According to Geoff Hobson with Bengals.com, the "word" is that the Bengals are going to workout University of Cincinnati Bearcats running back Isaiah Pead. Typically a local player like Pead would join the merry cast of local prospects during the team's local workout next Tuesday, however the running back is collecting frequent flyer miles with several predraft visits. Pead put together a career-year during his final season with Cincinnati, generating 1,259 yards rushing, a 5.3 yard/rush average and 12 rushing touchdowns to go along with 39 receptions, 319 yards receiving and three receiving touchdowns.

During the NFL Combine Lewis was impressed with Pead, saying:

I think he's a really good prospect. I haven't watched tape of him yet. It's only TV scouting. I think he showed a different dimension with the punt returning he did at Senior Bowl and I think that will do nothing but elevate his stock. He's a great prospect. I haven’t met him and I don't think he's on our list here (to interview) because we'll be able to spend enough time with him back at home.

Generally speaking Pead is listed in the top-ten of prospect running backs this year, mostly between five and ten.

The Bengals currently have BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bernard Scott, Brian Leonard, Cedric Peerman and Aaron Brown at running back. Now there's a faction of us (as opposed to the faction that loves being disagreeable), that believe Scott, Leonard and Peerman are lacking job security not to become the odd-man out if Cincinnati selects a running back during the earlier rounds later this month (Brown goes without saying). Much like several positions on this roster, there could be an intense competition for jobs at running back come August.