Cincinnati Bengals 2014 Open Practice Dates

Jun 11, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga (58) kneels on the field during minicamp at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

According to Coley Harvey at ESPN.com, the Cincinnati Bengals today announced the full slate of open practices for their upcoming training camp, to be held on practice fields next to Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.  As Harvey reports, there will be a total of 16 sessions open to the public beginning on July 24 and running through August 14.

Among the dates are two practices designated as Family Days, during which gates open an hour early, and fans will have the opportunity to meet players afterwards for autographs.  Harvey points out that since all of the practices are at home, the Bengals are apparently not planning to hold joint training camp sessions with their preseason opponents.

It’s nice to see that the Bengals are continuing to make strides in connecting with fans, particularly given that they have had successful seasons recently, which presumably gives them more financial leeway thanks to sold-out games and television money.   It’s also somewhat unusual for a team to hold its training camp in the shadow of its home stadium, as many clubs move to outlying areas.  The Indianapolis Colts, for example, train on the fields of local Indiana colleges before embarking on their preseason schedule.

Regardless of the locale, Bengals camp should be a great opportunity to see the Orange and Black in action as the 2014 roster begins to take its final form.