The Bengals 2004 first-round pick, running back Chris Perry, is likely to start the 2007 season the same place he started the 2006 season: on the Physically Unable to Perform list. Last year it was off-season knee and ankle surgeries; now he's recovering from a fractured fibula suffered last November in a game against the Browns.

In the meantime, Cincinnati has a backup plan: they drafted Kenny Irons in the second round of the 2007 Draft. Like Perry, Kenny Irons will be the out-of-the-backfield pass-catching threat and Rudi Johnson will be the between-the-tackles mauler. But Kenny Irons will do more than just spell Johnson -- he'll likely be a big part of the offense.

Twelve teams last season had two or more players carry the ball at least 100 times.... Indianapolis used the combination of rookie Joseph Addai and veteran Dominic Rhodes after choosing to not re-sign Edgerrin James as an unrestricted free agent and the Colts' offense hardly missed a beat on the way to Indianapolis' Super Bowl championship.

Seven of the 12 teams that reached the postseason last season, including the four conference finalists (Indianapolis, New England, Chicago, New Orleans), had at least two backs with 100 or more carries. San Diego and the New York Giants weren't far off of that trend.

Given that Johnson "has had the most productive three-season span any running back has ever had in Bengals history," finding a suitable backfield partner makes sense. Particularly when it's not clear Chris Perry will ever be healthy enough to be anything more than a part-time contributor. Credit to the Bengals for always improving their already high-powered offense. Too bad the defense hasn't had similar success. But who knows, maybe this is the year Justin Smith actually plays up to his potential.

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