By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Chris Perry continued to impress coaches with his moves and receiving talent during the rookie mini-camp this weekend.

Bengals first round pick Chris Perry runs with the ball on the second day of minicamp. Click here to view a photo gallery from Friday's practice. (Ernest Coleman photo)

Perry, a running back from Michigan, was the team's first-round draft pick. Even though players don't wear pads and there is no tackling, Perry has shown to be shifty in traffic and quick turning the corner on outside runs and swing passes. The experience is invaluable.

"I don't know how I would manage at training camp with being here," he said Saturday.

Perry also is showing the same work ethic in Cincinnati that made Michigan coach Lloyd Carr call him the best practice player he ever saw.

Perry, drafted No. 26 overall, said he isn't thinking about critics who say the Bengals reached for him.

"I can't control what people say," he said. "I can only control how I play."

Asked, too, if he was worried about contract negotiations or anticipated being a holdout or early signing, Perry referred questioners to his agent, Eugene Parker.

NEW COACH: The Bengals had no official comment Saturday about the position former Raiders defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan would have in the organization.

Bresnahan again participated as a coach in both practices. He is expected to be the team's third-down defense specialist and work with the nickel pass-coverage package.

He had one year remaining on his contract with Oakland, but new coach Norv Turner fired him. The Raiders will pay Bresnahan's salary this season, and the Bengals are believed to be getting him for minimal cost.

WELCOME BACK: About 40 former Bengals players attended the organization's second annual alumni dinner Friday night at Paul Brown Stadium.

Former quarterback Boomer Esiason and wide receivers Cris Collinsworth and Isaac Curtis were in attendance.

Esiason and Collinsworth stopped by to watch practice Saturday afternoon.

BETTER, FASTER: Lewis is always demanding a quick practice pace and wasn't happy with it late Saturday afternoon.

"Get in the huddle, let's go," he yelled to rookie defensive players.

OFFSEASON RULES: Offseason programs run by NFL teams are strictly governed by the collective bargaining agreement with the union. The entire offseason program is voluntary, with the exception of one three-day mini-camp (two for new coaches).

On Friday, when 21 veterans participated in the first practice of the Bengals' rookie mini-camp, the Bengals used one of their 14 allotted organized team activities (OTA) days. Coaches can keep players on the field for no more than 90 minutes, and players can wear helmets but no pads.

The Bengals have 12 more OTA days scheduled for veterans. They are May 18-20 and 25-27, and June 1-3 and 15-17. The mandatory full-squad mini-camp is June 11-13.

NEXT: The rookie mini-camp ends with two practices today.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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