TGIF

Safety Marvin White has packed on a few extra pounds and hit the film room hard in the offseason.

"White says he’s been impressed with new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer’s scheme and teaching ability in offseason workouts, and he expects the Bengals’ defense to wreak more havoc than it did a season ago. “We’ll put a lot more pressure on the quarterback,” White said."

That would be a welcome change.

SI.com takes a look at second round WR Jerome Simpson and brands him as a (good) character pick.

"As Simpson talks about his goals for the upcoming season — pushing for playing time, scoring his first touchdown, learning from the veterans — he pauses and shakes his head. His first real tangible goal, he says, is working with disabled children in Cincinnati, continuing a commitment he’s had since he was a college freshman.“My real passion is working with kids with disabilities,” said Simpson, who often takes care of his uncle, James Brim, who suffers from a mental disability. “I’ve worked in wheelchair basketball games and I love doing that. My uncle has a disability and he’s a little slow but he’s a great guy and I love to go fishing with him. He’s a guy that would do anything for you and I love spending time with him. It teaches you a lot about patience, being able to work with people with disabilities.”"

Something tells me that Ocho Showboato could learn a few things from this rook.

The Chickster thinks that college free agents Simeon Castille and James Johnson have a shot at the final roster. I think that Castille, a corner, could make it — but the Bengals are already backed up at running back, so it’s tough to see how Johnson gets in.

While we’re on the subject of backs, one-time Bengals fullback Lorenzo Neal still wants to play at 37 but has no takers so far.

"“I feel like Rudolph,” Neal says. “I’m getting left out of the reindeer games. And my red nose is my age. Because of that, they won’t let me play.”"

BengalsBlog passes along news that Pete Johnson is the latest former Bengal to run afoul of the law. Johnson was found guilty of passing bad checks at an auto dealership.

WDR thinks that the Bengals wide receiver corps has gotten slightly worse due to the loss of Chris Henry and the arrival of so many rookies. I’m not convinced that’s the case. After all, the Bengals didn’t have Henry for half the season last year, and when he finally did get back, he didn’t exactly light things up.

Sad. Just sad.