Bengals get Chris Perry in first round

Cincinnati also took Keiwan Ratliff, who grew up in Youngstown.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Rudi Johnson has some fast company in the Bengals' backfield.
Unable to get one of the cornerbacks they coveted, the Bengals traded down and took running back Chris Perry in the first round Saturday, an intriguing choice for Corey Dillon's former team.
Rudi Johnson won the job and won over fans last season when Dillon got hurt. Coach Marvin Lewis thinks Perry can complement the power runner rather than replace him immediately.
The Bengals view Perry as another weapon for Carson Palmer, giving the first-year quarterback another option when no one is open downfield.
"It's got nothing to do with Rudi," Lewis said.
The second-round picks had everything to do with defense. Cincinnati passed on Ohio State cornerback Chris Gamble in the first round -- he went to Carolina two picks later. Instead, the Bengals took a different cornerback from Columbus in the second round.
Keiwan Ratliff picked
Keiwan Ratliff grew up in Youngstown, went to Whitehall-Yearling High School in Columbus and was recruited by Ohio State as a defensive back. He chose to go to Florida as a receiver, but got moved to cornerback anyway.
His size was the main thing that worked against him in the draft.
"Chris [Gamble] is a great athlete," Ratliff said. "Chris is 6-foot-2 and I'm 5-foot-10. A lot of people like hype and some of those things, but the Cincinnati Bengals like what I had to offer. I'm Keiwan Ratliff, with or without the hype."
Using the pick they got from New England in the trade for Dillon, the Bengals took free safety Madieu Williams from Maryland later in the second round.
The Dillon trade also affected what the Bengals did with their first pick. They needed a backup for Johnson, who could be a free agent next year.
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