Malcomb Kelly???

[Jet23]

Why all of the interest in Malcomb Kelly? ESPN is reporting that the Bengals are sending several reps (including Brat) to his workout and have even arranged for him to come back to Cincinnati. Has a trade for CJ already been arranged, for say a DL? I wish, but not likely. Are they really considering burning a 1st rounder on Henry's replacement? Will the defense ever be fixed?.....

Best case scenario, trade Princess Chad for either a 1st round pick, or an established DT. Due to the cap hit and inexperience at WR, we could expect a rebuilding year. At this point, I would take it.

[MARVIN=W'S]

The last thing I would accept is a rebuilding year. We have one of the best QBs in the league, don't waste his career rebuilding. Get him the weapons and win now. I'm tired of all the losing and rebuilding.

[HoosierCat]

9 would be a bit high for Kelly, but only by a couple slots. He could also be a target if the Bengals trade down.

[icehole3]

He has knee and hip concerns and this is his first full workout this year, its like theyre trying to hide something so it will be interesting to see what happens this week with him, if healthy he's a first rounder no doubt...I wouldnt blow a first rounder on him I'd go defense.

Here's his video highlight

http://nfldraft.rivals.com/cviewplayer.asp...mp;player=52062

[Ickey44]

We need defense. Don't take a WR until the second round.

[GregCook]

We need defense. Don't take a WR until the second round.

I've said that WR is a big need in this year's draft long before KnuckleHead was booked and released. Its age more than tirades and bookings. TJ is about 31 and Chad is 30. There are no studs in waiting so we need to draft some. Clearly KnuckleHead and Chad's outbursts add to the pressure. But the great news is we have 4 picks in the first 100 picks. We should be able to draft in no particular order suitable OT's, DT's, RB and WR in those first 4 picks. So much for drafting defense in 2008.

I don't think a WR in round 1 is remotely likely to happen.

[BengalChamps]

The last thing I would accept is a rebuilding year. We have one of the best QBs in the league, don't waste his career rebuilding. Get him the weapons and win now. I'm tired of all the losing and rebuilding.

Agreed! You dont rebuild when Carson's your QB.

I would be okay with Malcomb Kelly if we trade Stincho for AJ Hawk.

[rishipatel]

Why all of the interest in Malcomb Kelly? ESPN is reporting that the Bengals are sending several reps (including Brat) to his workout and have even arranged for him to come back to Cincinnati. Has a trade for CJ already been arranged, for say a DL? I wish, but not likely. Are they really considering burning a 1st rounder on Henry's replacement? Will the defense ever be fixed?.....

Best case scenario, trade Princess Chad for either a 1st round pick, or an established DT. Due to the cap hit and inexperience at WR, we could expect a rebuilding year. At this point, I would take it.

They may be looking at him as a 2nd round prospect too. From what I've read, his stock has been dropping due to his knee and thigh. The fact that he hasn't worked out until now is worrisome. If his workout went well, then he is a sure 1st rounder, but if there are any concerns, he could be there is the 2nd. There are so many good receivers in this draft, we surely can get a good one in the 2nd. No need to reach in the 1st. Take the best defensive player in the 1st, IMO.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Possibilities:

1) Bengals are panicking and transparently going after a guy who's nowhere near the best player available at #9.

2) Bengals are spending a lot of time on a guy who probably won't be there in round 2

3) Bengals are doing due diligence for the possibility of a draft slide or trade down

4) Brat needs a vacation and feels like deking the ESPN boys by going to check out somebody they have no real interest in.

I hope it's 4, actually.

[kingwilly]

if his injuries are a concern, that will come to light after he works out and is examined by teams.

In light of the Henry implosion, I have no issue looking at WR in r2-5. Maybe even 2 should we get the DT we want at 9.

There are MANY WR's we can go for in that r2-5 range. Kelly has some issues. 9 is extremely high for him, probably 7-10 picks too high. If he is there in r2,

The bengals need to keep their eye on the ball: address the weaknesses at DT, O-line depth, get a player WR, and then go BPA.

[BengalByTheBay]

The bengals need to keep their eye on the ball: address the weaknesses at DT, O-line depth, get a player WR, and then go BPA.

I'm not a draft guy, like some of you. I don't get the chance to see too much college ball until late in the season. In a sense, that helps me not get too excited about any of these guys or get sucked in to a draft climber. IMO willy nails it above -- WR and RB were not the priorities before and shouldn't be now. Stay with the plan that was there before all this for day one and then adjust on the margins if they think WR is a need.

[icehole3]

you can get caught up real quick, just go to this site and scroll down to the ranking by positions, this is where they keep all the videos on these guys, it'll give you a quick look at what they can do.

http://nfldraft.rivals.com/

[Sandwedge]

The bengals need to keep their eye on the ball: address the weaknesses at DT, O-line depth, get a player WR, and then go BPA.

I'm not a draft guy, like some of you. I don't get the chance to see too much college ball until late in the season. In a sense, that helps me not get too excited about any of these guys or get sucked in to a draft climber. IMO willy nails it above -- WR and RB were not the priorities before and shouldn't be now. Stay with the plan that was there before all this for day one and then adjust on the margins if they think WR is a need.

Couldn't agree more!! I think Marvin and co will stay the course...

[DuffMan]

Either the bengals think they have a good chance of trading down, they think Kelley might slip to the 2nd, or they are trying to make some WR-starved team antsy and anxious to swap picks with them.

I think the latter is the most reasonable, since there is no clear cut #1 WR in this draft UNLESS Kelley is completely healthy. Sending all your scouts and coaches to his workout makes it seems like the kid is ready to contribute immediately.

The muddier we make our 1st round targets the better.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Either the bengals think they have a good chance of trading down, they think Kelley might slip to the 2nd, or they are trying to make some WR-starved team antsy and anxious to swap picks with them.

I think the latter is the most reasonable, since there is no clear cut #1 WR in this draft UNLESS Kelley is completely healthy. Sending all your scouts and coaches to his workout makes it seems like the kid is ready to contribute immediately.

The muddier we make our 1st round targets the better.

Even if he's healthy...the bust rate of 1st round WRs is high, and they take a while to develop. Too high a risk for too little reward unless a game changer drops to you in the middle of the round or something.

I also agree with you about this being a weak WR draft - let's not panic and take a guy well above where he should go in a draft where he's already bumped up because of positional scarcity.

[Jet23]

Either the bengals think they have a good chance of trading down, they think Kelley might slip to the 2nd, or they are trying to make some WR-starved team antsy and anxious to swap picks with them.

I think the latter is the most reasonable, since there is no clear cut #1 WR in this draft UNLESS Kelley is completely healthy. Sending all your scouts and coaches to his workout makes it seems like the kid is ready to contribute immediately.

The muddier we make our 1st round targets the better.

Even if he's healthy...the bust rate of 1st round WRs is high, and they take a while to develop. Too high a risk for too little reward unless a game changer drops to you in the middle of the round or something.

I also agree with you about this being a weak WR draft - let's not panic and take a guy well above where he should go in a draft where he's already bumped up because of positional scarcity.

I agree that there are more WR busts than any other position. Throw in the injury factor and there is no way he should be considered in round 1.

[DesperateDerelict]

Even if he's healthy...the bust rate of 1st round WRs is high, and they take a while to develop.

I believe the 'bust' rate is much higher with DT's, QB's, and CB's

I also agree with you about this being a weak WR draft

Although missing the 'elite' WR prospects (Calvin, Larry Fitz, Mike Williams ), this is an incredibly deep and diverse WR class - as many as a dozen quality starters and slot recievers are available in the 1st 100 picks.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

I believe the 'bust' rate is much higher with DT's, QB's, and CB's

QBs goes without saying, but the value is far higher if they pay off. DTs...I'm not so sure. Especially if you're looking at the same slot, but DTs are definitely on the list of positions you usually don't get in the first round. CB I definitely don't think so, the first rounders tend to do pretty well, and the payoff for a lockdown corner is higher, in my opinion.

Although missing the 'elite' WR prospects (Calvin, Larry Fitz, Mike Williams ), this is an incredibly deep and diverse WR class - as many as a dozen quality starters and slot recievers are available in the 1st 100 picks.

I'm talking about the first round - as you say, the projected R1 WRs don't even compare with those of years past. Well, except Mike Williams. I probably compare pretty well with him. Indeed, if the WR class in the first three rounds is as deep as you believe, then all the more reason not to take one early where the quality is thin.

[HoosierCat]

The "bust rate" I'm most concerned about is that of Bengals' WR draft picks, which has pretty much been 100% in the Marvin era. They've spent two thirds, a fifth, two sixths and two sevenths on wideouts in the last five drafts, and the only one still on the roster is now a safety.

This continues a long tradition of drafting badly at wide receiver. Chad and TJ in 2001 were an anomaly; in '00 it was Warrick and Dugans, the year before that, Craig Yeast, and on and on.

I agree that a first round WR is probably a bad idea. Arguably, the best place to go after the position would be in the second. What hits they have had at WR have mostly come there: Pickens, Scott, Chad. Were I them I might even consider trading up in the second (our fourth could gain us 7 or 8 slots) if someone they like slips past the early part of the round.

[HoosierCat]

Results of Kelly's pro day, per eastcoastsportsnews.com:

04/09...Malcolm Kelly...Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly ran a pair of dissapointing 40 times this morning, but performed well in the other drills ...Kelly ran a 4.68 and a 4.75 forty, recorded a 32-inch vertical jump, a 9'9" long jump, a 4.24 short shuttle, and a 7.00 cone drill...Kelly weighed in at 227 for his workout.

[HairOnFire]

By Jake Trotter

Staff Writer

NORMAN — Former Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly didn't have the pro day performance Wednesday that he wanted.

Kelly, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds, said he wasn't told by the OU strength staff until this morning that the location of the pro day had been moved from Astroturf in the Mosier Center to field turf inside the Everest Indoor Training Center.

"I had everything set up for where I wanted to do it at," Kelly said. "I get up here this morning and it's a whole different deal. This is my life. It's got to do with me and my family. This is what I do, play football, and I'm supposed to run as fast as I can. I was slipping all over the place during my drill work. I can't say I'm pleased with anything today."

Kelly said he had been preparing for the last month to test on Astroturf and was running the 40 in under 4.5 seconds on that surface.

"People want to say surface is surface, but it's a lot more to it than that," Kelly said. "You have to think about how much ground time you have running on this mushy surface here and how much ground time you have on Astroturf.

"Just a little bit of time could mean a whole lot of draft money."

Kelly, who measured in at 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds, reached 32 inches in the vertical jump and 9 feet, 9 inches in the long jump. He posted times of 4.24 in the short shuttle and 7.00 in the three-cone drill.

Kelly looked sharp running routes and catching the ball during receiver drills.

He is flying to Cincinnati to meet with Bengals personnel later today.

Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski was among the more than 30 coaches and scouts who attended OU's second pro day, which included former Sooner defensive back Reggie Smith, tight end Joe Jon Finley and cornerback Marcus Walker.

[GregCook]

By Jake Trotter

Staff Writer

NORMAN — Former Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly didn't have the pro day performance Wednesday that he wanted.

Kelly, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds, said he wasn't told by the OU strength staff until this morning that the location of the pro day had been moved from Astroturf in the Mosier Center to field turf inside the Everest Indoor Training Center.

"I had everything set up for where I wanted to do it at," Kelly said. "I get up here this morning and it's a whole different deal. This is my life. It's got to do with me and my family. This is what I do, play football, and I'm supposed to run as fast as I can. I was slipping all over the place during my drill work. I can't say I'm pleased with anything today."

Kelly said he had been preparing for the last month to test on Astroturf and was running the 40 in under 4.5 seconds on that surface.

"People want to say surface is surface, but it's a lot more to it than that," Kelly said. "You have to think about how much ground time you have running on this mushy surface here and how much ground time you have on Astroturf.

"Just a little bit of time could mean a whole lot of draft money."

Kelly, who measured in at 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds, reached 32 inches in the vertical jump and 9 feet, 9 inches in the long jump. He posted times of 4.24 in the short shuttle and 7.00 in the three-cone drill.

Kelly looked sharp running routes and catching the ball during receiver drills.

He is flying to Cincinnati to meet with Bengals personnel later today.

Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski was among the more than 30 coaches and scouts who attended OU's second pro day, which included former Sooner defensive back Reggie Smith, tight end Joe Jon Finley and cornerback Marcus Walker.

So put the guy in pads, have him run on grass and he might, just might break 4.8. Unless there is some other story here,

Malcolm Kelly ain't no first round stud, maybe 4th round at best.

[Pidge]

The vertical isn't mind blowing either. He's tall though. Probably end up as the slot guy role for whichever team takes him?

[Thurmanation]

After seeing his pro day today on NFLN, i CANT see this guy going in the first AT ALL, he ran like a 4.78 as his best time. He also complained about the turf. Maybe a late 2nd, but who ever wastes a first on this guy is smoking crack (Al Davis).

[ShulaSteakhouse]

PFW says the Bengals' are shopping Chad now and are pretty fed up with his "tirades." (no surprise although it does contradict Brown's typical "let him rot" stance)

Guess we'll see...