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CINCINNATI — There is a method to the Bengals' madness of drafting three wide receivers.

Second-, third- and seventh-rounders Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell and Mario Urrutia will enhance more than just the passing game.

"It says we want to run the football," said head coach Marvin Lewis, who sees the big picture. "We don't want (enemy defenses) to cram up on us at the line of scrimmage with only two wide receivers. You need to have some speed or that field gets pretty tight out there.

"I want to keep teams from tightening up on us."

Lewis' hope is that, by spreading the field with three and four wide receivers, running lanes will be created for tailbacks Rudi Johnson, Kenny Watson, Chris Perry and DeDe Dorsey; and maybe, just maybe, Seattle Seahawks' career rushing leader Shaun Alexander, who was released on Tuesday just two years deep into an eight-year, $63 million extension.

Alexander, the Seahawks' first-round draft pick in 2000 from the University of Alabama and Boone County High School in Florence, Ky., is scheduled to visit the Bengals on Monday, May 5, the day after the club's three-day minicamp for drafted rookies and college free agents.

The Bengals got a 10-draft-pick makeover last weekend with five selections on offense and five on defense, but no tailbacks. Bengals fans can rest assured the club won't overpay for Alexander, who turns 31 on Aug. 30.

"We feel good where we are," Lewis said. "The (tailbacks) we have coming back worked out great this offseason. Rudi has something to prove, which is big. He is a prideful young man. DeDe Dorsey didn't get much of an opportunity last year. Kenny Watson made the most of his opportunity. Chris Perry will have the chance to compete for a job. We will continue, at this point, status quo."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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