On March 12, the Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski traveled to Oregon State's Pro Day. One of the marquee players working out in front of professional scouts and coaches was quarterback Sean Canfield. Alright, I'm not flaming the fire on this one. I doubt Bratkowski and the Bengals are checking out quarterbacks with the Palmer brothers and J.T. O'Sullivan already signed -- in Jordan Palmer's case, he's an exclusive-rights free agent and has been tendered, therefore preventing him from leaving.

However, Gregg Peat is an offensive guard that also worked out. He "ran a 5.24 and 5.24 40, had a 32.5-inch vertical leap, 8-foot, 6-inch broad jump, 4.80 short shuttle, 7.53 three-cone drill and 23 bench press reps."

Eleven Oregon State players in all worked out in front of scouts and coaches.

Other notes:

James Walker writes that the impact Antonio Bryant could have with the Bengals could go either way. Will it be like his career-year in 2008 or an injury filled season like 2009?

Chick Ludwig writes that Ken Dyer is the 36th Bengals player to pass on.

Speaking of Ludwig, he writes out that the team's seven positions that they should address are defensive end, safety, wide receiver, linebacker, tight end, guard and defensive tackle.

More photos » Michael Conroy - AP

21 days ago: Former Idaho offensive lineman Mike Iupati runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

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I agree with Joe Reedy that the Bengals are "solid" at safety in Roy Williams and Chris Crocker. However, both safeties combined for 17 games played last year. Sure, they can stop the run, they're alright (at best) against the pass. But they're hardly durable. Both Crocker and Williams' last 16-game season was 2006. In my opinion, safety still needs help.

Idaho guard Mike Iupati has scheduled nine visits with NFL teams, and teams like the Browns, Jaguars, Eagles and Packers are just a select few known to have interest in the guard. No, Gil Brandt didn't mention the Bengals by name.

Jermaine Gresham didn't play most of 2009 due to injury. However, he's rated as one of the best tight ends coming into the draft. Arizona's Rob Gronkowski is another tight end that's rated high, but didn't play at all in 2009 with a back issue. He'll be working out on March 27.

A bit more depth on the team's newest receiver and returner, Chris Davis.

All 32 teams were at LSU's Pro Day.

Seven prospects worked out for Cal's Pro Day in which all 32 teams were represented.

Bengals were checking out Mardy Gilyard at UC's Pro Day. But they may also be checking out cornerback Brad Jones.

Tickets for the Hall of Fame game between the Bengals and Cowboys go on sale Tuesday morning. Tickets will range from $47 to $62.

More photos » Jeff Roberson - AP

3 months ago: FILE - This is a Sept. 27, 2009, file photo showing St. Louis Rams guard Richie Incognito on the bench during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, in St. Louis. Incognito was released by the St. Louis Rams, Tuesday Dec. 14, 2009, two days after coach Steve Spagnuolo benched the temperamental offensive guard for the second half of a loss at Tennessee. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

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The Bengals at guard is kind of tricky. Will they sign Bobbie Williams back? The latest report is that both Williams and the Bengals were in a "holding pattern". They reportedly expressed interest in guard Chester Pitts; supposedly to move along negotiations with Williams, as nothing more has been said of Pitts. Yet, Williams hasn't signed and one has to wonder how impatient the Bengals will get.

Nate Livings and Evan Mathis man left guard while there's a possibility that the Bengals could eye Idaho guard Mike Iupati during next month's NFL draft. But to be honest, I don't see that right now.

Mike Berardino of the Sun Sentinel writes that the Bengals are one of three teams that could make a play on guard Richie Incognito; otherwise known as being voted the NFL's dirtiest player by his NFL peers.

Incognito is 6 feet 3 and 324 pounds. He spent the bulk of his rookie year on injured reserve after suffering a major knee injury at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2005, and he missed the final 12 games in 2007 following surgery to repair a dislocated right kneecap.

Talent isn't the issue with Incognito. The only thing holding him back, it seems, is his temper.

I like him already.

More photos » Al Behrman - AP

7 months ago: In this Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, photo, Cincinnati Bengals tight end Reggie Kelly makes a reception during practice at NFL football training camp in Georgetown, Ky. The Bengals are placing Kelly on injured reserve, ending his season. Kelly had surgery Wednesday to repair a ruptured Achilles' tendon in his left leg. The starting tight end was injured during a non-contact drill two days earlier. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

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Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski spent four seasons (1995-1998) with Seattle as the Seahawks' offensive coordinator. In three of those four seasons, Bratkowski's scoring offense ranked inside the top-ten -- including 1997 when Warren Moon led a passing offense that ranked first in the NFL.

As I was examining Bob Bratkowski's career as an offensive coordinator, I was interested in something: what tight end was the most productive? How productive have tight ends been in general? Three times in a Bob Bratkowski offense has a tight end recorded more than 30 receptions. Three times in a Bob Bratkowski offense has a tight end recorded more than 300 yards receiving. Seattle's Christian Fauria had the most productive season as a tight end in 1998, recording 37 receptions and 377 yards receiving. Reggie Kelly's 31 receptions in 2008 is the only time a Bengals tight end recorded 30 receptions or more in a season during Bratkowski's entire reign as the Bengals offensive coordinator. Of the four most productive tight ends in a Bob Bratkowski NFL offense, Matt Schobel's stint was the most productive, scoring nine times with a 22.5-reception-per-season average.

With Bratkowski's history of tight end usage in the past, does it make sense for the Bengals to address tight end with their first pick in the NFL Draft? Or even their first three picks? It goes without saying that the Bengals do need someone. Ideally, someone that can block and that's smart enough to break into a hot route, knowing where the first down marker is when quarterback Carson Palmer needs to get rid of the football on third down. It would also be nice if the Bengals used the tight end to open up lanes for guys like Andre Caldwell to thrive underneath. Yes, it would be nice if the Bengals used a tight end to run the seam and pick up over ten yards on a beautifully crafted over-the-shoulder reception. These things are glorious. These things are what the Bengals were used to doing back in the glory days with guys like Dan Ross, Bob Trumpy and Rodney Holman.

Historically speaking, that's not the reality in a Bob Bratkowski offense. Tight ends are blockers. Tight ends go into routes every once in a while, but rarely find themselves in a position to make a play. One could make the argument that Bratkowski just hasn't had a tight end talented enough to incorporate into the passing offense. And that could be true. But I also find it interesting that in the 13 seasons that Bratkowski has been an NFL offensive coordinator, neither the Seahawks or the Bengals made it a point to acquire someone better.

Taking into consideration that historical reality applies here more than the fantasy of acquiring a super-stud tight end being the team's third leading receiver, is it worth it for the Bengals to draft a tight end in the early rounds only not to use him as a receiving tight end in a Bob Bratkowski offense?

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Charles Krupa - AP

5 months ago: New England Patriots tight end Chris Baker (86) celebrates his touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009. The Patriots beat the Falcons 26-10. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Tight Ends. Bengals. A collection of words when combined brings little to the imagination, if not a frustrating sigh heard through the city, or Bengaldom, as some call the Bengals fanbase. It's not pretty. Take the tight ends on the Bengals roster and the most productive and experienced tight end we have is Daniel Coats. I know. Scary. Right?

One Tight End that the Bengals were willing to take a look at this week came off the free agency board over the weekend. On Saturday, the Seattle Seahawks signed tight end Chris Baker to a two-year deal worth $4.7 million. The Bengals have appeared at college Pro Days the past week with notable tight ends, such as BYU's Dennis Pitta and have expressed interest with USC's Tight End Anthony McCoy. While suspiciously knowledgeable about a certain team's needs or even interest in a certain player, many mock drafts have the Bengals drafting Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham, who is often considered the most talented tight end in the draft. Though, even that is somewhat arguable, considering he had surgery last year to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

There's also still a possibility that the Bengals could bring J.P. Foschi back to generate competition at the position. And lastly, there's been very little chatter about the former Bengals tight end Reggie Kelly. Little has been said about the Bengals; even less has been heard from the 31 other NFL teams.

However, one person is often being disregarded. Maybe it's justified. What we saw last year was unimpressive, to say the least. However, I know there's a small part of you that can't totally disregard him because of the circumstances. You understand, because you're smart. When a Tight End plays like a wide receiver for most his collegiate career, how fair is it for us to tell him to line up as a pro tight end and be awesome?

Chase Coffman came into Cincinnati as a project, if you will. Considering the Bengals already had their blocking tight end in Reggie Kelly and their receiving tight end in Ben Utecht, Coffman wasn't expected to make much of a difference his rookie year. You could see it during Hard Knocks when Coffman's blocking skills were showcased and required a lot of work -- if not a project that could last a season, if not two. Either way, Coffman, at best, would be the team's third tight end and guys like Daniel Coats would have been released on cut-down day and J.P. Foschi is never signed.

That didn't happen.

Unfortunately for Chase, both of the team's primary tight ends went down to season-ending injuries within a few days of each other. Would it have been nice if Chase could step up and haul in 50 receptions, over 500 yards receiving and a few scores? Absolutely. Was it fair that we expected that his rookie year after playing a position that was really more like a receiver than a tight end? Absolutely not. He just wasn't ready. As a result of the team's injuries, Coats was upgraded as the team's starting tight end and Foschi was signed off the streets.

So maybe in the end, the Bengals will elect to give Chase a shot. Maybe he's put on some weight, bulked up, added "decent blocker" to his NFL resume. That's all we want. Get in the way of a defensive end on a run and stretch the middle of the field on a pass. We don't know if he's close. We're not even sure where he's at. But maybe, just maybe, the Bengals will push Chase up the depth chart and get him on the field, rather than using a draft pick or signing an inflated backup tight end.

Last week, Craig Conrad aired his second ever Real Football Talk with Cincy Jungle and was joined by the Enquirer's Joe Reedy and AllProBlogger.com's John Thornton. Today, Craig will be back on the air to talk about this week's news in free agency, such as signing Antonio Bryant, Tank Johnson, Roy Williams and he may have Thornton chime in on his thoughts.

So make sure you join Craig at 5:30 EDT for Real Football Talk with Cincy Jungle.

More photos » Justin Edmonds - AP

11 months ago: BYU tight end Dennis Pitta (32) jumps over Air Force cornerback Reggie Rembert (8) in the third quarter of Brigham Young's 38-24 victory in an NCAA college football game at Air Force Academy, Colo., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Justin Edmonds)

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The Bengals were one of five teams that elected to send scouts BYU's Pro Day, which included nine players from BYU and three small-school players. Most likely, the Bengals are checking out BYU's Tight End Dennis Pitta -- 6-foot-4, 245 pounds. Gil Brandt writes:

He was a top performer at his position in the bench press, the vertical jump, the broad jump, the three-cone drill, the short shuttle and the long shuttle.

Those combine numbers were good enough that he chose not to do any workout drills at his pro day, but scouts report that he did look very good in the (position) drills.

Pitta has solid hands, but his blocking is still somewhat of a question mark.

More photos » Sue Ogrocki - AP

3 months ago: Texas Tech defensive back Jamar Wall, right, reaches in to intercept a pass intended for Oklahoma tight end Trent Ratterree, left, in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Lubbock, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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The Bengals are looking for cornerbacks. That much is crystal clear. Reports surfaced last week that Cincinnati was interested in unrestricted free agent Phillip Buchanon; though nothing much has been heard beyond the initial report. On Thursday, Carlos Holmes wrote that the Bengals were interested with IUP defensive back Akwasi Owusu-Ansah.

On Friday, Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer made the trip to Texas Tech to, presumably, check out cornerback Jamar Wall. A total of 15 players were on hand to workout for scouts during Texas Tech's Pro Day, and Zimmer very well could be checking out all of the defensive talent on hand, including defensive end Brandon Sharp. Wall is ranked 19th among cornerbacks at Mocking the Draft.

Because CJ is a family-friendly site, I'll refrain from using the language I want to use. Let's just say Richard Pryor would be proud of my unedited departure speech for one Larry Alphonso Johnson, Jr.

For now, I'll merely offer this:  Goodbye, Larry.  

Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you.  Try not to spit drinks on any females who aren't feeling your rap; or stiff-arm any unwanted advances, either.  Enjoy splitting time with Clinton Portis.  Who knows, maybe you'll be the one who can successfully block for Jason Campbell.

If not, there's always check-down passes, right? Hell, maybe Mike Shanahan can rejuvenate your sorry ass revitalize your career.  

I suppose I should be thankful for Larry's one really good game (his 22-carry/107 yard effort against the Browns) and for the fact he didn't create any waves during his brief tenure in Cincinnati, but then again, where's the fun in that?  I was against this signing from the beginning, and it's only through the grace of injuries that Johnson's services were even needed.

Considering the fact he's gone without leaving a smoldering crater where his Bengals locker once stood, I'll call Johnson's tenure at Cincinnati a push -- meaning, I certainly didn't want it, but it wasn't as painful as it could've been.

More photos » Morry Gash - AP

6 months ago: Green Bay Packers' Spencer Havner (41) is stopped by Cincinnati Bengals' Chris Crocker, lower left, Roy L. Williams (31) and Rey Maualuga (58) after a 21-yard reception during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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On March 5, it was reported that the Bengals and Roy Williams were talking to get a deal done. Carlos Holmes wrote on his report that "the two sides are talking in an effort to get a deal done that would bring the former Pro Bowl safety back to Cincinnati." Roughly eight days later, talks continue and at last report, the Bengals and Roy Williams could have a deal signed as soon as today, writes Geoff Hobson.

After signing up coordinator Mike Zimmer for three years back in January and getting tackle Tank Johnson for four more last week, the Bengals Saturday appeared ready to finish off a deal for safety Roy Williams according to agent Jordan Woy.

Once Williams signs, the Bengals will have brought back both unrestricted free agents on defense that were on the roster in 2009. The other being Tank Johnson, who signed less than a week ago, which was announced on Thursday. They also offered Brandon Johnson, Rashad Jeanty, Frostee Rucker, Abdul Hodge and David Jones a tender as restricted free agents. Aside from Shaun Smith, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs this week, the Bengals have taken every step possible to bring back all of their defensive players slated for free agency with the restricted free agents needing to sign their tenders.

As for bringing Williams back, the issue of the team's safety strength remains relatively the same -- strong against the run, something to be desired against the pass. We don't believe that this would cause any change in the team's strategy if they elect to find a play-maker at safety in the draft.

Joe Reedy writes that once the deal with Roy Williams is completed, the Bengals can turn and work on getting Bobbie Williams back.

UPDATE: It's official. Roy Williams and the Bengals agree to a one-year deal.