AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Steelers

Bengals

Although Bengals WR Tyler Boyd is up for a new contract, he’s not planning to skip OTA’s to make a point. 

“I’m just trying to do what’s right,” Boyd said via the Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. “I’m going to be a team player and go out there and work my tail off. I’m not going to try to skip out on reps or miss a day. That’s the best approach to it. Typically, a guy trying to come out to a season saying, ‘you have to pay me,’ it shows where the care is going. He is a ‘me’ guy. Or, you are still working and going to be a team guy. I am not trying to strategize and make it seem like I’m just trying to do what’s right (to get a deal done), that’s just the way I am.”

The Bengals would like to extend Boyd this offseason, but he’s behind WR A.J. Green in the priority order. However, Dehner says a deal is a no-brainer given the team and Boyd’s mutual interest. 

“That’s what I’m saying, bruh, I want to be here,” Boyd said. “I think they feel that and know that. In my feeling, I think it is going to be done before camp. But ain’t no telling. I’m just going to continue to keep being patient and trust the process.”

Boyd added he’s aware of what he would be worth on the open market. 

“I definitely look at the market and see where guys is at. A great example is Sterling Shepard. I feel like our game is kind of similar, kind of close,” Boyd said. “He got four for $40 million (technically, $41M with $21.3M guaranteed). I kind of feel like I’m in that area. Hopefully, they come like that or a little bit more or around that way. I feel like my ability is worth that much. I feel like my value is that much. But I’m not going to go out there asking something crazy because I had one great year. I want to continue to show them that I can do that every single year, that I’m a 1,000-yard receiver every year.”

Bengals sixth-round RB Rodney Anderson says he expects to be ready for training camp. He did not participate on the field in rookie minicamp after suffering a knee injury in the second game of the season last year for Oklahoma. 

“I’m just doing a lot of rehab right now and trying to finish that up. I fully expect myself to be ready for training camp when we come back in July,” Anderson said, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Browns

Browns DE Myles Garrett believes he will “crush” the franchise’s single-season sacks record of 14 set by Reggie Camp in 1984. 

“I should have breezed by that,” Garrett said, via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “Things happen. So I’ll make sure I crush that this year.”

As for Browns’ recently signed veteran DL Olivier Vernon, Garrett thinks they will be a good pair on the defensive line and hopes he can learn from Vernon. 

“It’ll be good,” Garrett said. “He’s been in this league for a while now. He’s played with some of the best, so he’s picked up a couple things along the way. So I’m hoping that he’ll be willing to share some knowledge.”

• According to Mary Kay Cabot, Browns RB Duke Johnson continued his absence from voluntary OTA’s following his trade request earlier this offseason, though HC Freddie Kitchens expects to see Johnson at mandatory minicamp in June. 
• Per Cabot, Browns OC Todd Monken, who held the same position with the Buccaneers last year, says GM John Dorsey asked him about DT Gerald McCoy: “I like Gerald a lot.”
• McCoy could set up a visit to Cleveland soon if things progress beyond initial discussions, according to Cabot. The two sides have been in contact. 

Steelers

• According to Field Yates, the Steelers placed a waiver claim on TE Jordan Leggett. Leggett landed with the Buccaneers who had the highest priority.