Safety Chinedum Ndukwe, who is currently participating in the NFL’s business education program, says he’s “looking forward to getting back to cincy, working out w the boys and getting back into the swing of things!” He has a Web site coming as well, ndukwe41.com. You can check out the logo here.
Stop the presses! Keith Rivers has updated his blog for the first time in four months. Hates the cold, says his ankle got scoped in January and that his hammys are sore following the first workout, but he’s glad to be back at it as part of the offseason program.
All [...]

As we head into April and the last few weeks before the 2009 NFL draft, defensive tackle B.J. Raji is leading the Cincinnati Bengals Mock Draft Big Board, if only by default. There is no question in the collective mind of the mockosphere that if either offensive tackle Eugene Monroe or Jason Smith somehow slips to six, they will be the pick. But draftniks now consider Jason to be a virtual top-four lock, and Monroe is having increasing difficulty running the gauntlet of Detroit, St. Louis and Seattle.
The wild card is OT Andre Smith. There is a growing suspicion that [...]

It looks like the Bengals will use the draft to address their gap at fullback. Minnesota matched their offer to restricted free agent FB Naufahu Tahi last week, and an offer to the other restricted free agent who visited Cincinnati, Packers FB John Kuhn, doesn’t appear to be forthcoming.
“It’s possible someone could come out of the woodwork, but the way it looks now is he’s going to stay” in Green Bay, said Kuhn’s agent, Kevin Gold. Gold said he spoke with the Bengals after the Vikings matched for Tahi, but “[i]t never got to anything worth considering.”
“I think at this [...]

The NFL has released the preseason schedule for 2009.
The Cincinnati Bengals preseason lineup is as follows:
Week of August 13: @ New Orleans Saints
Week of August 20: @ New England Patriots
Week of August 27: St. Louis Rams
Week of September 3: Indianapolis Colts
Specific dates and times have not yet been announced for most games.

Saying that going into his seventh year he feels like he hasn’t played football yet — “certainly not in a significant game” — Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer declared that the team needs to “seize the year,” beginning with the offseason workouts that start today at Paul Brown Stadium.
“Building a championship team starts now,” Palmer told media assembled for an 11 a.m. press conference. “We have a lot of work to do and a long way to go.”
Palmer said he was 100% and fully medically cleared to work.
He said he is encouraged by the initiative shown by young receivers Jerome [...]

Add WR Jeremy Maclin to the list of top draft prospects visiting the Bengals. This isn’t surprising — the Bengals can be expected to host most of the potential high picks as a matter of course — but I don’t see a wideout at six.
Speaking of wide receivers, the circus…err, excuse me, the Bengals’ offseason workouts…start today, and Bengaldom awaits the arrival (or not) of Chad Ochocinco. Marvin Lewis and Carson Palmer are scheduled to hold a presser at 11 eastern. Gee, I wonder who the first question will be about?

The Minnesota Vikings have matched the Cincinnati Bengals’ $1.4 million offer to restricted free agent fullback Naufahu Tahi, according to the team’s twitter feed.
The move sends the Bengals back to the drawing board at FB. They were also interested in Packers restricted free agent FB John Kuhn.

Offensive tackle Andre Smith remains high on the Bengals’ draft board, according to 1530Homer’s Lance McAlister.
An NFL source, traveling to Pro Days this week, tells me they heard a key member of the Bengals brass indicate the team has Alabama’s OT Andre Smith high on the draft board. At least one member of the Bengals decision-making staff wants to take Smith, according the the discussion. In the same conversation, the Bengals official said he liked the way the draft board will fall and sensed running back will be the value position when the team’s on the clock in the second [...]

 
Fansided.com’s Worst Man Drafted competition kicks off today, featuring 64 of the crappiest draft selections ever. Representing the Cincinnati Bengals in the East Region are QBs Akili Smith and Jack “The Throwin’ Samoan” Thompson. Over the years, the Bengals haven’t been good at much, but one thing they have excelled at is blowing it big-time on draft day. So let’s make sure we get our due! Spread the word and vote here.

Bengals TE coach Jonathan Hayes was sighted at Texas’ pro day.
Both Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason make the list of top QBs who never won the Big Game.
There’s a warrant out for former Bengal WR Darnay Scott.
Former Bengals and Chargers guard Mike Goff signed with the Chiefs.
Another Steeler, another rule change.
Carson Palmer says two-month-olds poop a lot.
The Bengals haven’t drafted a Buckeye since 1994.