By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Herbert Goodman, signed Thursday as a street free agent by the Bengals, is a running back that might get a look as a kickoff returner.

Goodman, 26, has not seen regular season NFL action since he appeared in seven games for Green Bay in 2001. He also played in two postseason games for the Packers following the 2001 season.

He returned five kickoffs for the Packers in 2000-01 and had a 30-yard average. Goodman, who played at Graceland College, was the leading rusher in NFL Europe in 2002 with 877 yards. Then he spent time on the practice squads in Indianapolis and Oakland before rejoining Green Bay for training camp in 2003. He was cut at the end of the preseason.

He is 5 feet 11, 205 pounds. The Bengals continue to stockpile running backs who can play special teams. The team signed Skip Hicks in January, and Hicks will play in Europe this year. The Bengals are somewhat unsettled at running back. Corey Dillon, their top back for the past seven years, wants to be traded or released. And heir apparent Rudi Johnson will be a restricted free agent March 3.

HENSON FILES: The Bengals were not among the teams in attendance for quarterback Drew Henson's workout in Houston Thursday. The Texans, who own Henson's NFL rights, hope to trade him before the draft in April.

The Bengals must decide between Jon Kitna and former Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer at quarterback. Coach Marvin Lewis has said he and his staff will decide in the offseason who will be the 2004 starter and will hit the field for minicamp in April with the starter in place.

GOODWILL: Lewis and three Bengals players - linebacker Brian Simmons, wide receiver Peter Warrick and kicker Shayne Graham - visited veterans at the VA Medical Center in Corryville as part of a government-sponsored week to increase visits to such hospitals.

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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