The Bengals gathered for the first time this year Monday morning for the start of the voluntary conditioning program and here are some early snippets from Paul Brown Stadium.
» Pro Bowl quarterback Andy Dalton says he's looking to improve his deep ball from last season and he's going to start with his footwork. The bad news is that ProFootballFocus.com had him hitting just 46.7 percent of his deep passes (28-for-60) and they accounted for five of his 13 interceptions. The good news is they rated him the eighth best deep passer in the NFL and ahead of fellow AFC Pro Bowlers Tom Brady and Philip Rivers.
» Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, freshly arrived from the Patriots and assigned number 34 instead of his 42 in New England says he doesn't want to be seen as a one-dimensional back that can only help in the red zone and on goal line and short yardage.
"I'm looking at all three downs," he said.
» Wide receiver Jordan Shipley, who tore his ACL the second game of last season, says the trainers informed him Monday that he's still in rehab. Which is code for not rushing it. He thinks he can get on the field in May or June and expects to be ready for the first snap of training camp. Last week in Texas he ran routes with Dalton and was encouraged that he could go back-to-back days.
Shipley, who suffered an ACL in college, can feel that he's five years older.
"This time has been a little tougher. Little more stuff going on," Shipley said. "Try to balance that. A little bit more scar tissue, (I have to) get it loosened up. It is doing real good.
"I'm planning on doing all the workouts with the guys. Some days I feel really good and other days I feel close. At this point in the process it's based on how you feel that day. Some days I am 100 percent."
» Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green says he's been working out five days a week for the last month and a half in Atlanta. Among his workout partners have been fellow Pro Bowlers in Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, as well as one of the receivers flying up the draft board, Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill. Green plans to head to Minnesota to work with Cardinals Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
» The day was broken up into two sessions with the defensive backs and linebackers slated for the afternoon. But Jason Allen, one of the new cornerbacks who is coming over from the Texans, couldn't wait to get settled and showed up in the morning.
» Left tackle Andrew Whitworth won't show up until next week as his wife recovers from the birth of their third child, but equipment managers Jeff Brickner and Adam Knollman have already strategically placed his locker between the two newest offensive linemen, guards Travelle Wharton and Jacob Bell.
