DaytonDailyNews.com

CINCINNATI — From country music superstar to NFL scrub wide receiver.

Ladies and gentlemen, introducing ... Kenny Chesney!

Chesney will be singing his heart out tonight in concert at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati — the latest stop on his "Flip Flop Summer Tour 2007."

But he won't be leaving town right away.

The New Orleans Saints announced that Chesney will suit up and practice with the team as a wide receiver on Friday at 11 a.m. on the practice fields next to Paul Brown Stadium.

Prior to the practice, Chesney and Saints head coach Sean Payton will conduct a news conference in the visiting team's interview room inside the stadium.

"Yes, he'll be in uniform, working out with the team on the field," said Dave Lawrence, communications assistant for the Saints. "He'll be a wideout, but I don't know the number he'll be wearing."

Chesney, 39, was born in Knoxville, Tenn., to school teacher father David Chesney and hair dresser mother Karen Chandler.

He earned a bachelor's degree in advertising from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., in 1990. After graduation, he headed to Nashville ... and the rest is history.

Bengals rookie quarterback Jeff Rowe is Chesney's biggest fan on Cincinnati's roster.

Rowe was disappointed to learn that the Saints will be practicing on the fields across from Paul Brown Stadium at the same time the Bengals are working out on the FieldTurf inside PBS.

"How come he's not coming to the Bengals' practice? Rowe said. "Can you line that up? I saw him three months ago at Sacramento with Pat Green. I just like his music, He's great, dude. He has a lot of energy. It's funny ... the fact he does stuff like this (practice with an NFL team) makes him a great guy."

The 5-foot-6 Chesney, who played wide receiver in high school as a youth in Tennessee, will take instruction from the coaching staff and Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Payton and Chesney have been friends for several years, supporting each other?s pursuits.

The Saints head coach frequents Chesney?s concerts when they come to town. Chesney has always been a big football fan and is both excited and impressed about the heights his friend has helped guide the Saints to new heights.

With Chesney playing in Cincinnati tonight and the Saints having come to town early to practice with the Bengals, the opportunity for him to be able to work out with the squad became available.

"We are looking forward to having Kenny out at practice tomorrow and seeing what he can show us on the field," Payton said. "I have been a big fan of Kenny and his music. We have know each other for several years and both of us have a great respect and interest for what the other does. It is going to be a lot of fun to have him out there and to be able to evaluate his abilities, get him a few balls and see how he fits in with our offense."

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

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Who: Saints at Bengals

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Radio: WTUE-FM (104.7).

TV: WKEF-TV (Channel 22).