With 90 players on their roster in the last week of voluntary camps, the Bengals have to think about releasing some players in preparation for the first training camp practice in 45 days.

They have to be down to 82 players, which counts their draft picks once they sign. That process figures to start in earnest after the Fourth of July and not completed until the week of camp. Roughly 30 picks are in the fold now, primarily signed by Chicago, Miami and Philadelphia.

One of the toughest positions to crack on the Bengals is running back, where they traditionally keep only four and the lone fullback is in the second year of a long-term deal.

A look at the backs:

RB Dan Burks, 6-0, 214, rookie: Free agent out of Alabama-Birmingham who has good speed but was hampered by injuries his final two seasons. Still finished his career as UAB's No. 2 all-time rusher.

RB Kenny Irons, 5-11, 200, rookie: Some eyebrows were raised when the Bengals took him in the second round, but when Marvin Lewis indicated last month that running back Chris Perry is likely headed to PUP again, it made sense. And he?s practiced like a top pick.

Although he doesn?t have near the hands of Perry, they like Kenny Irons? explosion, speed, and his athleticism in the hole. James Brooks, one of his Auburn soulmates, says Kenny Irons runs too high right now but once he takes a shot he?ll figure it out and thinks he?ll have a nice career.

FB Jeremi Johnson, 5-11, 260, fifth season: Coming off a breakout season of sorts as a first alternate Pro Bowler secured months after signing a deal that made him the NFL?s highest-paid fullback. He has yet to take a snap in the spring workouts as he battles a hamstring problem and they hope he?ll be able to stay in shape as he rehabs, but he always seems to show up when it counts.

He hasn?t missed a game since he was drafted in the fourth round in 2003 and he?s the only guy on the roster who can do the Eric Ball thing and play both running back and fullback.

RB Rudi Johnson, 5-10, 215, seventh season: The bell cow who takes pride in exactly that. No one has carried the ball more in the NFL since he became The Cow in 2004 and only three men have more yards.

He?s not looking to get his carries heisted, but he realizes he needs some help behind him and in front of him as the Bengals look to improve one of the league?s lowest yards per rush at 3.7. He?s confident a new workout regimen focusing on his legs will help.

FB Chris Manderino, 6-0, 233, first year: In his second stint with the Bengals after he signed with them as an undrafted free agent and carried three times for 11 yards last preseason before getting cut after the last game. He signed back with the practice squad last Nov. 28, knows the system and is known as a heady player that went from walk-on to four-year starter at Cal.

RB Chris Perry, 6-0, 224, fourth season: One of the sadder stories in Bengaldom. He?s played in just 22 of a possible 49 games, missing all but eight n 2004 and 2006. In his one healthy year, ?05, he averaged 4.6 yards on his 61 carries, nearly set a club record for a back with 51 catches, and there were some murmurings why he wasn?t playing more.

After having surgery following his broken fibula on a 10-yard run in late November, his injury hasn?t progressed and he hasn?t been around the camps. Lewis has indicated Perry is probably going to do what he did last year and start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and miss the first six weeks and five games. That means he can?t step on the field at Georgetown College to practice during training camp.

RB Kenny Watson, 6-0, 218, sixth season: He?ll never blow you over as a flashy practice player, but he may be the roster?s most reliable guy on Sundays as a third down back/special teams ace. All you have to know is he?s averaged 5.9 yards per his 51 carries as a Bengal, caught 48 passes, was seventh on special teams tackles last season, and got a shoutout from Carson Palmer at contract time.

Since both Watson and Perry made the team in 2004, you have to assume Watson makes it with Kenny Irons and they figure out the third-down thing as they go along.

FB Stan White, 6-1, 255, rookie: The Ohio State fullback arrived undrafted but not unknown. Son of former Baltimore Colt Stan White, he got to know Lewis while growing up around the Ravens. A bright guy who continued the pursuit of his Master?s while participating in the Bengals camps, he has rarely been seen running the ball.

RB Terrence Whitehead, 5-10, 215, second season: Whitehead had an impressive preseason last year after signing undrafted. But he went on IR for the year when he injured his toe in the second preseason game after showing some versatility with 16 yards on six carries and 18 yards on two catches. He rushed for 2,832 yards at Oregon and had another 1,239 yards receiving.

RB Quincy Wilson, 5-9, 220, second season: After leading the NFL with 217 preseason rushing yards in '06, he stuck on the Opening Day roster and played in his first three NFL games before going back to the practice squad when Perry returned.

In the ?05 preseason Wilson rushed for 97 yards on 20 carries and with his low-slung-Rudian-like positive-yards style, you figure there has to be a place for him in the league. Plus he?s a great locker room guy and has been a factor in the community with his youth football camp. But the drafting of Kenny Irons would seem to make that tough here.

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