The first week of July predictably featured a quiet news cycle for the Cincinnati Bengals.
But the same doesn’t apply to the rest of the AFC North.
While other AFC North teams weren’t having major football quality-of-life changes, it doesn’t mean there weren’t some interesting headlines. These are the most notable notes from around the AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens: RG3 says Ravens will shock
It is hard to know what to expect from the Ravens in 2019 on offense with Lamar Jackson’s development up in the air and the approach undergoing some serious changes.
Changes, by the way, Jackson has said he didn’t realize beforehand.
Anyway, Robert Griffin III sees those changes having a big impact, per the team’s official website:
“The offense will look different. I think we’ll shock some people with what we’re going to do. If we need to run it 60 times, we can do it. But if we need to throw it 30 to 40 times, we can also do it. I think that’s what we’re working on, to make sure we have those capabilities.”
Jackson ended up leading the Ravens to the playoffs last year. But defenses adjusting and his body taking another big amount of hits leaves the effectiveness up in the air unless RG3 is correct.
Pittsburgh Steelers: JuJu Smith-Schuster talks more Antonio Brown
The Steelers keep on talking about Brown.
Here’s Smith-Schuster with the latest comments on this front:
“God opened up the door for me to take another opportunity to be the number one guy. I’m super happy and I’m super proud.”
The Steelers traded Brown to the Oakland Raiders and players have since relentlessly talked about how it has made the team closer and things more cohesive.
But talk means little even if it is all there is at this point of the offseason, so only play on the field will reveal if all of these things said end up ringing true.
Cleveland Browns: David Njoku rips Hue Jackson
Browns tight end David Njoku isn’t a big fan of Jackson.
Njoku recently told Rich Eisen the following:
“Well, obviously we weren’t happy with what Hue said about us after he left. It is what it is,” Njoku stated. “Baker [Mayfield] didn’t appreciate it. We came together after Hue left and took it upon ourselves to work extra hard to finish the year strong. …”
For those who remember the coverage from the middle of last season, this is all fair game from Njoku. Jackson got fired in Cleveland and went on an odd media tour where he hinted he didn’t like Baker Mayfield and things weren’t his fault. He then inexplicably got picked up by the Bengals, then even more inexplicably got to interview for the vacant head coach spot when Marvin Lewis left.
Jackson hasn’t had a media tour since or popped up in big coaching news but this is still fair game for players who feel this sort of way about things. Cleveland’s improved play right after Jackson left indeed spoke for itself.
