Ourlads replicated a five-year old scouting report on Bengals cornerback Leon Hall, who was the team's No. 18 pick during the 2007 NFL draft. Since then Hall has intercepted 20 passes, forced five fumbles, scored a touchdown and named as an alternate to the Pro Bowl during the 2009 season. And before his Achilles injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011, Hall never missed a game.

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It's a glorious Thursday afternoon. Well more glorious if it were Friday, right? But we take what we can. An open thread through because, what else do you have to do?

They hold it every year. And every year I ask the same question with no foreseeable explanation that ever makes sense. Little plastic balls dictating the NBA draft order, dramatically dictating a team's overall chance to rebuild. Was there ever a season in which a team, in this case the Charlotte Bobcats, needed the top pick to acquire the best player entering the NBA Draft?

Instead the team with a 13.7 percent chance to earn the top pick (fourth among the lottery teams), wins it while the Bobcats, with a 25 percent chance after only winning seven games (SEVEN!), falls to the second spot. How can this process be allowed to exist?

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Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson has noticeably gained weight, according to Geoff Hobson with Bengals.com, who writes that:

he's clearly bigger than last year's 267 pounds and there is some belief he's hit 280. At 6-7, Johnson had a big start last year (he gave Browns Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas all he could handle in the opener), but got worn down with some nagging injuries while leading the defensive line playing nearly 70 percent of the snaps.

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The Cincinnati Bengals announced last week that rookie offensive guard Kevin Zeitler agreed to terms on a four-year deal. According to Aaron Wilson, Zeitler's four-year contract is worth $7.544 million with a $3.926 million signing bonus and a total guarantee of $6.124 million. Breaking down the seasons, his contract is fully guaranteed for the first three year, expected to earn $390,000 in 2012, $732,918 in 2013 and $1.075 million in 2014. During his final season under the signed rookie contract, Zeitler is scheduled to earn $1.418 million, but it's not guaranteed like the first three seasons.

The total money guaranteed is a combination of Zeitler's signing bonus, as well as the guaranteed money through the first three seasons.

The Bengals selected Zeitler No. 27 during the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. Rather than selecting the more popular DeCastro at No. 17, the Bengals selected cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick while trading back No. 21 pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for their No. 27 pick as well as the No. 93 selection, who would eventually become Clemson defensive tackle Brandon Thompson.

The extend of Bo Scaife's short career in Cincinnati was encapsulated within three preseason games, two receptions and 12 yards receiving. Scaife's 2011 season prematurely ended 20 days after signing a one-year deal worth $1 million, following a neck injury against the Carolina Panthers during the team's third preseason game. As a result the Bengals signed Donald Lee and eventually signed Orson Charles during the 2012 NFL draft.

For Scaife, the former backup tight end is trying to attach with a team during the offseason. According to Aaron Wilson, Scaife recently worked out with the New England Patriots.

The Patriots' interest in Scaife follows their recent meeting with tight end Dallas Clark, who wound up signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they traded Kellen Winslow to the Seattle Seahawks.

As for the Bengals there's four tight ends signed on the offseason roster. Following starting tight end Jermaine Gresham is Charles, Colin Cochart and Lee. Cincinnati will likely keep three at the most, with the final spot boiling down to the veteran Lee and the versatile (full back and tight end position) Cochart.

The IFL's Allen Wranglers announced on Tuesday that they released former Bengals wide receiver Terrell Owens. According to the IFL's official website, Owens recently "made it clear that he had no intentions of playing in the team's upcoming crucial away games in Nebraska and Everett" as the Wranglers are entering the "late portion of the season with aspirations for earning a spot in the playoffs."

Additionally Owens' contract as a team owner was terminated. From the IFL website:

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If the Bengals 2012 season were to kickoff this weekend, which six wide receivers would you list on the team's roster. There are 12 to choose from. The current roster is:

• A.J. Green
• Armon Binns
• Brandon Tate
• Marvin Jones
• Mohamed Sanu
• Jordan Shipley
• Andrew Hawkins
• Ryan Whalen
• Vidal Hazelton
• Justin Hilton
• Kashif Moore
• Taveon Rogers

The Cincinnati Bengals announced that two and four-game packs will go on sale on June 7 at 9 a.m. According to the website there will be two four-game packs (because there's only eight home games, silly). The orange pack will feature the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. The black pack features the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens.

You noticed it too?

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+ Though previously unknown due to the limit availability that the media has with the team during OTAs, Bengals place-kicker Mike Nugent was believed to have returned to OTAs last Thursday. According to Joe Reedy with the Cincinnati Enquirer, who confirmed Nugent's return on Tuesday after the team's single-season scoring leader returned. Nugent was married on May 19, three days before the first round of OTAs last week.

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ESPN.com writer Jeffri Chadiha took on the task of ranking the top-ten wide receivers heading into the 2012 regular season. The usual suspects are listed with Calvin Johnson at No. 1, followed by Arizona's Larry Johnson and Houston's Andre Johnson. Chadiha lists Bengals wide receiver A.J. green No. 9 -- which is somewhat surprising, but not entirely shocking (people have reservations ranking rookies and sophomores so high to ensure non-fluke status).

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Would it surprise you that while Geno Atkins and Domata Peko are both defensive tackles, their roles are completely difference? Pro Football Focus designed a posting that explored the nature of positions on the defensive line, such as the three-technique and identifying players as the best at those spots on the defensive line. The explanations are basic football 101 most fans should already know -- such as where players line up, what their roles are. As for the best three-technique defensive tackle in 4-3 schemes? Well you probably already figured out that Atkins wins that hands down.

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Bengals wide receiver Jordan Shipley reportedly ran routes last week when the media was allowed to observe Cincinnati's first OTA session. Following Tuesday's practice (today) in which he participated during team drills, Shipley admitted that while he's been medically cleared, he's still not 100 percent.

"It's not 100 percent, but I'm getting closer," Shipley said after he participated in some 11-on-11 work. "There's still a ways to go….It's just a natural part of it. I'm getting stronger and stronger. It's a significant injury. Right now I'm just (focusing on) jumping and getting in and out of my breaks real fast. That's the main thing I have to fine tune right now."

Shipley is projected as the team's No. 1 slot receiver, with varying competition from Andrew Hawkins, Ryan Whalen and possibly Mohamed Sanu, who is well-known for being as versatile as anyone. Shipley is expected to be 100 percent when the team kickoffs off training camp in two months.

Much like the focus on the team's cornerback situation, the other question that invites bouts of hypochondriasis (perhaps with higher popularity) surrounds the premature question regarding the competition for the No. 2 wide receiver spot. Many names are thrown into the preverbal hat, ranging from an undrafted free agent (Armon Binns), a return specialist without a single reception last year (Brandon Tate) and rookie receivers (Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu).

Following Tuesday's OTA session, Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden was pressed about who is leading the competition. He supplied two names.

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The Cincinnati Bengals currently have 87 players on their 90-man offseason roster. This includes running back Rodney Stewart, who reportedly tore his ACL last week, and Brandon Joiner, recently sentenced to three years in prison, both of whom aren't expected to participate this week. The roster:

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During the team's OTA sessions last week, Leon Hall spent time rehabilitating an Achilles injury. Nate Clements sat with an abdominal strain. Dre Kirkpatrick didn't work with a precautionary hamstring issue. According to Geoff Hobson with Bengals.com, all three cornerbacks are sitting during the first of a three-day OTA session that began on Tuesday.

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Bengals place-kicker Mike Nugent, who was given the franchise tag over the offseason, was noticeably absent from last week's OTA; though the team had Thomas Weber to perform kicking duties so it wasn't that big of a deal. According to Geoff Hobson with Bengals.com, Nugent returned to the field on Tuesday for the first day of the next round of OTA sessions.

Nugent signed his one-year franchise contract on April 25, guaranteeing him $2.654 million for the 2012 season. There have been rumblings that the team would like to sign Nugent to a long-term deal -- and considering the last kicker they franchised skipped town (and jeered out of Cincinnati), we're certain that the team would like to accomplish this sooner rather than later.

After recovering from a shredded knee in 2010, Nugent recovered and converted 33 of 38 field goals in 2011 and a team-record 132 points. Nugent, a former Ohio State Buckeye, is the team's place-kicker and kickoff specialist.

Does Brandon Tate resume his role on the first-team offense?
Let us emphasize this, as we have several times in the past week. Players will not win or lose jobs in late May. OTAs aren't designed for those type of competitions, largely because contact and drills are forbidden according to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Will showing tremendous athleticism, adaptability and knowledge of the playbook go a long way towards training camp competitions? Absolutely.

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The Cincinnati Bengals will kickoff their second week of OTAs on Tuesday, the final three-day offseason program with a four-day session next week (June 4-7), capped by the mandatory veteran minicamp in mid-June (June 12-14).

As per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams are only allowed ten days of organized team practice activity, with a maximum of three per week for the first two weeks. That increases to four days during the third week with a mandatory veteran minicamp to be held during the fourth and final week of the offseason workout program.

That being said don't expect players to win or lose jobs this weekend. For one thing contact is not allowed, nor are one-on-one drills. Still. Coaches will coach and much of the OTA's benefit is reflected on the rookies becoming acclimated to the speed of the game, learning the playbooks and veterans working on technique and rehashing their overall knowledge of the system.

Today is a day we give thanks to those that gave their lives while serving. Talk among yourselves about those you've lost or anything else you'd like to reflect on.

Today's question is simple. If forced into deciding which player you could keep during an expansion draft (meaning that everyone but that one player you picked could leave), which player would you pick? Quarterback Andy Dalton, wide receiver A.J. Green, offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth or the defensive pass rushers in Geno Atkins or Carlos Dunlap?

Rob Rang, draft expect for The Sports Xchange and CBSSports.com, reflects on the Cincinnati Bengals draft class, focusing a particular emphasis on Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones, selected in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL draft. Rang, who writes that this is Cincinnati's third strong draft in a row, often a catalyst for long-term success, believes that Jones could "pay surprising dividends."

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The issue of concussions is changing the game today more than any issue has before it. Hits are being deemed illegal, outrageous fines issued, all the while the league is facing a lawsuit against thousands of former players. Bengals running back Brian Leonard believes that the league, and even the teams themselves, are moving in the right direction.

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Memorial Day is a day that we honor those that have fallen, fighting for us, giving the ultimate sacrifice so chumps like us can cheer on the Cincinnati Bengals, have peaceful nights resting with our families in the world's greatest country. We have family who have fought in previous wars. And maybe some of us (myself included) have friends and family who are fighting today; all of whom have lost their own friends. Today we celebrate those that have fallen. Today we celebrate Memorial Day. Here are some facts.

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It's Sunday night. NASCAR is about to drop the green flag for their longest race of the season, the Spurs are gearing up to destroy the Thunder and there's a baseball game on ESPN -- which is super.

A collection of stories that we ran over the course of the week reflecting updates on the team's offense from OTAs and other stories reflecting the offense.

+ Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is excited about Brandon Tate's chance to compete for the No. 2 wide receiver position. Dalton said of Tate:

"I'm excited about him. He's done a good job. You can tell he's put in the work this offseason. He's running around well, and right now it's just getting everybody on the same page."

+ Tate lined up as the No. 2 wide receiver during OTAs last week.

+ Wide receiver A.J. Green is looking become a leader this year.

"I feel like I just want to be that leader that I know I can be," Green said. "I really don't lead by (being) vocal, I lead by example. I always want to be the first one in a drill and doing everything to the best of my ability. Some of the young guys can actually come along and watch what I do.

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