Bengals Claim Running Back Walter Mendenhall Off Waivers

by Josh Kirkendall on May 13, 2010 4:29 PM EDT in Contracts

As of this posting, the Bengals have five running backs under contract heading into training camp. After the well known trio of Cedric Benson, Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard, the Bengals have Cedric Peerman and Cordera Eason on roster. Make that six. According to the Bengals, Cincinnati claimed running back Walter Mendenhall off of waivers on Thursday.

Mendenhall was released by the Bills on Wednesday, only after signing him a little over a month ago. He's also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts after entering the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles.

And yes, Walter Mendenhall is the older brother to Pittsburgh Steelers' Rashard Mendenhall.

With the Illinois State Redbirds
YEAR	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD
2006	2	5	2.5	6	0
2007	4	57	14.3	30	0
2008	126	796	6.3	45	11

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

LaMarcus Coker

Last I heard (over a week ago), he was going to sign with the Bengals. No word since, unless I missed something ? Any update on this ?

by redberkey on May 13, 2010 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

4 RBs

I could definitely see the Bengals garrying 4 Rbs this year along with a FB and 6 receivers.

by jim0ijk on May 13, 2010 6:21 PM EDT reply actions

Mendenhall bloodline is solid - I bet he's good

He’s always open. He catches a lot of balls. He’s un-guardable, no matter how old he is

by WarWolf on May 13, 2010 8:20 PM EDT reply actions

good enough to get cut Eagles, Colts, and the Bills..

by JamesShively on May 13, 2010 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

the eagles… dont have have many rbs… But the colts and bills are pretty heavy at the spot..

by Tdlong85 on May 13, 2010 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions

The team does realize there's an 80-man offseason roster limit, right?

just checking… we’re at 88 and counting

by bengaljohnboy on May 13, 2010 10:21 PM EDT reply actions

Draft picks don't count until signed

by jim0ijk on May 13, 2010 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

i know, but that still means you are signing guys who will cut soon

our draft picks typically get signed mid-June through late-July. in the past, we held roster spots for them rather than signing extra guys who we’d have to cut before training camp. these new guys will be here for the OTAs (May 13, 18-20, 25 and 27; June 1-3, 8, 10 and 14: On-field coaching sessions), but probably not for the mandatory minicamp June 15-17. If that’s the case, do you bother coaching/developing guys that don’t even make the training camp roster…

by bengaljohnboy on May 14, 2010 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually that’s probably a good thing. Undrafted rookies are rarely any good, but when they are, you find a steal and a half. So look at a bunch of them, let them work out in the OTAs, and find out if the ones you have are worth keeping. If you don’t find anything, all you lost was maybe a few grand in workout payments. And if you hit the lottery just right you hit a 20 million dollar jackpot. Risk/reward is worth it in my book.

by FriarBob on May 14, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions

I like what they are doing

It protects us against a series of catastrophic injuries. See TE last year. It also lets guys know that they are going to have to earn their position. They are signing these guys to give them a “shot”. To see what they have. Some of these players they sign will probably make it to the Practice Squad. While it may not seem to be much, if we upgrade the players on our Practice Squad, these players get an opportunity to develop a year with the team and could end up being productive in the future. Plus uprading the Practice Squad will ensure we have the best possible players available if an injury does occur during the offseason. At any rate it definitely doesn’t hurt anything, right? Anyone have any reason they shouldn’t sign these guys? To answer your question they will have to cut them but they are trying to make sure they take the best 80 guys possible to Training Camp. We should be happy thay are trying to improve there team every way possible from top to bottom.

by C1ncy4Life on May 14, 2010 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions

Mendenhall

Found some film on him here and here

by ak513 on May 14, 2010 10:01 AM EDT reply actions

I wonder what teams these were he was playing against?

He looks like he could be a good pickup. He should have a chance to fight for a Practice Squad spot against some of the others picked up off Waivers. I personally like Cedric Peerman BUT, its just another example that shows the team is doing EVERYTHING possible to improve the team from top to bottom. Its early but a lot of these players are going to have an oppurtunity to atleast make the Practice Squad. Even if these signings help improve the Practice Squad then they are good moves. You never know when you may have an injury and some of these guys are called on to contribute. We are going to have a lot of competition from top to bottom at most positions. There is even going to be fierce battles to see who is offered Practice Squad spots. I can’t wait till Trianing Camp.

by C1ncy4Life on May 14, 2010 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions