Chick Ludwig At Large

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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.

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July 2008

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Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > April > 09 > Entry

Will Bengals trade down? (Plus Masters & River Downs)

By Chick Ludwig | Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 05:54 PM

SOONER (OR LATER) A BENGAL TO BE?

Just how good is Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Malcolm Kelly?

Pretty darn good, according to Jerry Jones, who has published “The Drugstore List” of NFL Draft Ratings for 31 years.

But is he worth grabbing with the No. 9 overall draft pick on April 26 as Chris Henry’s replacement for the Cincinnati Bengals?

Maybe. Maybe not.

Jones says the 6-foot-4, 224-pound Kelly, an early-entry junior, “has good size, long arms and sure hands” along with being “a quick, smooth route-runner.

“He has average timed speed, but shows some burst and will catch the ball in traffic.”

The mere fact that the Bengals have decided to bring Kelly to Cincinnati for a pre-draft “look-see” tells me one of three things.

1. They’re strongly considering grabbing Kelly at No. 9.

2. They’re willing to trade down and grab Kelly with a lower first-round pick.

3. They’re masking their interest in Kelly, luring another team to trade up in order to grab him, and they’ll pluck a wide receiver such as Donnie Avery or Eddie Royal or Adarius Bowman in the second or third round.

With 10 picks in this year’s draft, the Bengals have an opportunity to improve their 27th-ranked defense and 24th-ranked rushing game in a hurry.

Even though offensive tackle, defensive tackle, defensive end, center and running back are major concerns, the club finds itself in a situation where wide receiver must become a higher priority.

With Henry gone, Chad Johnson (age 30) requesting a trade and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (turns 31 in September) entering his contract year, QB Carson Palmer needs another weapon to keep the high-powered passing game rolling out into the future.

Is Kelly the answer?

We’ll discover the answer soon enough.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU?

Let’s play a game of “Pretend.”

Pretend you’re Zach Johnson and you’re strolling onto Augusta National as the defending Masters champion.

As the reigning champ, you select the menu for the Champions Dinner.

Zach announced his selection as “some kind of surf and turf.”

How about you?

“Ludwig At Large” checks in with his menu. Like fellow staffer Kyle Nagel, I’m VERY hungry. Here goes:

—-Garden salad (no onions and no tomatoes) with creamy ranch dressing.

—-Bowl of Louisiana’s famous seafood gumbo.

—-Petite filet mignon (mine’s medium well).

—-Jambalaya (with chicken, sausage and shrimp).

—-Dessert: New York style cheesecake topped with crushed pineapple.

Note: “Ludwig At Large” requests menus be submitted in the “comments” portion of this blog.

RIVER DOWNS OPENS 83rd SEASON

A news flash from the immortal John Engelhardt, passionate follower of “The Sport of Kings”:

Live racing returns to River Downs in Cincinnati on Friday, April 11.

The thoroughbred track is set to run for 102 live dates through Labor Day, Sept. 1.

Post time will be 1:05 p.m. starting with a four-day week of racing live on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Beginning in May and lasting through the summer months, the only “dark” live days will be Monday and Wednesday except for Memorial Day week in May.

Admission and general parking are free. Gates open at 11:30 a.m.

Preferred parking is available and reservations taken for dining in the Turf Terrace. The River Downs RaceBook will be open for full card simulcasting every day and through the evenings until approximately 11:00 p.m.

Veteran jockey Perry Ouzts will make his return to racing at River Downs for his 34th season. He closed the 2007 meet out with his richest career win when he captured the $200,000 Miller Lite Cradle Stakes.

Ouzts underwent surgery over the winter and the first race on Friday will signal his first return to competition in 2008.

For more information contact John Engelhardt, Director of Publicity, at (513) 354-8243 or johne@riverdowns.com

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