USAToday:
Inside Slant
Finally, Carson Palmer spoke, and while he understands that the Bengals are important to a lot of people and that he has a prominent position on the team, he really wondered what all the fuss was about.
He displayed a refreshing sense of perspective that his challenge is not life-threatening.
"It's not like I have cancer or have lost a limb or anything like that," he said. "It's just knee surgery. It's not that bad, it's not that hard. It's just something I'm going through right now. I'll get better and I'll get back."
If his rehabilitation were a football game, Palmer said on March 22 that he is through the first quarter and heading into the second quarter.
"Probably the first quarter is getting the flex and the extension back in your leg, and I had that fairly quickly," Palmer said. "I was ahead of the game on that. Now I'll move into the second phase, which is strength and conditioning, and then I'll move into running and jumping, and then I'll be ready to go."
Palmer made his first public comments since Jan. 9. He underwent surgery Jan. 10 to replace two torn ligaments, the anterior cruciate and medial collateral, in his left knee. He recalled the injury, the eerie sensation of being driven away from Paul Brown Stadium with the game still going on, displayed the mature perspective that has endeared him to Bengals fans and vowed to be back as soon as he could - preferably, he said, in time for the regular-season opener. His injury forced the Bengals to sign free-agent quarterback Doug Johnson and search for another veteran quarterback to replace departed free agent Jon Kitna. The Bengals' latest quarterback visitor is former Ravens backup/starter Anthony Wright. Brian Griese visited before signing a five-year deal with the Bears. Former Rams backup Jamie Martin is waiting in the wings and probably will be the player the Bengals sign.
Asked several times by reporters when he would be back, Palmer said, "If I had a crystal ball and I could find out exactly the day I'm 100 percent and ready to play, we wouldn't be going through this backup quarterback thing that we're trying to figure out."
Palmer walked into the Paul Brown Stadium interview room without the aid of crutches. There was no sign of a limp and little visible evidence of atrophy in the left leg. Palmer had been working in Anaheim, Calif., but has switched his base to Cincinnati. He returned two weeks ago and is working with four people, including Bengals strength coach and assistant trainer Billy Brooks.
There is no such thing as a typical day in rehab, Palmer said, but he does up to 40 different exercises in a period of 4 1/2-5 hours.
"A lot of leg presses, flexibility, got to try to fire your quad a lot, hamstring curls, leg extensions, just a number of things, a process going from building muscle up in your leg," he said. "As the muscle atrophies in your leg, you have to get that stimulated and firing, and from there it's just getting the rest of the leg strong."
The injury and rehab process have provided a life lesson.
"I think I learned how quickly things can be taken away from you," Palmer said. "When I was driving away from the stadium in the third quarter (of the playoff game), I'm listening to the game on the radio and just looking back, and ... it was a really weird experience; I was just on that field. I roll down the window and I can hear the crowd.
"I think I'll take something from this, and that will be you can't take it for granted. When you don't want to practice on a Wednesday afternoon - you've been in meetings for six hours - you're excited about the game, but you're tired. That's when I (will) realize, `Hey, this was all taken away from me last year. Don't take this for granted. Realize how special this opportunity is and how lucky I am just to be here.'"
NOTES, QUOTES
— Former Ravens quarterback Anthony Wright made a free-agent visit to Cincinnati on March 23. LaVar Arrington, the former Redskins linebacker, was supposed to come, and his agent said he would be there, but they had internal miscommunications.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was Washington's defensive coordinator in 2002 and coached Arrington, who had a career high 11 sacks under Lewis' tutelage. And while their relationship appeared cantankerous on the surface, Arrington considers Lewis one of the top coaches he has played for and the type of coach who can get the most out of him.
The two sides have talked several times but have not broached the issue of money, which could be a major stumbling block. Arrington, a three-time Pro Bowl player in six NFL seasons, forfeited $4.4 million in bonus payments over the next two years to gain free agency. He is 6-feet-3, 255 pounds and would be the type of A-list free agent the Bengals have never signed since the dawn of free agency in 1993. Arrington would add a legitimate superstar to the Bengals' defense.
Wright becomes the latest free agent quarterback the Bengals are looking at. They have yet to settle on a potential starter if Carson Palmer is not healthy enough to start the season.
—Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry had to pay a $250 fine but avoided jail time Wednesday, March 22, in an appearance in Kenton District Court in Northern Kentucky. He pleaded guilty after being arrested for illegal possession of marijuana in December in Covington. Traffic charges from a previous police stop were dismissed. Henry was contrite when addressing the court.
"I've learned something," he said. "From my drug treatment, I see I am responsible to my team and my coach and to all the Bengals fans to be completely drug free," he said. "To all of them I can only say I'm sorry."
Henry was ordered to enroll in a 28-day drug treatment program, which he already had completed as result of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Henry still faces an April 6 court date in Orange County, Fla., on a charge of illegal possession of a concealed firearm, stemming from an arrest Jan. 28.
—Ken Landphere, the agent for Kenny Watson, said he expects the free agent running back to return to the club this spring.
—The Bengals signed wide receiver Antonio Chatman to a two-year, $1.5 million contract March 21. He essentially fills the roster spot vacated when the Bengals declined to match the four-year, $6.4 million offer sheet Houston signed with Bengals restricted free agent wide receiver Kevin Walter. Chatman, a restricted who was not tendered by the Packers, also is expected to boost the Bengals' 31st-ranked punt return team.
Asked Sunday night what makes Cincinnati a good fit, Chatman said, "They don't have anybody like me. I feel like I can be the guy who can get them farther than they went this year."
Chatman played college ball for two years at the University of Cincinnati and is an off-season workout partner with Bengals wide receivers Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
—The Bengals have lost four free agents: TE Matt Schobel, Eagles; QB Jon Kitna, Lions; LB Nate Webster, Broncos; WR Kevin Walter, Texans. The Bengals have signed two since free agency opened: S Dexter Jackson, Buccaneers; and WR Antonio Chatman, Packers.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's not like I have cancer or have lost a limb or anything like that. It's just knee surgery. It's not that bad, it's not that hard. It's just something I'm going through right now. I'll get better and I'll get back." - Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, discussing his perspective on returning from knee surgery
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
The Bengals continue to look for the right fit in a backup quarterback and for bulk at defensive tackle. They are bringing back their top special teams players, evidenced by the recent agreements with safety Anthony Mitchell and linebacker Marcus Wilkins.
TEAM NEEDS
1. Quarterback: Because of concerns that Carson Palmer will be ready to start the season, the Bengals are trying to find the right quarterback to start a few games if necessary. The focus appears to have swung back to former Rams backup Jamie Martin.
2. Defensive tackle: Once they sign a quarterback, the Bengals are expected to make a serious run at Sam Adams, who would add a big body to the middle of the line and help the run defense. Former Packers DT Grady Jackson has entered the picture and remains available.
3. Tight end: The Bengals lost their top receiving tight end, free agent Matt Schobel, to the Eagles, and are considering a tight end from a deep draft class with their first-round pick.