Andrew Whitworth spent last offseason in the midst of the CBA negotiations as the Bengals union representative. One year later, the team's primary locker-room leader is thankful for a return to normalcy but still sees a hazy labor landscape.

"I think we're still kind of feeling this one out," Whitworth said. "I think there's a lot of things -- how is this meant to be said and things like that. I relate it to the law -- you never know something's against the law until something happens where somebody goes and looks it up. I think there was a lot of that last year in training camp and throughout the season. I think things are going to get ironed out. I'm more looking to see two years, three years down the road where we feel the CBA is. I think it's a little early for either side to judge it."

Of course, there's been no shortage of judging throughout the league. Whether it be both sides snipping at each other regarding the bounty scandal, players complaining about concussion issues or lawsuits filed. One year after DeMaurice Smith, Roger Goodell, players and owners put on a happy face, shook hands and unveiled the future of the NFL, disagreements and animosity are prevalent as ever.

Whitworth doesn't view a strained relationship with the league as a whole, rather solely in the direction of the commissioner.
 
"I think guys are for the most part very appreciative of what we get to do, the opportunity, all those things," he said. "I think where really relationships have been strained has been between a lot of players and Goodell. And I really do believe it is not an NFL thing. I think that's what some guys are trying to stress to NFL owners, to NFL management, that their issue is not really with the NFL. Sometimes a lot of guys don't appreciate -- and I don't know Roger well enough to know -- that what they get in person is not what they get when they walk out of his office. So that's the thing a lot of guys have stressed and a lot of guys have said over and over. And I think sometimes it gets turned one way or the other, but I think a lot of guys just have trouble getting along with him."

Hot, hot, hot: Temperatures touching 100 degrees marked the first downtown training camp practice in team history Friday. The heat coupled with the first two-hour workout since the end of last season left numerous Bengals dropping out of practice early. Rookie Mohamed Sanu, CB Adam Jones and DT Domata Peko all were done prior to the final horn.

The heat amid the concrete jungle of downtown Cincinnati is different than the rural setting of former camp home in Georgetown, Ky., especially when adding in the questionable odors coming from industrial zones near the practice field.

WR Armon Binns spent last training camp with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but admits Day 1 opened eyes.

"Yeah, the heat got to all of us," he said. "It even got to me a little bit. [Training camp] is a different animal. I think everybody, it caught us all a little off guard."

On the mend: Marvin Lewis doesn't like to discuss injuries but relayed optimistic news regarding the five players who opened the season on the active PUP. CB Dre Kirkpatrick (knee), WR Jordan Shipley (knee), CB Nate Clements (ab/groin), DT Pat Sims (ankle) and Mike Nugent (hamstring) are all expected to participate "in short order," according to the head coach.

"I don’t foresee any of those guys taking very long," Lewis said. "But we’ll continue to work with them through their process and through their rehab until they’re ready to go and prove that they are ready."

The only significant injury came from DE Robert Geathers. The nine-year veteran tweaked his knee, but all tests came back negative.

Follow Paul Dehner Jr. and the Bengals on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLCIN and @pauldehnerjr.