Palmer the Big Question Mark for Bengals

Offseason Roundup: Cincinnati Bengals

Marvin Lewis has taken the Cincinnati Bengals from laughingstock to respectable team to playoff participant in his three seasons as their coach, getting it done in a place where many people in the league thought it simply couldn't be done. But their Walt Disney-scripted 2005 season had a horrific ending when quarterback Carson Palmer had his left knee shredded by a low hit by Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen during a first-round playoff game at home, and the Bengals' season finished abruptly with a two-touchdown loss to the eventual Super Bowl champions.

Even now, the Bengals seem convinced they were a better team than the Steelers were last season and they, not the Steelers, would have moved on if Palmer hadn't gotten hurt. The hit by von Oelhoffen played a major role in prompting a crackdown, ordered by the NFL's competition committee this offseason, on low hits on quarterbacks. But even while ordering the ban, competition committee members conceded that the hit on Palmer was not illegal and would not have drawn a penalty even under the new, more restrictive rule, for von Oelhoffen was blocked into Palmer on the play.

The aftermath of Palmer's injury made for anxious times for Bengals followers, particularly when the surgeon who repaired the two torn ligaments in the quarterback's knee said the injury was career-threatening. That statement quickly was modified, with the doctor, Lonnie Paulos, saying his remarks had been misinterpreted. He said that while the injury could be career-threatening, he expected Palmer to make a full recovery and be able to resume his career.

The Bengals have a lot of hope and money invested in Palmer. They signed him in late December to a six-year contract extension that, combined with the three remaining seasons on his original rookie deal, makes for a nine-year contract worth $118.75 million. He is to make $30.75 million during the 2006 season alone, including a $15 million roster bonus due last February, a $6.75 million salary for the season and a $9 million option bonus due next Jan. 1. Palmer, when healthy, is on his way to being one of the game's dominant quarterbacks, but now the Bengals fret about whether he'll be the same player again.

He is a pocket-anchored quarterback anyway, not a scrambler, so it would seem likely that his game eventually will be unaffected. But that doesn't mean he'll be a full strength by the start of the season. The Bengals began the offseason knowing they needed to re-sign former starter Jon Kitna or add another experienced quarterback in case Palmer isn't ready to play at the outset of the season. They lost Kitna, who signed with Detroit as a free agent, and they tried but failed to land Joey Harrington from the Lions in a trade. So they signed free agent Anthony Wright, a former starter for the Baltimore Ravens.

Wright is fine as a temporary solution, but the Bengals' season obviously hinges on Palmer being able to make a full return. The Bengals have all the other parts in place on offense, from tailback Rudi Johnson to wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The club has started trying to negotiate contract extensions with the members of its offensive line, where all five starters were entering the final seasons of their contracts before guard Bobbie Williams signed an extension.

Lewis continues to try to make improvements to a defense that ranked 28th in the league last season. He brought in an old standby by signing defensive tackle Sam Adams, who played for him in Baltimore when he was the Ravens' defensive coordinator, after Adams was released by the Buffalo Bills. Lewis also signed safety Dexter Jackson, a former Super Bowl most valuable player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and used the Bengals' first-round draft choice on speedy cornerback Johnathan Joseph.

The Bengals had a defense last season that could take the ball away but couldn't stop an offense in its tracks. If that unit becomes more stout, and if Palmer is healthy for most of the season, the Bengals can be as good as anyone in the league next season. Lewis is proving to be as shrewd as just about any coach in the league, and the next step in his progress is to take his once-dreadful team deep into the playoffs.

Around the League

The Lions today completed the long-awaited trade that sends Harrington to Miami.

The Dolphins gave the Lions a sixth-round pick in next spring's draft, which can be converted into a fifth-rounder if Harrington gets enough playing time.

Harrington, 27, was the third overall selection in the 2002 draft but threw more interceptions (62) than touchdown passes (60) in his four seasons with Detroit. He asked to be traded or released soon after his initial conversations with new Lions coach Rod Marinelli and offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Lions President Matt Millen immediately made it clear that he would comply, and began shopping Harrington around the league. The Lions signed Kitna and Josh McCown as free agents to compete for their starting job.