Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals running back Giovani Bernard has reportedly generated trade interest from "multiple teams" during the offseason.

Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported Thursday that Bernard "could be headed elsewhere" unless he's willing to restructure his two-year, $9.7 million contract, which includes a $4.8 million cap hit for 2021.

Bernard has been a valuable dual-threat weapon out of the backfield over the past eight years in Cincinnati.

The 29-year-old UNC product has recorded 6,564 yards from scrimmage (3,697 rushing and 2,867 receiving) with 33 total touchdowns in 115 games since the Bengals selected him in the second round of the 2013 draft.

Bernard was thrust into a more prominent weekly role in 2020 with starter Joe Mixon limited to six appearances because of a foot injury. He finished with 771 yards from scrimmage, his highest total since 2017, and found the end zone six times after scoring no touchdowns in 2019.

"When those opportunities come, I try and make the most of them," Bernard told reporters in December. "Ever since I came in, when those opportunities show themselves, I try and take advantage because you never know what is going to happen, especially playing the position I play at running back—you never know what that next carry holds."

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said in early March that Mixon "feels really good right now," which suggests he's on track to return for the 2021 season.

Mixon is capable of handling a three-down role when healthy, and Cincinnati also features Samaje Perine, Trayveon Williams and Jacques Patrick under contract at running back.

So Bernard could be expendable, and he could be of interest to a contender who's looking for a third-down specialist who can take on a heavier workload when necessary.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters Friday that the team is releasing veteran defensive tackle Geno Atkins.

Atkins, who turns 33 on March 28, has spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the Bengals after getting selected by Cincinnati in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft.

According to Spotrac, releasing Atkins will save the Bengals $9.5 million against the salary cap.

Atkins has been among the best defensive tackles in football since entering the NFL, earning eight Pro Bowl and two First-Team All-Pro nods. He was also named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-Decade team of the 2010s.

The former University of Georgia standout has recorded double-digit sacks in a season three times and nine or more sacks in a season five times, including a career-high 12.5 in 2012. As recently as 2018, Atkins had 10 sacks, which was the third-highest total of his career.

His production dropped in 2019, but he still secured a Pro Bowl nod with totals of 47 tackles and 4.5 sacks, but things truly went south last season.

Atkins battled a shoulder injury all season, which limited him to just eight games. He didn't record a single start for the first time in his career and had just one tackle on the season.

It was a shocking fall from grace for a player who has routinely put up elite-level numbers throughout his NFL career.

The Bengals can't be blamed for moving on considering how much money they saved. Doing so allowed them to invest heavily in their defense this offseason with the signings of defensive end Trey Hendrickson and cornerbacks Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton.

Cincinnati is coming off a 4-11-1 season in 2020 and a 2-14 mark in 2019, making now the perfect time to move forward and cut ties with the past.

The Bengals haven't reached the playoffs since 2015 and are likely at least a couple of years away from contending, but they have been hard at work reshaping their roster and attempting to become more competitive.

It is possible that Atkins hit the wall last season and won't be able to return to his past glory, but if he proves he is healthy and has put the shoulder issues behind him, he has a chance to be a good value signing for a tackle-needy team in free agency.

Free-agent offensive tackle Riley Reiff agreed to terms on a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on Friday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

The Bengals seemed to confirm the move with the following tweet:

Reiff, 32, is set to enter his 10th NFL season after previous stints with the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings from 2012-20.

The Lions selected Reiff with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft out of Iowa, and he went on to spend five years in Detroit, primarily as a starter, before signing with Minnesota.

Reiff was the Vikings' starting left tackle for the past four campaigns until getting released by the franchise earlier this month.

For his career, Reiff has appeared in 135 regular-season games, starting 127 of them. He has also made five playoff starts, including two in 2019.

While Reiff hasn't appeared in all 16 games in a season since 2015, he started 58 of a possible 64 games during his four-year stint with the Vikes.

Reiff immediately becomes the Bengals' most-experienced offensive lineman and brings some competition to the tackle spots.

Veteran Bobby Hart and 2019 first-round pick Jonah Williams were the primary starters at offensive tackle last season, but one of them figures to shuffle into a backup role or perhaps shift to guard now that Reiff is in the fold.

The play of the offensive line will be key in 2021, as quarterback Joe Burrow's continued development could depend on it.

Burrow had his rookie season cut short by a torn ACL and MCL, placing even more emphasis on protecting him and keeping him healthy.

Reiff may not be elite, but he is a longtime starting tackle in the NFL who should bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to Cincinnati's line.

After four years in Pittsburgh, Mike Hilton is reportedly on the move. 

The 27-year-old agreed to a four-year, $24 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Rapoport noted the deal includes $8.5 million in the first year.

It's the latest move by the Bengals, who are attempting to bolster their secondary. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported earlier Tuesday that the team had come to terms with former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie on a three-year deal.

These moves come as Cincinnati's 2016 first-round pick William Jackson III is exploring free agency.

Hilton, who went undrafted out of Ole Miss, made his NFL debut with the Steelers in 2017 after signing a reserve/future contract with the team. He appeared in all 16 games twice through four seasons but was limited to 12 games and six starts in 2020.

Those humble origins inspired his excitement for free agency. 

"I'm excited. I know how hard I've been working for this opportunity," Hilton said in March in an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio (h/t Allison Koehler of SteelersWire). "Being in this situation—from being an undrafted guy—I'm blessed to be in this position."

Throughout the Steelers' run to the Wild Card Round, he compiled 51 combined tackles, a career-high three interceptions, three sacks and two fumble recoveries.

A strong start to the 2020 campaign prompted head coach Mike Tomlin to call him a "tough little football player." 

Prior to signing with the Steelers, Hilton had joined the Jacksonville Jaguars for training camp in 2016 and spent eight days on the New England Patriots practice squad. 

Trey Hendrickson is moving on from the New Orleans Saints after agreeing to a four-year, $60 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

The move comes shortly after NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Bengals lost Carl Lawson to the New York Jets on a three-year, $45 million deal.

Hendrickson was projected to earn $10.3 million per season by Spotrac, which would have placed him among the 20 highest-paid defensive ends in football alongside Shaq Lawson and Jordan Phillips. 

The 26-year-old stepped into a leading role on the Saints defense in his contract year, combining for 25 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 15 starts—all career highs. 

Now he's cashing in with the Bengals, where he'll slot onto a defensive line that obviously needed to replace Lawson off the edge.

With the NFL salary cap decreasing to $182.5 million this season, Cincinnati chose to spend big on Hendrickson, showing just how much the front office believes in his long-term ability to move the team forward.

However, this will be a major loss to New Orleans, which helped develop the Florida Atlantic product after selecting him in the third round of the 2017 draft. 

After earning $825,00 in his final season with New Orleans, Hendrickson's payday is more than deserved. 

Jon Kitna has said one of his former Cincinnati Bengals teammates was drunk during a game.

Kitna recounted the story on The Ryen Russillo Podcast (h/t Dave Clark of the Cincinnati Enquirer) and didn't divulge the identity of the player, who appears to be a wide receiver:

"There were some things that were hard to believe (with the Bengals). There was a time that I played a game with a guy that was drunk in the huddle. There was a time that a guy showed up late to a game. In the NFL, you need to be there two hours, two hours and 15 minutes ahead of time. And he showed up under an hour before the game's start. Those are weird things, now. That's tough. ... I'm not sure if the staff knew. But I think the guy was like—that was kind of his normal. I mean he was drunk and had close to 200 yards receiving now. So, it was crazy."

Kitna spent five seasons with the Bengals and was their starting quarterback from 2001-03 before the team turned to Carson Palmer. He threw for 10,707 yards, 59 touchdowns and 59 interceptions in 53 appearances.

Willie Anderson spent all but one of his 13 years in the NFL with the Bengals and was teammates with Kitna for the entirety of his run in Cincinnati. He responded to a post on social media upon hearing the anecdote:

Former Washington Football Team star Clinton Portis said in 2017 he and Santana Moss used to take a shot of Hennessy prior to games. He later explained he saw the shot as a substitute for painkillers NFL players would usually receive.

Free-agent wideout Josh Gordon revealed to GQ's Clay Skipper in November 2017 he thought he had had marijuana or alcohol in his system "probably every game of my career" to that point.

Speaking with B/R's Master Tesfatsion on Untold Stories, Hall of Famer Terrell Owens said Donovan McNabb had been out partying the night before the Philadelphia Eagles' loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.  

The Cincinnati Bengals are optimistic about Joe Burrow's availability for Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season as he recovers from a left knee injury that ended his rookie campaign.

"I know that he's on pace to do all the things that we were hoping he'd do," head coach Zac Taylor said Thursday, per Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Burrow suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 11, tearing his ACL and MCL, along with other structural issues. He had reconstructive surgery Dec. 2.

Burrow told reporters in January: "They say it's a nine- to 12-month recovery, and the first game is exactly nine months from my injury. We are on pace to do it right now. There is obviously a long road ahead and there are opportunities for setbacks along the road, but as far as right now, it's looking as good as it could for where I am at in the rehab process."

There has been no news of any setbacks since then.

"It looks very positive for the future and for this coming season for Joe," Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin said earlier this week.

Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, showed flashes of elite play during his 10-game rookie season:

The 24-year-old finished with 2,688 passing yards with 13 passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns with five interceptions. This came after a historic 2019 season at LSU where he threw 60 touchdown passes on his way to a Heisman Trophy and a national championship.

Brandon Allen is returning to the Cincinnati Bengals on a one-year deal to back up starting quarterback Joe Burrow, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Allen, 28, started five games for the Bengals last year after Burrow suffered a torn ACL and MCL and other damage in his left knee during a game against the Washington Football Team in November.

Burrow told reporters in a postseason press conference in mid-January that the goal is for him to return to the field before Week 1 of the 2021 regular season and that he was "on pace" to do so.

Allen completed 63.4 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and 925 passing yards. He also threw four interceptions.

The former Arkansas signal-caller shined in a 37-31 win over the Houston Texans in Week 16, going 29-of-37 for 371 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Allen has taken the NFL field in two separate seasons. He started three games for the Denver Broncos in 2019, completing 46.4 percent of his passes for 515 yards and three scores.

The attorney for Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mackensie Alexander confirmed authorities have dropped a battery charge against the 27-year-old, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Police arrested Alexander last August while he was searching for his missing father. He, an enforcement officer and another man, Evins Clement, visited the alleged victim, who had been seen with Alexander's father. ESPN's Ben Baby provided more on the allegations:

"After the enforcement officer left, Alexander and Clement attempted to get information regarding the incident, according to the report. When the man would not get in their vehicle, the report says, Clement held the man down as Alexander allegedly hit the man in the face, which caused minor injuries."

Alexander's father, Jean Odney Alexandre, had been picking berries in a prairie and was left behind by the victim of the alleged battery.

Two days after seeking help to find him, the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office announced Alexandre was found at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park and "in good health." The Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office said the 65-year-old walked up to an officer from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission after moving toward a set of lights he had seen.

Alexander briefly left the Bengals as they were preparing for the regular season in order to aid in the search for his father. He reported back Sept. 1.

The 2016 second-round pick made 13 appearances for Cincinnati, finishing with 47 tackles and one interception.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow says it's unlikely he will be available for the 2021 preseason as he recovers from a torn ACL.

"I think preseason is probably pushing it a little bit. But that Week 1 goal is mine," Burrow told reporters Tuesday.

Burrow tore his ACL and MCL and suffered damage to the PCL and meniscus in his left knee in a Week 11 matchup against the Washington Football Team. If he's back in the lineup by Week 1 of next season, his recovery time would be under 10 months—on the earlier side of a typical recovery.

Burrow threw for 2,688 yards and 13 touchdowns against five interceptions in 10 games, and the Bengals went 2-7-1 in his starts.

"We didn't win as many games as I would have liked and as everyone else would have liked within the organization and the city. But I think we built a great foundation going forward and a great learning experience for not only myself but for our team," Burrow said Monday on Fox (via ESPN's Ben Baby).

The Bengals will select fifth in April's NFL draft and will likely focus on getting Burrow more help. Oregon offensive tackle Penei Sewell would be an ideal fit but is unlikely to be available at No. 5, so Cincinnati may focus on a pass-catcher like Florida tight end Kyle Pitts or LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Northwestern offensive tackle Rashawn Slater is also an option if the Bengals are determined to fix an offensive line that left Burrow vulnerable too many times in 2020.