Bengals News (7/12): In need of recognition

Cincinnati Bengals 2020 Season In Review
The Bengals were 4-11-1 in 2020, after fighting through injuries that saw 10 regular contributors end the season on Reserve/Injured. The most notable of those injuries was rookie QB Joe Burrow, the team's No. 1 overall selection in the 2020 draft who saw his season end after 10 games due to a knee injury. Despite the lack of an NFL offseason program to ease the rookie learning curve, Taylor helped steer Burrow to one of the top statistical starts to a career by a QB in NFL history. Burrow missed nearly half of his 10th game, but his 264 completions still count as the most ever by an NFL QB through their first 10 career games, while his 404 pass attempts are second in the same category and his 2688 passing yards are fifth.

Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase: Players who will have breakout 2021 seasons 'NFL Total Access'
NFL Network's Stacey Dales and Marc Ross highlight Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase as two players who they believe will have breakout seasons in 2021.

Cincinnati named NFL’s worst travel destination for fans
This is the sort of offseason list that generates controversy, of course. While Bengals fans and others rightfully have their gripes with the overall experience and personality of Paul Brown Stadium itself, ranking it dead last seems like quite an exaggeration.

Bengals: Leighton Vander Esch could benefit from a fresh start
One intriguing linebacker who could be an option is Leighton Vander Esch of the Cowboys, who Bleacher Report notes is in need of a fresh start. Chris Roling, the author of the article, listed the Bengals as the best fit for Vander Esch and offered this analysis

Bengals net one of college’s best trench players in 2022 mock draft
Cincinnati goes with defense in a new 2022 NFL mock draft from Sports Illustrated’s Jack Borowsky, where they take Texas A&M defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal at fourth overall:

Cincinnati Bengals players overdue for a Pro Bowl nod
Still, the feel-good vibes around the team suggest that’s about to change in 2021. So looking ahead, here are some Bengals players due for a Pro Bowl appearance.

Joe Burrow was one of the ‘most trolled’ players in the NFL last year
And it turns out Joe Burrow is one of the “most trolled” players in the NFL over the last year. The Action Network scanned Instagram to come up with a list of players who “received the most negative comments” from May 2020 to May 2021.

Around the league

State of the 2021 Kansas City Chiefs: Lombardi or bust for Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and Co.
The Kansas City Chiefs are enjoying an era of unprecedent prosperity this team hasn't seen since perhaps the very beginning of the Super Bowl Era. Back when Hank Stram was imploring his team to matriculate down the field. The Chiefs have won back-to-back AFC championships. A first in club history. They got back to the Super Bowl in what was expected to be a crowning for the Chiefs as the new model franchise in the NFL. But a familiar foe, Tom Brady, a man who has caused this franchise great pain in the past, once again helped keep the Chiefs from another Lombardi Trophy.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers plans to 'figure things out in a couple weeks'
Rodgers has been among the many football players golfing in the celebrity-filled American Century Championship in Nevada, where NBC Sports caught up with him Saturday and asked what his plans are for the upcoming season.

Laurent Duvernay-Tardif: Winning Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award at ESPYs a 'huge honor'
"Being a professional athlete comes with a lot of privileges but also a responsibility to use your platform to have a positive impact in your community," LDT wrote. "Winning this award for my work off the field is a huge honor."

Former Steelers LB Anthony Chickillo announces retirement
The free-agent linebacker announced Sunday on his Instagram account that he is retiring from football after six NFL seasons. The first five of those were spent in Pittsburgh, where he was an oft-used reserve and special teams ace after being selected in the sixth-round of the 2015 draft.