After a game is played on Sunday, the players go through films on Mondays (and a Mike Zimmer walk-through with the defense) and take the day off on Tuesdays. The coaches stick around on Tuesdays, formulating their game-plan for their next opponent and invite players for a workout.

According to Aaron Wilson, the Bengals are planning to workout former Carolina Panthers running back Tyrell Sutton. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent with the Packers, Sutton was released during final cuts. Before he could clear waivers to join the Packers practice squad, the Panthers claimed him and was primarily used to return kickoffs for Carolina. During his two seasons with Carolina, Sutton has rushed for 139 yards rushing on 25 carries in his past two seasons with the Panthers.

With Jordan Shipley going on Injured Reserve, the Bengals have a free slot available on the 53-man roster. Before going crazy that the Bengals are exploring a running back, consider this that the team may be looking for a player to add to the practice squad, especially if they decide to sign wide receiver Andrew Hawkins onto the 53-man roster.

Yesterday we commented on a quote by offensive coordinator Jay Gruden that the Bengals will keep the door open to bring in another tight end, adding to their thin (quantity, not quality) roster of two. If Jermaine Gresham or Colin Cochart the team will be down to one player and it could dampen the team's style, using several double tight end sets against the Cleveland Browns.

According to Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Bengals invited tight end Donald Lee on Tuesday. Lee, an eight-year veteran that was drafted in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins, spent the last six seasons with the Green Bay Packers before signing on with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was released during final cuts on Sept. 3. Lee has 198 career receptions for 1,875 yards receiving and 19 touchdowns.

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According to ESPN Senior Writer John Clayton, the Cincinnati Bengals worked out offensive guard Max Jean-Gilles on Tuesday. A former Eagles fourth-round pick out of Georgia University (imagine that) during the 2006 NFL Draft, Jean-Gilles played 42 games and started 26 during his five-year career with Philadelphia. According to Pro Football Focus' grading system, Jean-Gilles is often negatively scored (though not by much), only allowing two quarterback sacks in the past three seasons.

Cincinnati signed Arizona Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui last week, but the agreement was voided after he failed the team physical reportedly because he was over-weight (I suppose the eye test of someone being overweight is a carry-over effect from the old medical regime's philosophy of trusting a player's word that they're healthy instead of conducting a rigorous examine of a knee known to have had recent problems... just saying).

Behind Bobbie Williams, Clint Boling and (begrudgingly) Nate Livings, the Bengals depth at guard leaves a lot to be desired.

Here's the Bengals roster in the secondary -- we recommend a barf bag, some Pepto and a hooker named Candy. At cornerback, we still have our starters in Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall. Then again, Joseph has been out in four of the team's previous eight games with a high ankle sprain and Hall has hasn't played particularly great this year. We have Jonathan Wade, who has played reasonably well, considering he was asked to show up and play without any experience in the defense, and Fred Bennett rounding out the cornerback roster.

At safety, the Bengals have Roy Williams, Tom Nelson, Reggie Nelson and Jeromy Miles rounding out perhaps one of the scariest secondary rosters in the NFL.

Why?

Injuries, of course. This year, the Bengals have lost Chris Crocker, Morgan Trent, Brandon Ghee, Chinedum Ndukwe, Adam Jones, Rico Murray and Gibril Wilson in the secondary. It forced the team to sign off-the-street players like Bennett and Wade.

Now that the Bengals recently put Ndukwe on Injured Reserve, that means that the Bengals are hosting workouts for a couple of free agents in the secondary. According to the Bengals play-by-play man Brad Johansen, the Bengals are inviting Keiwan Ratliff and Marvin White -- and perhaps other defensive backs -- on Tuesday.

White, the Bengals fourth round draft pick in 2007, spent his first two seasons in Cincinnati between 2007 and 2008, recording 68 tackles in 12 games in 2008. White played for the Cowboys and Lions in 2009, recording 53 tackles in 13 total games. White became expendable before the 2009 season once the team signed Roy Williams. With Wilson placed on IR during the preseason, the Bengals brought White back to help fill the roster during preseason games. White was released again on September 4 as the deadline for the 53-man roster approached.

Ratliff, drafted by the Bengals in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft, played four seasons in Cincinnati with his career high coming in 2005 where he recorded 45 tackles, picked off three passes and forced a fumble. Since leaving the Bengals, Ratliff has played for the Buccaneers, Colts and Steelers. Ratliff returned to the Bengals just before the team's playoff game against the Jets last year after Pat Sims went on IR. He was released in mid-June and signed with the UFL's Florida Tuskers.

The Bengals core linebackers have always been considered strong on paper. Dhani Jones, the staple linebacker in the middle, once again leads the team with 38 total tackles. Beyond that, a couple of safeties rank second and third with the most tackles on the team, Chris Crocker (33) and Chinedum Ndukwe (30).

Keith Rivers (28) and Rey Maualuga (27) ranks fourth and fifth respectively in tackles. Outside of their two combined quarterback sacks, both linebackers tend to be after thoughts on defense. In other words, you might see both linebackers make a play or two during any game, but they hardly seem like a presence throughout the football game.

Still, both linebackers are the staple of this defense beyond this season, and maybe beyond five seasons after that.

But it doesn't mean the Bengals don't want to keep looking for making their team better. According to Joe Reedy, the Bengals invited former Ravens and Patriots linebacker Adalius Thomas for a workout on Wednesday. Thomas' first two seasons in Baltimore were with Marvin Lewis as the team's defensive coordinator.

Before moving on to New England, Thomas was frustrating as hell as a Bengals fan. Lining up at every position except quarterback, Thomas was quick enough to cover receivers, strong enough to take on linebackers and athletic enough to be a dominating pass rusher. It seemed those aspects lowered significantly during his New England stay, where he ended up becoming more of a distraction, publicly sparring with the club after an October 18 benching against Tennessee and being sent home in December after being late for a meeting during an icy snow storm.

At the time, Thomas said:

"There's one thing about Mother Nature -- You can't control that. You can't run people over getting to work. There's nothing to apologize about. I wasn't trying to be late. I don't know what to say. You leave home, there are people there, cars sitting in the road, you're sitting there, what are you gonna do? It's not the Jetsons. I can't jump up and fly. What am I supposed to do?"

When asked if Belichick sent Thomas home for motivation, Thomas scoffed at that.

"Motivation is for kindergartners. I'm not a kindergartner. Sending somebody home, that's like, 'You're expelled until you come back and make good grades.' Get that (expletive) out of here. It's ridiculous.... I don't know, teaching tool? I don't know. I can't figure out what Bill thinks or knows."

While Thomas brings a high profile name, serious production during his time in Baltimore, he is also 33 years old, has seen his production decline significantly and quite frankly, with Jones, Maualuga, Rivers, Brandon Johnson, Roddrick Muckelroy and Dan Skuta, where would Thomas fit? It's not like we're looking at him for special teams. And it's not like anyone else is banging on Thomas' door to sign him either.

According to Reedy, also in for a visit on Wednesday was wide receivers Michael Clayton and James Hardy, defensive tackles Dre Moore and Tank Tyler, center Nick Leckey, fullback Deon Anderson and safety Ko Simpson.

I think you've picked up the theme this week: The Bengals are (have) working (worked) out several players this week, mostly linemen and receivers. Ranging from two centers in Justin Hartwig and Eric Ghiaciuc, to Dexter Jackson and Eron Riley.

However, the invitation for receivers didn't stop there.

The Bengals also worked out London Crawford and Kole Heckendorf this week.

Crawford, a former Arkansas Razorback, recorded 53 receptions for 747 yards receiving in his career. His junior year, Crawford recorded career highs in receptions (27) and yards receiving (311). This is his first year out of college football.

Heckendorf, formerly of North Dakota State, was originally signed as an undrafted college free agent by the Green Bay Packers. After being released during the preseason, the Detroit Lions signed him to their practice squad in mid-October. After being cut by the Lions in May this year, the Seattle Seahawks signed him, but releasing him in late August. Heckendorf started 42 of 43 career games, recording 178 receptions for 2,732 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns.

Along with Justin Hartwig, Eric Ghiaciuc and Dexter Jackson, the Bengals also invited former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Eron Riley this week for a workout according to Aaron Wilson. After signing as an undrafted free agent in 2009 with Baltimore, Riley spent his entire rookie season on the team's practice squad.

Riley was released by Baltimore in September this year.

A former Duke Blue Devil, Riley finished his collegiate career with 144 receptions, 2,413 yards receiving and 22 touchdowns. His senior year in 2008, Riley recorded 61 receptions for 693 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. He was a second-team All-ACC player in 2007.

Want to freak out? I mean, really freak out? Want to know that there is truth to Robert Caldwell's Big Rip theory that the universe will eventually rip itself apart, atom by atom? Want to lose all bodily control accepting the eventuality that you'll become really old, doing improper things at improper times?

According to Aaron Wilson, the Bengals worked out former Steelers center Justin Hartwig on Tuesday. No big deal, right? All is satisfied in happyville, the Cincinnati moat or overreaction plaza.

However, also according to Aaron Wilson, the Bengals also worked out center Eric Ghiaciuc on Tuesday. After being the team's starting center from 2006 until 2008, Ghiaciuc left for Kansas City only to be waived before the season started. He signed with the San Diego Chargers at the end of the 2009 season, but didn't play. The Browns signed him in April of 2010, but released him a few months later. After hanging out with the UFL's Florida Tuskers for a brief spell, the Patriots signed Ghiaciuc, releasing him less than a month later.

In other words, since leaving the Bengals, Ghiaciuc has been with five teams from two different versions of football and has yet to play an offensive down. After leaving Cincinnati Ghiaciuc criticized the Bengals lockerroom saying:

“As much as you try to focus on football with your day-to-day routine of meetings, lifting, walkthroughs, practices, games, you can focus but it’s still there,” Ghiaciuc said of the distractions. “It’s like when you turn your head, it’s still behind you. I think we were doing our best to focus on what needed to be focused on in our profession, but it was there and it was a bit of a problem.”

To which Chad responded: "Ghiaciuc's play was a distraction."

Point, Chad.

The Big Rip can gladly take place.