0xbt

Drew Sample was a tough pick for most Bengals fans to comprehend during the draft Cheap Drew Sample Jersey , but it seems like early on the rookie is showing he belongs." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteCincy Junglea Cincinnati Bengals communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsLibraryBengalsOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections #BITESIZEFilm RoomRoster Transactions and ContractsOrange & Black InsiderSalary Cap And CBADrew Sample impressing Bengals early on at OTAs New,44commentsDrew Sample was a tough pick for most Bengals fans to comprehend during the draft, but it seems like early on the rookie is showing he belongs.EDTShareTweetShareShareDrew Sample impressing Bengals early on at OTAs Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY SportsWhen the Bengals spent their second-round pick on tight end Drew Sample out of Washington, it caused some pretty hard backlash. Almost no one thought Sample would even go on the second day of the draft, much less in Round 2.Now that we have gotten to the point in the offseason where players are actually taking the field, Sample has become a pretty common topic of conversation. Even one of the Bengals best players, wide receiver A.J. Green, told Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com that he was impressed.Green isn’t the kind of guy who throws statements out like that very often. It is a good sign that Sample is already on Green’s radar. It is still very early though in the offseason training process, though. Guys don’t even have pads on yet, so you can still take all of this with a grain of salt if you’d like. It is noteworthy though that several other reporters have commented on Sample this offseason as well.Hearing that Sample is impressing with his receiving ability really helps ease some of that concern some fans may have had. After all Drew Sample Jersey Womens , Sample was billed as one of the better blocking tight ends coming out this season. If he can contribute in the passing game as well, it says a lot about where his future could end up in this league.Finally, Albert Breer also touched on Sample’s performance during rookie minicamp in the MMQB:It’s still way too early for anyone to take any sort of victory lap on Sample. He hasn’t even played an actual down of football yet. However, given how harshly most of us judged the pick initially, it could help calm some of our concerns for now. Sample obviously deserves a fair shot, and if he is already impressing Green, then who am I to say anything negative about him, yet. CINCINNATI (AP) — The previous time the Bengals tried to stop Baker Mayfield, he set a Browns rookie record with four touchdown passes in little more than half a game. He also gave a cold shoulder to his former head coach while leaving the field.The Bengals are looking for anything positive at the end of another bad season. Containing Mayfield on Sunday would qualify.Cincinnati (6-8) has been eliminated from playoff contention for the third season in a row. It’s the intrastate rival Browns (6-7-1) who are barely still in contention with two games left, emerging from their historically bad run of losses as their rookie quarterback grows up a little more each week — and builds a reputation Andy Dalton Jersey , too.Asked what Mayfield does best, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick had an immediate answer.“Talk,” Kirkpatrick said Wednesday.“Naw, he’s cool,” the cornerback added. “I like to see that out of young guys. He definitely gets in guys’ heads. That’s what this game is about.”He sure got into the Bengals’ heads on Nov. 25.Mayfield led the Browns to touchdowns on their first four chances, including a 96-yard drive. He was barely touched while going 17 of 22 for 245 yards in the first half, when the Browns piled up 296 yards.Up 35-7 early in the second half, the Browns essentially ran out the clock. Mayfield threw only four passes in the second half, one of them for a touchdown, as Cleveland finished off a 35-20 win .It was the Bengals’ second game since coach Marvin Lewis fired defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and assumed the role. The defense has been better lately against lesser opponents. The Bengals ended a five-game losing streak Sunday with a 30-16 win over the Raiders A.J. Green Jersey , who were missing both starting guards.The defense finally looked more like Lewis had hoped.“It hasn’t been easy,” said rookie defensive end Sam Hubbard, who had two sacks on Sunday. “We’ve been trying to address a lot of issues in practice.”It’s difficult to quantify how much of an effect Hue Jackson’s had on the defense. The Browns fired him as head coach after Cleveland got only two wins in the first eight games. Lewis quickly hired his close friend as a special assistant on defense, Jackson’s third stint on Lewis’ staff.Jackson helps create the defensive game plan and is on the sideline during games, offering Lewis advice when needed. He also talks to players on the sideline about adjustments that need to be made.Jackson will be a focal point on the sideline Sunday in Cleveland, where he won only three games in two-plus seasons. He’s kept a low profile in Cincinnati not only with the media but also with players, trying to be careful not to infringe upon the other assistant coaches’ areas.He was in the spotlight when the Browns visited last month. Safety Damarious Randall intercepted a pass by the Bengals sideline and handed the ball to Jackson , who patted him on the helmet. After the game, Jackson sought out Mayfield, but the rookie didn’t want to talk.Jackson’s decision to join an AFC North rival and plot to beat the Browns didn’t go over well with some of his former players. His current ones don’t want to get into it.“I don’t care about that Michael Jordan Cincinnati Bengals Jersey ,” Kirkpatrick said. “He was their coach. Their might have been something personal. I don’t know. I’m not going to get into it.“You’ll have to ask Hue.”Jackson? He’s not talking.BOYD SIDELINEDReceiver Tyler Boyd topped 1,000 yards in the win over the Raiders, but hurt his right knee late in the first half and didn’t return. He was held out of practice Wednesday, an indication he’s unlikely to play in Cleveland. Linebacker Jordan Evans (ankle) also missed practice.BURFICT RETURNSLinebacker Vontaze Burfict returned to practice on a limited basis after missing the past two games with a concussion. Right tackle Cordy Glenn (back), running back Joe Mixon (wrist) and receiver John Ross (knee) also were limited.