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Chick Ludwig covers the Cincinnati Bengals. He also writes about his other passions: college football, basketball and golf.Home > Blogs > Chick Ludwig At Large > Archives > 2008 > August > 26 > Entry
Shopping Rudi for a wide receiver
IF RUDI ISN’T TRADED,
HE COULD GET RELEASED
BENGALS NEED A WIDEOUT
TO SHORE UP THE POSITION
WITH CHAD & T.J. INJURED
===ESPN’s Chris Mortensen claims the Bengals want a “real receiver.” LUDWIG AT LARGE prefers an unreal one.===
Rudi Johnson for Anquan Bolden?
How would Cincinnati Bengals fans feel about that?
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported on Monday night that the Bengals are shopping Johnson, their eighth-year veteran tailback, in hopes of landing a starting wide receiver in a trade.
A telephone message left with Peter Schaffer, Rudi’s Denver-based agent, was not immediately returned.
The Bengals need a legitimate, seasoned, veteran wideout to strengthen the position in the wake of injuries to Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Andre Caldwell. Chad will attempt to play with a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder. One more big hit or bad fall on the shoulder, and Johnson will be out for the year.
Bolden would be an ideal fit in Cincinnati. He wants a trade from the Arizona Cardinals — no surprise, considering his teammate, Larry Fitzgerald, got showered with a four-year, $40 million contract.
At the same time, the Bengals want to unload Rudi’s $3.2 million salary. Chris Perry and Kenny Watson are the team’s one-two punch at running back this season, leaving very few carries for Johnson, who had the reputation of being one of the NFL’s most durable backs until he was saddled with a left hamstring injury in 2007.
Rudi will make his 2008 debut in the preseason finale at Indianapolis on Thursday night — a game that could serve as his “tryout” for another club.
If Rudi shows well on film, a GM out there might want to trade for him. If not, the only way to get rid of Rudi’s hefty salary is to release him.
Acquiring Bolden won’t be cheap. It would cost the Bengals Rudi plus a first- or second-round pick.
If and when Rudi leaves, the big question becomes: Who will mentor Chris Henry? Henry’s dressing stall was moved next to Rudi’s locker. Rudi plans on “coaching up” Henry on the life and times of how to be a professional athlete on and off the field.
Rudi’s a great guy and fine player. He doesn’t have breakaway speed, but he’s extremely tough. The big knock on Rudi is his timeliness. He’s always the last guy on the field for practice. Even head coach Marvin Lewis calls Rudi his “time keeper.”
I asked one Bengal to name the laziest player on the squad.
“Rudi Johnson,” he said. “That’s an easy one. He’s just nonchalant about everything. It has to be Rudi. I think everybody on the team would say that.”
Contact Chick Ludwig at cludwig@daytondailynews.com or 937-225-2253
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Bengals
Comments
By JT
August 26, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Unfortunately, Rudi’s trade value is at a all time low. Big price tag + a lot of carries + off injury plagued year….very difficult to find a partner. I don’t see it!! Second round pick straight up for a decent receiver.By Kevin
August 26, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
Your couldn’t trade Rudi for five footballs now. He is an overpaid washed up running back. Running backs like Rudi are a dime-a-dozen. Anyone could have ran behind our line in 2005. Too bad that same line can’t run block out of a wet paper bag this year.By Doug
August 26, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
Anquin Boldin. He would want the $9 to $10M contract so how could the Bengals be able to pay it? Radical idea, cut or trade Rudi, cut Jeremi and I feel bad for saying it, cut Willie to free up cap space to sign Boldin. I know I’m dreaming, but it’s my dream……… The thought of Carson without wide receivers that are not better than average, just unthinkable. T.J. has a hamstring problem, don’t know his status and Chad is one play away from missing the year. The only other person worth mentioning after them is Henry and he won’t be available till the 5th game. The rookies aren’t going to carry the load this year.By Antwan Odom in your face
August 26, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
give up a draft pick for Boldin, over half their draft picks are lost to injury/arrest anyways, screw it, they have nothing to loseBy Sean
August 26, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
If Rudi for Boldin is a viable option, I’d make that trade in a heartbeat. What are the Cardinals doing with E. James?By ShockMonkey
August 26, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
Doug wrote: Radical idea, cut or trade Rudi, cut Jeremi and I feel bad for saying it, cut Willie to free up cap space to sign Boldin. I know I’m dreaming, but it’s my dream. That’s an excellent dream. Unfortunately, it won’t happen because it makes too much sense and the Bengals rarely do something which makes sense.By Doco
August 26, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
I think the Lions could use a running back and a draft pick and could give up Roy Williams who is in the last year of his contract. He’s going to want to get paid next year and the Lions won’t because they’ll wait and pay the younger Calvin Johnson. We pay Roy next year and let Houshymoushy go to the free agent market.By Ben
August 26, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Let’s get serious. The Bengals would be lucky to get a team’s 5th WR for Rudi. Rudi’s base salary is in the neighborhood of $3.2 mil. No team is going to pay him that. Either the Bengals keep him and he backs up Perry or they cut him and he gets picked up during the season after some team has a slew of injuires at RB.By JK
August 26, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Cleary the Bengals have had horrible luck with their 1st round picks. Therefore, why not trade Rudi + 1st round pick to Arizona for Boldin and a 2nd or 3rd round pick?By ryan
August 27, 2008 7:45 AM | Link to this
Why would Arizona want Rudi? Go back to dreaming… maybe we can get Moss and Brady for Rudi.