Updated: 1:25 p.m.
As the Bengals finished up meeting with Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens on Wednesday morning, they re-signed tight end Dan Coats after he became a free agent when they didn't tender him a restricted free-agent deal last week.
Coats, 25, heads into his fourth season after making 11 starts and catching 16 passes for 150 yards. He has 30 catches for 291 yards in a career he has played in 48 out of 49 games, and he'll have a roster fight on his hands.
The Bengals are also still apparently mulling re-signing J.P. Foschi, another tight end they didn't tender as an RFA, and Reggie Kelly, the 11-year veteran coming off a ruptured Achilles. They also have two rookies from last year, Chase Coffman and Darius Hill, plus they are expected to draft a tight end fairly high.
Owens arrived in Cincinnati Tuesday night and had dinner with head coach Marvin Lewis before Lewis headed to the NFL Competition Committee meetings. Wednesday morning was reserved for a physical and a meeting with Bengals president Mike Brown, as well as a session with receivers coach Mike Sheppard and a chalk talk with offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski.
Money isn't the only issue as the Bengals stare at a decision between Owens and Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Bryant. Age, film and health are also at play and both have impressed the club with their tape and interviews.
Also in the mix is ProFootballTalk.com's report that Bryant's agent told *The Miami Herald *the hometown Dolphins have expressed interest.
The Bengals' search for a wide receiver Wednesday extended up the road to Clifton at the University of Cincinnati's pro day. Sheppard, special teams coach Darrin Simmons, and director of football operations Jim Lippincott were on hand and a major object of their eyes, wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, ran a little better than he did 10 days ago at the NFL scouting combine with 40-yard times that were reportedly in the mid 4.5s range.
His speed is the big concern with the scouts, but his strengths of route running and hands look to make him an ideal NFL slot guy. In fact, after the scripted portion of the receivers' workout Sheppard reportedly had Gilyard work out of the slot to watch that part of his game. If the Bengals bag Bryant or Owens, that certainly takes them out of the mix for a receiver in the first round and quite possibly the second. At the combine, Gilyard's prospects were bouncing anywhere from the mid second round to the third round.
The only NFL head coach in attendance at UC was reportedly the 49ers' Mike Singletary.
