Shaun Alexander was named the 2005 NFL MVP, the 2005 AP Offensive Player of the Year, the 2005 FedEx Ground NFL Player of the year and winning the Best Record Breaking Performance and Best NFL Player at the ESPY's. Alexander rushed for 132 yards on 34 carries in the 2005 NFC Championship game. In March (2006), Alexander became the highest paid running back in NFL history signing an eight-year, $62 million contract.

So who would have thought at the time that the Bengals wouldn't sign Alexander because they believe Chris Perry is back. Nevermind the constant injuries and the relaxed exhale when Perry stands up after being tackled. Nevermind the risk that the Bengals are taking hoping that Rudi Johnson is beef-cake. BEEFCAKE! It's the story of running back's who seemingly degrade so quickly that they become average quickly. Perhaps it's contract fulfillment. Perhaps it's simply being beaten up so much that you hesitate. Perhaps it's just age -- save for the elites in the game, age cripples running backs quickly.

I won't pretend to know. But when you look back, with the season that Alexander had, it was crazy to think that Chris Perry would deny his return home.

Here's the added interest. Alexander isn't just unsigned, but there appears to be zero interest in the league for him. The Saints were interested, but it was reportedly a fact finding visit. Perhaps things will change once camp breaks. Like is Perry truly ready? Is Rudi Johnson "returned"? We'll see. As of now, the Bengals are pretty content with who they have at running back.

The guys at Who Dey Revolution got a chance to speak with Chineum Ndukwe.

The Bengals and Shaun Alexander are still talking. Alexander left New Orleans without a contract offer.

Scout.com got a chance to chat with Keith Rivers.

There is no update or comment on Ahmad Brooks' who is schedule to appear in court June 6 to answer charges.

Ludwig provides commentary on the Bengals' acquisition on Maurice Purify.

The Indianapolis Colts could be in discussions with Jim Steiner, Shaun Alexander's agent, writes Geoff Hobson. Which, of course, is probably an overstatement for an agent to increase the player's demands. Either way, Steiner says that he and his client will review their visits with the Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints to see where everyone is. While the Bengals haven't made an offer just yet, Stampede Blue writes that Dominic Rhodes is "likely back in the fold". That would "likely" knock Alexander out of the fold for the Colts. NFL Network's Adam Schefter has named the Denver Broncos as potentially interested.

To me, teams would be foolish to let two luke-warm teams interested in a former MVP running back to go without interest. This is, without a doubt, Alexander's season to either leave the NFL or build a second-wind for his career. He probably won't cost much because the demand just isn't out there.

What's interesting about the Shaun Alexander sweepstakes is that the two teams that have publicly expressed interest (Bengals and Saints), have two running backs coming off injury in Rudi Johnson and Deuce McAllister. The Bengals let Alexander on the plane without offering a deal while he concluded the visit was "a good visit". If Alexander were to sign with his home town team, then the Bengals would use him as a backup to Rudi Johnson and an "insurance policy" if (or should we say 'when') Chris Perry goes down for the season.

In related running backs news, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis expects Chris Perry "to be on the field when the voluntary camps start May 13"

Geoff Hobson writes that the Bengals will be hosting Shaun Alexander on Monday. Jim Steiner, Alexander's agent, is quoted as saying "Shaun wants to get an idea how the Bengals would use him and I'm sure the Bengals would like to talk to him."

My guess. Not much. If the Bengals do sign Alexander, then they'd likely cut Rudi Johnson. Rudi Johnson is scheduled to make $3.2 million in base pay and cutting him would actually be a cap savings of just under $3 million -- which could be applied to Alexander on a short-term deal. This is the second to last season under contract for Johnson.

Sure, it would drive both men to be the best and win the spot. Both backs sported a small yards-per-carry average last season in an off-year for both men.

Like someone said on these pages, it's a potential feel good story (how did that work out for Griffey?), but there's really no benefit that the Bengals could have with Alexander and Rudi.

Running back?

Running back?

That was my initial reaction when it became known that the Bengals were looking early in the 2008 NFL Draft for a running back. Then Chris Perry and Rudi Johnson stepped up their off-season conditioning and rehab impressing Lewis enough to forgo the position addressing other needs. If that wait-and-see scenario, a best case scenario, fulfills the team's basic re-designation of successful rushing to off-set the terrible degradation the past two seasons, then perhaps a hope, prayer and a wait-and-see approach will benefit the team in the long run. Consider for an instant that if the Bengals went running back early, then they'd not have Keith Rivers or Pat Sims -- two guys this team desperately needs. One or the other, but not both. Then again, perhaps the team could have used the second pick for a running back rather than receiver. To be honest, the Bengals used their first three picks well. I haven't a qualm in the world about any of them.

Since 2003, Marvin Lewis has drafted two running backs -- three if you count Jeremi Johnson. Chris Perry and Kenny Irons have spent considerable amount of time off the field with injuries. Serious injuries. In four seasons, Perry has played in 34% out of a possible 64 games. Other than 2005, Perry's career-high of games played in a single-season is six (2006). Between Irons and Perry, neither took a single snap in 2007.

Rudi Johnson gutted out a bad hamstring and ineffective line blocking all season -- he just couldn't do it. It was around this time that Kenny Watson started to blossom and fans became excited about what DeDe Dorsey could string together. It was almost like Watson replaced Rudi as the feature back and Dorsey, when given the chance (which wasn't much) took the role of third-down back as best as we could expect. But that's what happens to a team that finishes 7-9.

We know that Perry is recovering well and has "impressed" the head coach. Same for Rudi. It's generally believed that Kenny Irons won't be ready for the season likely placed on PUP for the first six weeks of the season. And it's unknown if he'll be ready even then. Watson will be in the mix bringing us to three running backs to start the season. If the team keeps Dorsey -- for some reason, I've never really felt that the team has been impressed with him enough to utilize him fully -- the Bengals would likely be set with Jeremi Johnson rounding out the group.

But this is why I call it a hope-and-prayer, or wait-and-see, scenario. Perry has come into seasons healthy before. Yet, he falls eventually. Running backs degrade so quickly in the NFL that not a great many people think that Rudi will return to old form. Watson is serviceable, but he's hardly the league's premier back and Dorsey is a small scat back that's best used on third downs -- screen passes, dumps, draws, etc...

In the end, I believe the Bengals are right to give this cast of running backs one more chance. But in the end, it could also be the team's undoing. And for the love of god, don't sign Shaun Alexander.