Numerous reports have indicated the Cincinnati Bengals have made an offer to controversial cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones and a deal could be made official later this week. The offer comes on the same day he visited Cincinnati for his second workout with the team in three months.

ProFootballTalk.com first broke the story that Jones would sign with the Bengals, but according to the team site, he went home to New Orleans to discuss the offer with his family and nothing has been made official. However, Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com claims Tuesday’s meeting went well enough to believe a deal is likely to come by the end of the week.

If a deal is reached, he could compete with rookie cornerback Brandon Ghee for a backup role to Leon Hall or Johnathan Joseph—who will be the starters at cornerback for Cincinnati next season. A few analysts are taking into speculation of the possibility of Mike Zimmer giving Pacman a shot at safety, one of the top priorities entering the 2010 NFL Draft that was left unfulfilled.

Jones received his first workout from a NFL team with the Bengals back in February, but he left Cincinnati without an offer, leaving many to believe Marvin Lewis and company had no interest in him. After his agent listed the Bengals as one of four teams still showing interest, it still seemed unlikely a deal would be reached considering his previous visit.

Now, it seems as if the Bengals will bring in a player who was once considered one of the most dangerous players in the NFL not only because of his ability as an effective cornerback, but on special teams as well. Before his 2007 suspension, Jones reached the Pro Bowl in just his second season with the Tennessee Titans after recording four interceptions—including one returned for a touchdown—and three punts returned for touchdowns.

Following his suspension from the ’07 season, Jones was traded to the Dallas Cowboys prior to the 2008 NFL Draft in exchange for a fourth-round pick. After playing in just nine games, in which he recorded a combined 31 tackles and averaged 4.5 yards-per-punt return, Pacman was eventually released in February 2009.

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For the second time in three months, controversial cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones worked out with the Cincinnati Bengals as he attempts to make his return to the NFL. According to a report from John Clayton of ESPN.com, the former Dallas Cowboy and Tennessee Titan traveled to Cincinnati on Tuesday for a workout.

Jones received a workout from the Bengals in February, but left without an offer. His agent has listed Cincinnati as one of four teams recently showing interest in the troubled cornerback who has not played since the 2008 season.

If Jones were to sign with the Bengals, he would most likely be used on special teams as a returner and compete as a backup cornerback since Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph are lock-ins as the starters. Cincinnati has a history of taking gambles on players with troubled pasts—no matter how serious the previous matters have been. Clearly, they are aware of his off-the-field issues, but are more interested to see if he can return to the talent level from 2006 in which he was arguably one of the top defenders in the NFL.

In his sophomore season with the Titans, Jones was considered a threat not only on defense, but special teams. Along with his four interceptions, he returned three punts for touchdowns during the ’06 season. He seemed to be the type of player with a bright future ahead of him as one of the most dangerous cornerbacks in the NFL.

Instead, Jones was unable to stay out of trouble off the field and would eventually face a year-long suspension before his trade Dallas.

After one season with the Cowboys, Jones was released by Dallas in February 2009. He was ineffective on defense and special teams, finishing after with a combined 31 tackles and averaging just 4.5 yards-per-punt.

Jones was suspended for the 2007 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as a result for his off-the-field behavior and had been arrested six times. He was acquired by the Cowboys through a trade with the Titans before the 2008 NFL Draft in exchange for a fourth-round pick.

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One week after displaying his best performance of the season with the Argentine Tango, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and his partner Cheryl Burke danced to the Viennese Waltz on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars. The Pro Bowl wide receiver gave the birthday girl an extra gift—along with the diamond necklace—by receiving his best score of the season with 25 out of 30.

For the second straight week, the competition added a new twist on top of each couple's individual performance. Along with the Waltz, Chad and Cheryl took part in the Cha-Cha challenge in which they joined Pamela Anderson, Damien Whitewood, Nicole Scherzinger, and Derek Hough as "Team Gaga" to perform her classic hit "Telephone." The six dancers received a score of 27 for their energetic performance to be combined with each of their individual dance scores.

As impressive as their group performance was, it was Chad and Cheryl's individual performance that impressed the judges for the second straight week--especially for Ocho's use of his arms. Here's what the judges had to say about Chad's performance of the Waltz:

Bruno Tonioli: “Chad I can’t believe you can be so graceful and so gentle. Truly a gentle giant I’m telling you. You really maintained your focus. Just a couple of things, I can see you worked a lot on extending your lining, but make sure it travels through your fingers.”

Carrie Ann Inaba: “When you’re aware of your arms, they’re breathtaking. They’re so elegant and there is nothing sexier than watching a man find out how to be tender and graceful.

Len Goodman: “You’re arms to me we’re full of fluidity. Chad, remember this day, May 3 2010…the night you became a contender.”

The judges were harsh on Ochocinco during the first few weeks of the show because they knew he was capable of living up to higher potential. After two straight impressive performances, it seems like No. 85 is finally living up to that potential as he continues to get better and better each week.

For two weeks in a row, Chad and Cheryl have set their highest scores of the season—making their chances of returning next week highly likely. Of course, the only way to guarantee their return is if they receive enough votes from the fans.

Fans can vote for Chad Ochocinco and Cheryl Burke by clicking here or calling 1-800-VOTE4-01.

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ESPN released their 2010 NFL Power Rankings for the offseason with the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 11. With an already stellar defense, the defending AFC North champions received a high ranking after adding key members on offense through free agency and the draft to improve last year’s 26th ranked passing game.

Last season, the Bengals were ranked No. 24 before the start of the regular season. There were many questions surrounding a Cincinnati team coming off of a 4-11-1 season and a quarterback in Carson Palmer returning from a serious elbow injury that allowed him to play in just four games in 2008.

Instead, the Bengals shocked the NFL world by winning their first division title since 2005 thanks to a powerful running game (ranked 8th overall) led by Cedric Benson and a strong defensive unit (ranked 4th overall) that surrendered just 18.2 points per game. Unfortunately, the passing game was still a major issue, averaging just 180.6 yards per game through the air with their only consistent wideout being Chad Ochocinco.

Head coach Marvin Lewis knew for his team to not only compete for their second-straight division title, but their first back-to-back winning seasons in 28 years, the Bengals would need to add a few more targets for Carson Palmer to throw to. They started the 2010 offseason on the right path by signing Antonio Bryant after Laveranues Coles’ release and continued to head in the right direction in this year’s draft. Not only did they add a dangerous pass-catching tight end by selecting Jermaine Gresham with the 21st pick, but third-round pick Jordan Shipley may see some early action during his rookie season as an effective slot wideout.

The Bengals have been making all the right moves during the 2010 offseason and will not only be considered contenders within their division, but playoffs as well. However, defending their division title won’t come easy with the fourth toughest schedule with eight games against teams who made the playoffs a year ago. Not to mention their six games within the division against the Steelers, Browns, and Ravens—who are currently No. 7 on ESPN’s list after adding key members to their passing game as well.

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The Cincinnati Bengals wrapped up their rookie minicamp this weekend with rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham making a well enough first impression to make him the early favorite to start once the regular season kicks off against the New England Patriots September 12.

Marvin Lewis conducted five practices over the weekend and seemed to be most impressed with his first-round pick out of Oklahoma. Most teams were hesitant towards selecting Gresham after a knee injury prevented him from playing his final season with the Sooners, but he’s made it clear through workouts at the Combine and during individual team workouts that it won’t be an issue. Even tight ends coach Jon Hayes seemed impressed with his ability after an interview with Geoff Hobson on the team’s site.

“We understand we’ve got a lot of work in front of us, but it’s only going to get better,” Hayes said. “He’s been out for eight months, but I was very impressed. His suddenness, his power, his ball skills, movement skills are the things that just flash and stick out to you. From a football aptitude and athletic standpoint, he did a great job.”

One of the key highlights from Gresham’s first weekend with the Bengals was his ability to transition into lining up in the left-hand stance after Hayes grilled him during one of the practices over the weekend. While most players would take some time to adjust to the new formation, he seemed a pro later that day with the new stance—which shows Gresham’s ability to learn as a football player.

The Bengals entered the 2010 NFL Draft with a number of players in mind to use their 21st pick on. Cincinnati knew the decision would be based off player availability, and with Gresham still on the board, they found it hard to pass on a player drawing comparisons to San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates.

With the status of Reggie Kelley’s return still up in the air and Chase Coffman still unproven as an effective tight end, the Bengals had questions at the tight end position entering this year’s draft. They bring in a player in Gresham who not only has the size and strength to be an effective blocker, but a pass-catching tight end. He finished his final two seasons at Oklahoma with 156 catches for 1,664 yards and 20 touchdowns.

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After adding three new members to the passing game—Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gersham, Texas WR Jordan Shipley, and Kansas WR Dezmon Briscoe—during last week’s NFL Draft, no member of the Cincinnati Bengals will face more pressure during the 2010 season than offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski.

From 2005-07, Gratkowski had the Bengals offense ranked in the top 10 each season. An offense led by Carson Palmer, he had a dynamic duo at wideout in Chad Ochocinco—who went by Johnson at the time—and T.J. Houshmandzadeh along with a strong running game with Rudi Johnson. After finishing the last two seasons with the 32nd and 24th ranked offense, the 2010 season could be the deciding factor on Gratkowski’s future in Cincinnati.

Gratkowski received heavy criticism last season for his inability to utilize Palmer and the passing game. The loss of Houshmandzadeh and his ability as a slot wideout left a major gap in the passing game, but the Bengals were still expected to flourish with the addition of Laveranues Coles. After a disappointing first—and only—season in Cincinnati, he was released by the Bengals in March to make room for Antonio Bryant.

The addition of Bryant provides the Bengals with arguably one of the top free-agent wide receivers in this year’s class. The former Tampa Bay wide receiver may have struggled last season—in which he finished with 39 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns—after dealing with knee injuries, but if 2008 is any indication of the type of potential he has, the passing game should see a drastic improvement next season.

Cincinnati contained one of the top running games last year and set a franchise record with eight games in which a running back broke the 100-yard mark. With key members of the offensive line returning—along with the potential of Andre Smith—and Cedric Benson entering his second full season as a starter with the Bengals, the running game should be just as effective in 2010 as it was last season.

All of the weapons seem to be in place for Cincinnati to finish with their first back-to-back winning seasons in 28 years. The defense is solid, the running game is strong, and the passing game has the potential to return to the dominant level it was at a few years ago with the addition of key free agents and rookies.

With the amount of talent on this year’s roster, there are no excuses for the Bengals’ offense to struggle with putting up points this season. Cincinnati averaged just 19.1 points per game in 2009 and will need to find more ways to score if they want any chance of competing in the AFC North next season.

Of course, if the Bengals continue to struggle like last season, the fingers shouldn’t be pointed at Marvin Lewis; they should be directly pointed at Bratkowski.

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The Cincinnati Bengals claimed safety DeAngelo Willingham off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks. The move comes after visiting with Ken Hamlin and C.C. Brown earlier this week.

Roy Williams—who signed another one-year deal this offseason—and Chris Crocker may be the Bengals top safeties entering next season, but they are still shopping for more help at the position. While Crocker still has three years remaining on his contract, Cincinnati re-signed Williams in what some are considering a second test-run for the former Dallas Cowboys standout that made five-straight Pro Bowls from 2003-07. He played in just four games last season after fracturing his forearm and eventually placed on season-ending injured reserve

After last weekend’s draft, many were surprised to see the Bengals pass on a safety when it was one of their top priorities. With Eric Berry selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the fifth overall pick, many wondered if Cincinnati would trade up to acquire Earl Thomas or take a shot at Taylor Mays if he was still available with the 21st pick. Instead, they selected Jermaine Gresham and used four of their next eight picks on defense—but none on a safety.

Willingham, the former Tennessee Volunteer, was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an unrestricted free agent following the 2009 NFL Draft. He played in three preseason games before his release and joined the practice squads for the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and Seahawks. Willingham has never participated in a NFL regular season game.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and his partner Cheryl Burke's performance this week was enough to help them advance to the top six on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars. The couple survived after scoring a combined 24—their best of the season—for their performance of the Argentine Tango.

With seven couples remaining, Chad knew he would need a stronger performance after struggling with the quickstep last week. Instead of learning the routine in California, he and Cheryl traveled to Cincinnati so he could not only practice his performance, but participate in workouts for the Bengals as well. He received a warm welcome from fans waiting for him at a Bengals Draft Party—which may have motivated the Pro Bowl wide receiver for this week.

Ochocinco is one of the most caring athletes when it comes to his fan base. He loves interacting with them through social media networks and will even hang out with them when traveling across the country. He was grateful for the fans that have shown their support throughout the season and by being returning home to Cincinnati, Ochocinco seemed to find the motivation he needed to perform at a level the judges expected from him all season.

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One week after struggling with the quickstep to a song from Disney’s The Jungle Book, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and Cheryl Burke bounced back with a strong performance of the Argentine Tango on ABC’s Dancing With The Stars.

This week was different from the rest as far as each pair performing their own routine. Along with their choice of performing either the Samba or the Argentine Tango, each couple participated in a Swing Dance Marathon.

With already four couples eliminated, the competition is beginning to heat up with the performances becoming even more critical each week for Chad and Cheryl. This week, No. 85 displayed his best performance of the season by receiving 8's from all three judges--who were satisfied with Ochocinco finally living up to his potential and had nothing but positive feedback for his performance.

Len Goodman: “On Dancing With The Stars, you either grow, or you go. You grew tonight.”

Bruno Tonioli: “Strong, powerful, demented. I was hard on you because I knew you had it and tonight you proved you can actually dance. You were like a growling panther out there. That’s the way to go.”

Carrie Ann Inaba: “Let me just clarify we were hard on you because you weren’t dancing that well. But tonight, you nailed it. That was really amazing. It was dramatic, it was powerful, it was arrogant, it was sensual. The lines were gorgeous.”

All season, the judges seemed to believe Ocho had a slight advantage over most of the contestants since he was a professional athlete. They knew he was capable of performing at a higher level; they were just patiently waiting to see it.

With their highest score of the season, there's every reason to believe Chad and Cheryl will advance after tomorrow night's show. Of course, whether or not Ochocinco advances to the next round depends on the number of votes received from the fans. The couple will return Tuesday night to find out if their performance of the Argentine Tango was enough to help them advance to the top six.

Fans can vote for Chad Ochocinco and Cheryl Burke by clicking here or calling 1-800-VOTE4-01.

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The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2010 NFL Draft looking to improve in a number of areas to record their first back-to-back winning season in 28 years. Overall, the team added nine new members and addressed most of the team needs—especially in the passing game.

While most teams had a general idea of what position they wanted to spend their first-round pick on, the Bengals were a team expected to make their decision based off which players were available. Safety, wide receiver, tight end, guard, and defensive line were considered the top needs of improvement, leaving Cincinnati with a number of options in the first round based off of availability.

Earl Thomas, Jason-Pierre Paul, and Mike Iupati were three players the Bengals would have considered had they not been already selected. When the time came around for Cincinnati to make the 21st pick, it was obvious they would select Jermaine Gresham, Dez Bryant, or Taylor Mays. While many will question passing on such a talented wideout in Bryant, Gresham was the perfect pick at No. 21 for a team not only in need of an effective tight end, but desperate for help in the passing game.

To say the Bengals’ passing game was horrendous last season would be an understatement. They ranked 26th through the air and were forced to rely heavily on a strong running game led by Cedric Benson.

Cincinnati knew one of the top priorities this offseason was to add more targets for Carson Palmer to throw to. They were moving in the right direction by releasing Laveranues Coles and replacing him with Antonio Bryant, but there was still a need for improvement.

The addition of Gresham should have an immediate impact in the passing game and provide the Bengals with an effective pass-catching tight end that many are comparing to Antonio Gates. Cincinnati still had questions left to be answered at the tight end position with Reggie Kelley and last year’s second round pick Chase Coffman, so selecting Gresham as their first pick was the right choice.

With Gresham most likely being named the starting tight end in 2010, the Bengals managed to snag two wide receivers in the later rounds that were ranked in the top 10 of this year’s draft class at their position: third-round pick Jordan Shipley and sixth-round pick Dezmon Briscoe.

Shipley will compete for the starting role as the top slot wideout and provides Palmer with another dangerous weapon in the passing game. After finishing his final two years at Texas with 205 receptions for 2,545 yards and 24 touchdowns, the Bengals got an excellent route-runner who provides certain skills many are comparing to Wes Welker of the New England Patriots.

Along with Shipley, Cincinnati used the 191st pick to select Briscoe who may end up becoming one of the top steals of the draft. The former Kansas standout finished his three-year career 218 receptions for 3,240 yards and 31 touchdowns. While there are a number of players ahead of him, Briscoe will certainly give other Bengals’ wide receivers a run for their money for playing time.

After sweeping through the AFC North in 2009, the Bengals realize the road to defending their division title won’t be easy next season. Not only should the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens be considered serious contenders, but newly appointed Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren has made a number of key offseason moves that will certainly make each division game interesting next season.

An improved passing game was a key piece to Cincinnati’s offseason on the road to repeating as AFC North champions in 2010. After signing one of the top free-agent wide receivers in this year’s class and a successful draft, the Bengals appear to be heading in the right direction.

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Through the first three rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals are heading in the right direction as far as addressing team needs by adding Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham, Florida DE Carlos Dunlap, Texas WR Jordan Shipley, and Wake Forest CB Brandon Ghee.

With four rounds remaining, the Bengals have five picks remaining—including a compensatory pick in the fourth round they received from Stacy Andrews signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. There are still a few team needs—such as safety—Cincinnati could address with these picks, but for the most part, they seem to be heading in the right direction so far.

Here are the newest members of the Cincinnati Bengals through the first three rounds.

Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham—21st overall

Gresham was the top player at his position in this year’s class and has been compared to Antonio Gates for his ability as a pass-catching tight end. The Bengals’ passing game was in need of improvement after finishing 26th in 2009 and has never had a consistent tight end during the Carson Palmer era.

In other words, this pick seems to be the perfect match for both sides.

Many teams were hesitant towards selecting Gresham after he missed the entire 2009 season due to a torn right meniscus. After his performance at the Combine, the injury no longer seems to be a factor and doctors have performed just about every test possible on the knee to assure scouts it shouldn’t be a factor.

The potential is there for Gresham as an effective pass-catching tight end with the Bengals. During the two years prior to his injury, the Oklahoma standout recorded 156 receptions for 1,664 yards and 20 touchdowns.

As great as Dez Bryant would have been at No. 21, the Bengals made the right move by selecting the best tight end in Gresham. The Bengals knew they could afford to draft a wide receiver in the later rounds after signing Antonio Bryant in March. With the return of Reggie Kelly still up in the air and last year’s second-round pick Chase Coffman still unproven, the tight end position was one of the top priorities for Cincinnati in the draft.

Florida DE Carlos Dunlap—54th overall

Before the start of the 2009 season, Carlos Dunlap—at 6’6” and 280 lbs—was projected to be a possible top-10 pick. In his final two years with the Gators, he finished with a combined 70 tackles and 18 sacks.

Unfortunately, an off the field incident last December—in which he was arrested for driving under the influence—not only prevented Dunlap from participating in the SEC Championship and Sugar Bowl, but drew questions about his maturity at a professional level. Not only did the incident hurt his draft status, but may have cost Dunlap to miss out on millions of dollars.

Prior to the draft, Cincinnati was in need of another pass rusher on defense. Antwan Odom’s Achilles’ tendon injury suffered in the first quarter last season against the Houston Texans was serious enough to acquire insurance for the upcoming season.

If Marvin Lewis can find a way to help Dunlap live up to his potential, this may end up being one of the top steals in this year’s draft.

Key word—if.

Texas WR Jordan Shipley—84th overall

With Colt McCoy still on the board late in the third round, many wondered if the Bengals would take a shot at the Texas standout who won more games than any other quarterback in NCAA history. Instead, they went for his favorite target at wide receiver—Jordan Shipley.

After passing on Bryant in the first round, it was obvious Cincinnati would pick up a wideout in the later rounds; it was just a matter of which pick they would use. With Shipley, they get an excellent route-runner who has the potential to be effective in the slot role playing alongside Chad Ochocinco and Bryant.

During his last two seasons with the Longhorns, Shipley recorded 205 receptions for 2,545 yards and 24 touchdowns. A few analysts compared some of his skills to Wes Welker—which could be beneficial to the Bengals.

Cincinnati knew they would have to select at least one wide receiver in the draft to help improve last year’s 26th ranked passing game.

Wake Forest CB Brandon Ghee—96th overall

The Bengals received a compensatory pick in the third round after T.J. Houshmandzadeh signed with the Seattle Seahawks prior to the 2009 season. They used the extra pick on Brandon Ghee in what appears to be insurance for the future.

With Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph in the final year of their contracts, there’s always the chance Cincinnati will be in need of another starting cornerback next season. Ghee has the speed and athleticism to eventually fit that role over time if Cincinnati even loses just one of them after next season.

For now, it appears Ghee will compete for the starting job at nickel corner with Morgan Trent, David Jones, and Keiwan Ratliff. However, there are a number of areas in need of improvement—such as his backpedal—before he even comes close to winning the job.

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With the 54th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap. The 6’7” 260 lbs standout can hopefully address the need for an effective pass rusher on an already effective defense that was one of the best in 2009.

The Bengals entered this year’s draft with a number of positions to focus on in the first two rounds. By using their first-round pick on Oklahoma tight end Jermaine Gresham at No. 21, they added another target for Carson Palmer to help improve a passing unit that ranked 26th last season. Gresham provides Cincinnati with an effective pass-catching tight end that some are comparing his level of talent to Antonio Gates.

After focusing on offense in the first round, the Bengals used their second-round pick to improve an already stellar defense. Mike Zimmer’s squad finished fourth overall last year, but Cincinnati knew they needed to add another pass-rusher to the defense if possible in the draft.

Of course, the one factor that stands out about this selection is Cincinnati adding another “troubled player” to their roster. Dunlap was arrested last December on drunken driving charges that prevented him from playing in the Sugar Bowl.

Still, Marvin Lewis and company have established a reputation as an organization well-known to bring in players despite their past. Nobody is questioning Dunlap's level of talent as a football player after he finished his junior season with 38 tackles and nine sacks.

With the type of talent Dunlap possess, this pick may end up as a steal for the Bengals if they can manage to keep him out of trouble off the field.

The Bengals have two picks left in the day. Along with their third-round pick (84th), Cincinnati also has the 96th pick after receiving two compensatory picks in this year's draft.

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