AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Steelers

Bengals

Bengals’ veteran DT Mike Daniels compared Joe Burrow to a young Aaron Rodgers after spending 2012-2018 in Green Bay. 

“You know what I say about Joe Burrow, man. That’s like baby Aaron,” Daniels said, via Kevin Patra of Around the NFL. 

Daniels reiterated that Burrow has a clear veteran presence about him around the Bengals’ locker room. 

“You don’t see many rookies step into a locker room, and you can tell, you would think he’s a four-year vet if you didn’t know who he was,” Daniels said. “To have that at the quarterback position, that means he has the right type of savvy, the right type of poise that you only see from guys like Aaron. I’ve been saying this since I got there. I see a lot of similarities between the two. I’m just excited to be able to be a part of that, man. The kid’s got a lot to him. He’s got a lot of upside. He’s only going to get better. You talk to Who Dey nation, man, they’re gonna let you know. Joe Burrow is the savior, man! He really is to this organization.”

Browns

Browns QB Baker Mayfield said that WR Odell Beckham Jr. looked “very, very good” in practice and “feels even better” after recovering from a knee injury.

“About a month ago I would have said that he looks very, very good, and I know after speaking with him that he feels even better,” Mayfield said, via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “So I’ll let you guys see that for yourself.”

As for the Browns’ high vaccination rate, Mayfield believes the team’s compliance provides a “competitive advantage” for their organization. 

“Obviously, last year [the pandemic] was new for everybody, so it was a lot of learning the protocols and whatnot,” Mayfield said. “So, yeah, it definitely poses a competitive advantage for higher vaccine rates on your team just because of the close contact [rules] and what happens if somebody does unfortunately get COVID, what can happen to the rest of the building. Yeah, it’s a competitive advantage, but it’s also way more than that. It’s about safety and just general health and well-being of human life.”

Steelers

• Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Steelers LB Devin Bush is so far into his ACL rehab that he should be ready for the start of training camp.
• According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, Steelers LB Vince Williams‘ retirement means Robert Spillane will have a bigger role this year, while fourth-round rookie Buddy Johnson and converted safety Marcus Allen serve as the backups.
• Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has used the same trainer and chef as he has in the past this offseason. He hasn’t fully embraced the Tom Brady diet/program but he is hoping to be more resilient as the season progresses, especially with a 17th game being added. (Pryor)
• Roethlisberger says his arm feels “fresher” entering training camp after dealing with an elbow injury last year. (Pryor)
• The veteran quarterback added that the preliminary days of training camp has been the first time he’s thrown passes since minicamp.