Comcast SportsNet New England's Mary Paoletti is reporting that the Bengals are close to signing New England Patriots free agent running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, according to a source.
Green-Ellis is one of the two free agent backs brought into Cincinnati for a visit, according to sources, and like Michael Bush, the other free agent running back, he is likely looking for a larger role with a team. Green-Ellis was the Patriots' feature back in 2011 but he was in a heavy rotation with two other running backs and while he was used often in certain games, he was barely used in others.
Green-Ellis may be a little on the small side for the kind of running back the Bengals are looking for, but he proved himself as a tough runner who consistently gains yards and protects the ball. If he is signed, he likely wouldn't be the long-term answer for the Bengals, but he would provide a steady force in the backfield and bridge the gap between Cedric Benson and whoever runs the ball after the next couple seasons.
Stay tuned for more on this story.
For more from Cincy Jungle, make sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.