Palmer getting Props from Pittsburgh Press

[BengalszoneBilly]

From Pittsburghlive.com:

Palmer fully healthy, growing into role of Bengals leader

By The Associated Press

Sunday, August 5, 2007

GEORGETOWN, Ky. -- Carson Palmer was fed up.

With so many Cincinnati Bengals getting into trouble, the Pro Bowl quarterback decided to speak his mind about a subject that most of his teammates were sidestepping in public.

"Enough is enough," he told reporters covering the Super Bowl in Miami last January.

The candid remark showed how Palmer is embracing the role of leader as he heads into his fourth season as a starter. Receiver Chad Johnson gets attention with his look-at-me antics, but Palmer is the player who makes the biggest difference on a team that needs direction.

"We've seen Carson really mature and evolve into not only the talented player he is, but a leader wanting to know how everybody else is doing and touching bases with other guys," coach Marvin Lewis said. "So, we've seen him grow a lot."

Palmer will have a lot to do with whether the Bengals make the playoffs this season and rehabilitate their image in the process.

The Bengals finally made the playoffs in 2005 behind Palmer, who emerged as one of the NFL's best passers during his second year as a starter. Their first playoff appearance in 15 years came to a first-round ending after Pittsburgh's Kimo von Oelhoffen crashed into his left knee, tearing ligaments and cartilage.

Palmer made an unexpectedly fast recovery, regaining his starting job for the season opener, but he wasn't the same. His timing was off, his throwing motion was out of whack and he was paying too much attention to defenders near his legs.

By midseason, Palmer was back in form and the Bengals were back in contention, only to finish 8-8. While the season headed for its disappointing finish and the team's arrest list grew, Palmer started becoming more vocal.

"First of all, it's not my team or any individual's team," Palmer said, "but being a veteran and being a quarterback, you say things sometimes and some people listen."

Quickly, he added: "And some people don't."

Palmer has tried to mentor troubled receiver Chris Henry, who has been arrested four times, suspended twice and will sit out the first eight games. He's one of several veterans who have talked to Lewis about getting tougher with players.

Palmer never shied away from speaking his mind. Now, he's making it a priority.

"I do feel that when things need to be said, I'm one of the people that needs to be saying them," Palmer said. "And when examples need to be set, I want to set an example. But in no way is this one individual's team, and nobody feels that way."

Increasingly, it's becoming his team in the same way the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts are viewed as Peyton Manning's team.

"I think he wanted to put some skins on the wall, so to speak, to have some credibility in his play before he could assume that role," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "He's had some great seasons, some Pro Bowl seasons. I think he wanted to achieve a level of success before he felt comfortable asserting himself."

On the field, it's the same old Palmer. And that's exactly what the Bengals want to see.

The knee is no longer an issue; Palmer didn't even wear a brace for an intrasquad scrimmage on Friday night, when he knew he wouldn't get hit. On his first pass of 11-on-11 drills during camp, he hit Johnson perfectly in stride down the sideline, a play so pretty that the fans gave a collective "ahh!"

A year ago, he wasn't even on the field full-time.

"No comparison," Palmer said. "No insecurities about my knee or second-guessing anything. I feel confident and comfortable and healthy and all that. So it's a lot different from last year."

There's another difference: Palmer has completed his evolution as a leader.

"His whole demeanor has gone from a pupil to a teacher," said offensive guard Bobbie Williams, who has been with him the last three seasons. "His whole confidence level has grown from getting the hang of it to being a veteran at it.

"He's what you want out there."

[redsbengalsbucks]

I bet that story did not go over very well in Pittsburgh.

[buck3y3d]

It was an associated press article. I can't believe Pittsburgh picked up the feed.

[BengalszoneBilly]

It was an associated press article. I can't believe Pittsburgh picked up the feed.

Slow Steeler news day?

[duus]

Trust me ... there is little to no respect for Carson Palmer in this city. The 'number 7' followers still hold that Benji is every bit the QB that Palmer is ... if not more. I am yet to find a Urine fan that thinks Palmer is a better QB than Benji. And the same holds true for the media types as well. You want a heated discussion locally, just suggest that Palmer is a better QB than Roethlisberger. Too funny. The Urine goggles are as big as they have ever been. Heck, you will even find those around here that think Benji is as good or better than Bradshaw. Cracks me up some of the stuff I hear come out of people's mouths sometimes.

[BengalszoneBilly]

The Urine goggles are as big as they have ever been.

Not to mention how they make you fit in at the "Blue Oyster Bar!"

[duus]

The Urine goggles are as big as they have ever been.

Not to mention how they make you fit in at the "Blue Oyster Bar!"

Ah, gotta love it. The official Urine Goggles. Get 'em while you can!

[ShulaSteakhouse]

The Urine goggles are as big as they have ever been.

Not to mention how they make you fit in at the "Blue Oyster Bar!"

I bet that was a regular hang out for Kordell back in the day, from the looks of that picture.

[BengalszoneBilly]

I bet that was a regular hang out for Kordell back in the day, from the looks of that picture.

Hmmm. A closer examination of film images suggests you may be right Shula:

[duus]

I bet that was a regular hang out for Kordell back in the day, from the looks of that picture.

Hmmm. A closer examination of film images suggests you may be right Shula:

And isn't that the great Benji #7 standing there with his arms crossed?

[jjakq27]

The Urine goggles are as big as they have ever been.

Not to mention how they make you fit in at the "Blue Oyster Bar!"

I bet that was a regular hang out for Kordell back in the day, from the looks of that picture.

Wasn't Kordell in the Village People?

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Trust me ... there is little to no respect for Carson Palmer in this city. The 'number 7' followers still hold that Benji is every bit the QB that Palmer is ... if not more. I am yet to find a Urine fan that thinks Palmer is a better QB than Benji. And the same holds true for the media types as well. You want a heated discussion locally, just suggest that Palmer is a better QB than Roethlisberger. Too funny. The Urine goggles are as big as they have ever been. Heck, you will even find those around here that think Benji is as good or better than Bradshaw. Cracks me up some of the stuff I hear come out of people's mouths sometimes.

Take solace in this: this year they're supposedly handing him the keys to the car, right? No more of this 15 passes a game, only throwing on 2nd and short when the safeties are practically playing LB, with only 2 reads at receiver. I could find you 200 semi-pro QBs who could look like Hall of Famers under those circumstances.

Allegedly, they're going to let him fire away this year. Come on with those 4-wide sets, guys. Let him make his own reads and call his own audibles (Roethlisberger can read???). Doesn't look like he'll have quite the running game he's used to, and his line might be a little weaker.

So I say bring it. He looked like crap last year when Bettis retired. I expect him to look worse this year when he's expected to be a 'real' QB.

[CarsonCity]

Take solace in this: this year they're supposedly handing him the keys to the car, right? No more of this 15 passes a game, only throwing on 2nd and short when the safeties are practically playing LB, with only 2 reads at receiver. I could find you 200 semi-pro QBs who could look like Hall of Famers under those circumstances.

Allegedly, they're going to let him fire away this year. Come on with those 4-wide sets, guys. Let him make his own reads and call his own audibles (Roethlisberger can read???). Doesn't look like he'll have quite the running game he's used to, and his line might be a little weaker.

So I say bring it. He looked like crap last year when Bettis retired. I expect him to look worse this year when he's expected to be a 'real' QB.

Didn't they say they were going to do this last year too? How many picks did Big Jen throw?