To Work Awards." The year 2020 was so hard on everybody in all walks of just trying to stay alive, it just seems like there ought to be something more.

NFL mock draft: Todd McShay has Bengals missing on Penei Sewell
It’s mock draft season with the regular season over, so it was only a matter of time before an expert like ESPN’s Todd McShay weighed in on what the Cincinnati Bengals will do with the fifth overall pick.

Report: Bengals to interview Lions OL coach Hank Fraley
If he gets the gig in Cincinnati, Fraley would be responsible for coaching up first-round product Jonah Williams and helping the team potentially draft a name like Penei Sewell in the first round of this year’s draft. His extensive experience all over the NFL as a player and coach would help in free agency too.

Bengals parting ways with several assistant coaches
NFL Media reports that at least four assistant coaches will not return for another year with the team. Offensive line coach Jim Turner, wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell, defensive line coach Nick Eason, and running backs coach Jemal Singleton are the quartet moving on to other pursuits.

Bengals: Tyler Boyd warned Tee Higgins not to play on injured leg
It doesn’t sound like Higgins’ injury is a serious one and he’ll have plenty of time this offseason to get it right and better train for his second pro season. Based on his first-year results, he’s going to make the likely loss of A.J. Green on the field an afterthought.

Carlos Dunlap Thriving with Seattle Seahawks Following Trade From Cincinnati Bengals - Sports Illustrated Cincinnati Bengals News, Analysis and More
“I went from one and six, to six and one, in one season. That’s unheard of. I’m just grateful for the opportunity,” Dunlap said. “So when I say I’m happy to be here? Look at that: one and six to six and one.

Around the league

RB Index: Final top-10 rankings; who's the next great running back?
We're on the brink of the inaugural Super Wild Card Weekend, and all I've heard about are the usual playoff suspects: Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, blah, blah, blah. What about the running backs?! I mean, Derrick Henry just had a historic regular season, and the position STILL isn't getting any love.

NFL players share reaction to Wednesday events at U.S. Capitol
Trump issued a restrained call for peace well after the melee was underway but did not urge supporters to disperse. Earlier he had egged them on to march to Capitol Hill. The Pentagon said about 1,100 District of Columbia National Guard members were being mobilized to help support law enforcement at the Capitol.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Bills QB Josh Allen among Players of the Month
Rodgers and the Packers were a perfect 5-0 over the last month and earned the No. 1 seed heading into the NFC playoffs. During this span, Rodgers threw 15 touchdowns -- and rushed for two more -- while tossing just one interception and compiling a 131.9 quarterback rating. Rodgers, the NFC Offensive Player of the Month, was his pinpoint self, completing 111 of 145 attempts (76.6%) for 1,199 yards.

Rams' Aaron Donald: 'I think we have all the pieces to the puzzle' to make deep playoff run
"Confident," he responded when asked how he's feeling about this year's team. "I think we have all the pieces to the puzzle. I think we are playing lights out on defense and our offense is doing things to a point where they can manage games and still make things happen to help us win. So, when you have that, you're definitely going into it confident. I feel like we're in a position to get to where we want to get to, we just have to go week-by-week and just dominate."