Kitna article

[The Brew Man]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writ...itna/index.html

If there's one subject that can be awkward to deal with in my business, it's religion. I've heard athletes praise God for every great deed they've accomplished and I've often left those interviews feeling a tad cynical. Not that I have anything against their particular beliefs; it's just that sometimes I question their sincerity.

One person I've never felt that way about, however, is Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna. He truly believes God is guiding his life and that it's best to enjoy the ride, no matter where it leads. Consider his plight: At 31 years old, he's coming off a career year -- and yet, when the Bengals open their season against the New York Jets this Sunday, he'll be holding a clipboard on the sidelines.

The Carson Palmer era has begun in Cincinnati and Kitna thus far is the only victim. A sad fate? Yes, but also one that Kitna accepts. He doesn't have Palmer's talent, contract or future. He knew the situation. He was going to be a backup, whether it meant losing his job during the season or having it taken away from him, as was the case in March.

While working on a recent story about Palmer, I couldn't help but be impressed by Kitna's faith in the face of such disappointment. He could've pulled out the Corey Dillon handbook on how to be a pain in the behind, but Kitna opted not to complain publicly. Sure, he wanted a chance to compete for the job in training camp, but he didn't lobby for that. He easily could've pushed for the Bengals to shop him around; instead, he signed a one-year contract extension.

"This situation is easier for me because I know God is in control and this is what he wants," Kitna said earlier this summer. "Whether I'm the first, second or third quarterback, I have to do the best I can with that role. I have to roll with it because I've spent nine years in a league I was told I couldn't make it in. I won't allow people to see this as disappointing now."

Kitna believes his faith has helped him get this far, so there's no reason for him to start questioning it now. I like that. I also think it's a trait that's easy to miss in athletes, especially when they aren't on the field. Kurt Warner revealed a similar attitude as his career deteriorated in St. Louis, but Kitna's situation is different.

Unlike Warner, Kitna's game is beginning to take off. Last season, he nearly led Cincinnati to the playoffs for the first time since 1990. His 26 touchdown passes tied for third-best in the league, behind only Peyton Manning and Brett Favre. He posted a higher passer rating than Tom Brady. It was a year when he stopped reminding people of his humble beginnings -- he started his career as an undrafted rookie free agent who earned a job in Seattle because of his play in the World League -- and started to show more maturity. Scouts noted that he had stopped trying to carry the Bengals offense and had learned to play within himself. In other words, the man had come into his own.

Now? He sits. His career is on hold. His future, the one that had finally become bright, suddenly is uncertain.

A tough pill to swallow -- but when you approach religion the way Kitna does, the ego learns to take a back seat. Kitna understood this before the 2002 season when he offered to be the team's backup even though he was competing for the starting job with Gus Frerotte and Akili Smith (Kitna's attitude was that the Bengals needed a definitive starter in place before training camp ended).

Kitna realized the same thing last season when he watched Palmer in practice. Palmer threw passes with more velocity and ease than Kitna could ever muster in his best moments. Kitna understood he couldn't compete with that. His game is smarts, guile and preparation. No matter how admirable those qualities are, they just don't tantalize coaches and executives in the same way.

Palmer often witnessed Kitna's work ethic first-hand when they roomed together on road trips. Kitna's Sunday morning routine involved waking up at 6 a.m. to pray and study his game plan. My read on the laid-back Palmer, who is equally religious, is that his bed would have to be in flames for him to get up that early. But there will come a day when he'll likely relate to Kitna's approach.

Athletes such as Kitna understand very early how fortunate they are to be playing professional football. They accept that there will come a day when they must move on and they expect their faith to make that transition much smoother. Kitna is lucky to have that perspective and I suspect he lives every day believing that this disappointment will lead him to better things. For that, the Bengals should be grateful he's on their roster. If they actually do make the playoffs, their most impressive player may not be a starter, but the guy standing on the sidelines, gazing to the heavens and not griping about his recent misfortune.

[BengalszoneBilly]

Palmer!?! Equally religious as Kitna? Uh...right. I doubt the Dali Lama is as religious as Jon-boy!

[The Brew Man]

Palmer!?! Equally religious as Kitna? Uh...right. I doubt the Dali Lama is as religious as Jon-boy!

Actually its true, dont expect cross hats anytime soon though......