We're knee-deep into the NFL Draft scouting process and Saturday's Senior Bowl is one of the most crucial events in draft preparations. It's debatable if the actual game is more important than the previous week's practices, but for some players who may have had a rough week, the game is where they can redeem themselves.
Good thing for us, this game is loaded with talent at running back, corner back and offensive line. It would be a safe bet to say one of these players will be in stripes next season. Here's a few players on the North squad to keep your eyes on.
Mike ZImmer is staying in Cincinnati, but Kevin Coyle is leaving. Four Bengals players are in Hawaii gearing up for the Pro Bowl. Former Bengals quarterback Greg Cook passed away today. The Senior Bowl will also be played this weekend.
Pick a topic and talk about it.
The other day, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis hinted at the fact that there could be another opening aside from the one left by Kevin Coyle. In case you haven't heard, Coyle is was named defensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins earlier today. With Lewis' comments, people began speculating that he was referring to linebackers coach, Jeff Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald joined the team in 2008, but his contract had expired and with many in Bengaldom not liking the progression of Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers, it has become increasingly apparent that Fitzgerald won't be retained.
Joe Reedy of The Cincinnati Enquirer has a thought on who will be replacing Fitzgerald in that capacity.
Even though it is the offseason for all four of the AFC North squads, they are still busy making changes to their respective staffs and scouting players at the Senior Bowl.
Let's take a spin around the division to see what has been happening with the Browns, Ravens and Steelers the last few days.
The 2012 Senior Bowl, a game between NCAA football senior all stars organized into north and south teams, is just a day away, which means we get to sit back and watch some players that could very well end up in Bengals uniform. National Football Post's Wes Bunting recently picked his top-10 Senior Bowl players and picked NFL teams that would be a good fit for them. Two of those top-10 players are picked to be good fits for the Bengals.
The NFL season isn't quite over but that hasn't stopped mock draft after mock draft from being published. After all, 30 of the 32 teams have their first-round draft positions set, only the Patriots and Giants are remaining and they'll split the last two picks of the first round.
The latest mock draft we're bringing to you comes from Sports Illustrated's Don Banks, in which he selects a running back and cornerback in the first round for the Bengals.
According to WCPO's Dennis Janson, former Bengals quarterback and University of Cincinnati hall of famer Greg Cook has passed away after being hospitalized for pneumonia. He didn't respond to treatment due to a series of pre-existing conditions.
A source close to the former University of Cincinnati and Bengals quarterback was in the intensive care unit after his health took a turn for the worse Thursday night. His family had gathered Thursday to keep vigil.
Cook broke dozens of passing records at the University of Cincinnati and was scouted and eventually drafted by Cincinnati Bengals founder and head coach Paul Brown with the No. 5 overall pick in the 1969 NFL draft. He became the first rookie quarterback to start the first game of the season, which didn't happen again until 2011, when Andy Dalton started against the Browns in Week 1.
The Miami Dolphins have hired Bengals defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle on Friday, becoming Miami's newest defensive coordinator according to NFL Network Insider Jason La Canfora. Coyle will replace Mike Nolan, who joined the Atlanta Falcons in the same function over the offseason. Coyle appeared to be a favorite for the job from the start. After NFL Network Insider Jason La Canfora reported that Miami was interested, the Dolphins were granted two interviews, the first of which took place on Wednesday. It was initially surprising that the Bengals would even allow the interview in the first place, after rejecting the Philadelphia Eagles a request for an interview last year.
