Bengals conduct punt return drills for John Brown at Pittsburg State Pro Day

As we pointed out last week, the Cincinnati Bengals attended the Pittsburg State (in Kansas) Pro Day, which featured wide receiver John Brown, linebacker Nate Dreiling and offensive tackle Cody Holland. According to NFL.com senior writer Gil Brandt, the Bengals sent a special teams coach to work with Brown as a punt returner.

"The Bengals special teams coach challenged Brown to catch the punts one-handed from the JUGS machine while at the same time throw a ball in the air and catch it with the other hand," Brandt writes.

It's unknown if Cincinnati sent special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons or his assistant, Brayden Coombs. Yet, you have to figure that there's (at least) modest interest.

Brown (5-foot-10, 179 pounds) ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at the 2014 NFL Combine -- with Andrew Hawkins leaving for Cleveland, one has to wonder if Cincinnati isn't looking for their next undersized speedy utility player. Either way, he doesn't expect that playing for a small school will hurt him.

"(Having a good career) would bring a lot of kids to Pittsburgh State, even though it’s a small school," Brown said. "Most people think it’s just all about going to a big school to get here, but however you put up numbers, they’ll find you." Brown was adamant his small-school background ― Pitt State is a Division 2 program ― has not put him at a disadvantage compared to combine peers from larger programs.