As the Chicago Bears continue to explore strategies for upgrading an underperforming running attack, they’ll meet later this week with Illinois tailback Rashard Mendenhall.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Mendenhall also will meet with the Bengals, Jets, Cowboys, and Panthers.  Teams can visit with up to 30 draft prospects; some franchises deliberately bring in players in whom they have no interest.

The Tribune reports that Mendenhall also met with 25 teams at the Scouting Combine in February.  Coupled with the balance of the story, it’s fairly clear that Mendenhall and/or his agent spoon-fed the information to the Tribune in an effort to create more buzz for the ball-carrier who could be the second player at his position picked, after Darren McFadden of Arkansas.  (Hopefully, Mendenhall and/or his agent didn’t also tell the Tribune that the draft will be held on April 19-20, as mentioned in the story.)

The Bears aren’t expected to select Mendenhall with the fourteenth overall pick, given their needs at other positions.  Still, the fact that the Bears burned the fourth overall selection three years ago on Cedric Benson, who has been a hair above a bust, makes it imperative for the Bears to do their homework as to Mendenhall and the rest of the running backs.