the huddle

[kayaker0678]

INSIDE SLANT

Quarterback Carson Palmer could be ready for the start of next season even though the doctor who performed surgery on his knee called the damage "devastating and potentially career-ending." Palmer's surgery was Tuesday after suffering the injury in Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh.

"It's not just like it was a torn ACL," Dr. Lonnie Paulos told the Associated Press on Thursday, in a phone interview from Houston. "It's a magnitude more difficult to recover from and repair. It can and has ended careers, without a doubt.

"However, I feel very comfortable with Carson as an athlete and the heart that he's got. In the end, that's the bottom line. I can see the look in his eye already. He's ready to get going."

--The Bengals are not satisfied with the franchise's first playoff appearance since the 1990 season, and the quick exit after a wild card-round loss to the Steelers, coach Marvin Lewis said, makes his team hungrier for another, deeper taste next year.

Thing is, the team won't be the same. It never is.

"We have enough players in place that know that they want to go beyond that," Lewis said of the first-round loss. "Guys that aren't sure won't be here. That we can count on. The thing at the end of any football season is you look around the room and you know we're not going to get put together the same way."

Lewis was short on specifics during his season-ending news conference.

His third Bengals team improved to 11-5 and put the franchise in the playoffs for the first time since 1990. The Bengals lost 31-17 in a wildcard playoff game Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.

Still, after a pair of 8-8 finishes in his first two seasons as Bengals coach, his 2005 team had a place in Lewis' heart.

"That's our football team, a team that I'm very proud of and love dearly," Lewis said. "But next year's a new year and we're going to go forward that way."

The complexion of the off-season changed dramatically Sunday when franchise quarterback Carson Palmer suffered a pair of ligament injuries in his left knee. The Bengals and Palmer are optimistic he'll be back for the start of training camp. Palmer underwent what the team called successful surgery to repair two clean ligament tears (ACL and MCL) on Tuesday in Houston.

Backup quarterback Jon Kitna, who played almost the whole game Sunday, is the most notable of the Bengals' unrestricted free agents. Word out of Baltimore is the Ravens are interested.

Asked if Kitna becomes a great priority with Palmer injured, Lewis said, "No. I don't think the situation's going to change regarding Jon."

Lewis had said toward the end of the season that the team would like to bring Kitna back.

Kitna, who has played behind Palmer the past two seasons, said the team approached him 6-8 week ago about a new contract.

"I don't think it was a top priority for them," Kitna said. "Eight weeks ago, it would have been a lot easier to re-sign here. I feel like God is leading me in this direction."

Kitna is not automatically headed to the open market, though.

"It would be hard to pass up a great deal from the Bengals," he said. "I like working with Carson and the staff. But it would have to be a really good deal to give up free agency. I have to believe I am in the top 32 quarterbacks in this league."

Lewis, typically, declined to talk about which positions need upgrading: "Defense, offense, special teams," he said.

The team could be looking at a new set of tight ends. Matt Schobel and Tony Stewart are free agents, as well. Starter Reggie Kelly is entering the final season of his four-year contract and is due to make $1.25 million with a $200,000 reporting bonus. Kelly is a strong blocker and played well as the H-back in the no-huddle offense, but he is not a receiving threat.

Cornerback Tory James also is entering the last season of a four-year deal and is owed a $2.875 million base salary with a $500,000 roster bonus. Defensive end Duane Clemons is entering the final year of his contract and is owed a $1.35 million base. Don't look for free agent strong safety Ifeanyi Ohalete to return, either.

The season-ending shoulder injury to free safety Madieu Williams robbed the Bengals of their top defensive player. Converted cornerback Kevin Kaesviharn replaced Williams in the lineup and was physically overmatched at times.

The club is likely to offer a tender to restricted free agent Kelley Washington, which could win them draft pick compensation if he signs with another team and the Bengals chose not to match.

The Bengals will be somewhat active in free agency and are likely to be working on trying to extend the contracts of their offensive line starters - whose contracts will expire after the 2006 season. Four- and three-year veteran linemen Levi Jones and Eric Steinbach, as well as ageless All Pro right tackle Willie Anderson, figure to get top dollar.

"But free agency's not going to fix our football team," Lewis said. "Tell me what team in the NFL has gotten fixed by free agency? That's kind of like going to the false window. Be careful of what you buy. Our team is going to grow by continuing to grow the players we have."

Cornerback Keiwan Ratliff and defensive linemen Matthias Askew and Jonathan Fanene could see their roles expand in 2006.

NOTES, QUOTES

--Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson held a press conference Tuesday night, Jan. 10, to deny an Internet story that claimed he was involved in an altercation with Bengals coaches on Sunday.

Calling the story "ridiculous," Johnson said he had nothing but respect for the fans, the media, and especially his coaches.

"There's never been a confrontation, ever, and especially with a coach," Johnson said.

Referring to injured Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, who underwent surgery Tuesday afternoon, Johnson said: "Carson's out. Now somebody's trying to put Chad out. It's not fair."

The press conference was the result of a story that was posted on the Web site profootballtalk.com. The story claimed Johnson was involved in an altercation with receivers coach Hue Jackson and head coach Marvin Lewis Sunday during halftime of the Bengals-Steelers playoff game.

--The flurry of post-season honors for Bengals players was capped Monday when Chad Johnson and Willie Anderson were announced as members of the 2005 Associated Press All Pro team. The All-Pro team is different than the Pro Bowl teams, which are AFC and NFC all-star teams. The All-Pro team is voted by a 50-member nationwide media panel.

Anderson, the 10-year veteran right tackle, made his second consecutive All-Pro team. The other tackle is Seattle's Walter Jones.

"It means I'm surrounded by a good group of guys that allows me to play at a high level and get showcased and get wins," Anderson said. "Any time you get an individual honor, to me, it always comes back to the guys around you. The guys I'm playing with on the offensive line - Bobbie Williams, Richie Braham, Levi (Jones) and (Eric) Steinbach - those guys allow me to go out and get my talent showcased because they're playing so well as a unit."

Anderson and Johnson are three-time Pro Bowl players. They are starting for the AFC, along with cornerback Deltha O'Neal. Carson Palmer was a member of the Pro Bowl team until his knee ligament injuries suffered Sunday against the Steelers in the wildcard game. Shayne Graham is the AFC kicker.

Johnson is making his first appearance on the All Pro team. He had 97 receptions for 1,432 yards and nine touchdowns. The other All Pro wide receiver is Carolina's Steve Smith, a former Johnson teammate at Santa Monica Junior College.

"It's an honor. It's good, but I don't have any joy of anything right now," Johnson said Monday when cleaning out his Paul Brown Stadium locker. "I don't even feel like going to Hawaii (Pro Bowl). This sucks, man."

--Prior to Anderson's All-Pro selection for the 2004 season, the last Bengals player to make All-Pro was cornerback Ashley Ambrose in 1996.

--The Bengals dropped to 5-8 as a franchise in postseason play with the 31-17 wildcard loss to Pittsburgh. They dropped to 5-2 at home in the postseason and are winless away from Cincinnati. They are 0-4 in true road games and 0-2 in neutral site Super Bowls.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think there's enough fuel in the rivalry." - Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, when asked if the hit to Carson Palmer's knee by Pittsburgh defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen will make the rivalry with the Steelers even more intense.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

The Bengals added another player to their off-season roster Tuesday.

The club signed safety Tony Bua to the off-season roster. Bua, a second-year NFL player from Arkansas, was on the Bengals practice squad for the last 10 games of the 2005 season.

On Monday, the Bengals signed several players to their off-season roster, including guard Kyle Takavitz, who played at the University of Cincinnati and finished the season on the Bengals' practice squad; and former Ohio State tight end Darnell Sanders. Sanders signed a two-year contract.

Takavitz and the other seven players signed one-year deals: wide receiver Jamall Broussard, tight end Ronnie Ghent, safety Herana-Daze Jones, Lougheed, guard Steven Vieira, tailback Quincy Wilson and wide receiver Mike Warfield. Warfield, a rookie from Duquesne, and Sanders were not on the Bengals practice squad.

Sanders was a fourth-year NFL player in 2006 and was with Chicago in the 2005 preseason before being waived on Sept. 2. He was with Cleveland in 2002 and 2003 and with Atlanta in 2004. His NFL totals from the Browns and Falcons are 30 games played (13 starts), with 18 receptions for 218 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Also on Tuesday, the Bengals designated four players for allocation to the NFL Europe League for the spring 2006 season.

The four are Broussard, Takavitz, Vieira and Warfield. Specific team assignments for the players will be announced at a later date.

COACHING CAROUSEL: The only possible departure from the staff could be offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski, who has been rumored as a candidate for the New Orleans head coaching position. If Bratkowski were to go - he hired agent Eric Metz - the Bengals would likely promote quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese to coordinator.

Coach Marvin Lewis convinced the organization to give his entire staff multi-year deals, so the assistants are stable. Lewis remains signed through 2008, and he said he had not received an extension at season's end. He received one-year extensions after each of his first two seasons, plus a raise.

FREE AGENT UPDATE

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--CB Rashad Bauman (Special teams contributor, solid open-field tackler on defense, is expendable).

--QB Jon Kitna (Bengals must decide if Craig Krenzel or another quarterback is ready to be backup, though Kitna's value to Bengals increased with uncertainty surrounding Carson Palmer's health status).

--SS Anthony Mitchell (Smart veteran good in kick coverage, but he wasn't good enough to play in front of starter Ifeanyi Ohalete).

--SS Ifeanyi Ohalete (Started well enough as preseason pickup, but displayed poor tackling ability against run, won't be asked back).

--LB Hannibal Navies (First-year Bengals played well on special teams but saw limited action on defense, will be offered deal if price is right).

--DL Carl Powell (Development of younger players will determine whether he's asked back).

--TE Matt Schobel (Will attract interest from teams that like to throw more to tight ends, unlikely to return).

--TE Tony Stewart (Ultra-professional work ethic, good on special teams).

--LB Nate Webster (Serious knee injury in 2004 might have ended career, but he returned to play in one game, unlikely to come back).

--LB Marcus Wilkins (Too good on special teams to let get away).

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

--FB Jeremi Johnson (Fills role as blocker, occasional receiver perfectly in offense).

--OL Scott Kooistra (Grooming for larger role, can play guard and tackle).

--WR Kevin Walter (Excellent on special teams lead, makes most of chances in offense, will be back).

--WR Kelley Washington (Bengals likely to tender him in hopes of getting draft-pick compensation).

FEELING A DRAFT: The Bengals are tentatively scheduled to draft No. 24 overall, though their final position will be determined by playoff results of teams around them. The Bengals need to bolster their defense with another solid draft, especially at safety and on the line. They need a big, strong defensive tackle who can't be easily moved and can occupy two blockers at the point of attack.

MEDICAL WATCH: Beside the knee ligament injury suffered by quarterback Carson Palmer, the Bengals have other players looking at postseason surgery: fullback Nick Luchey (knee), tight end Tony Stewart (ankle), center Rich Braham (elbows) and offensive lineman Pete Lougheed (shoulder).

Lewis said tailback Rudi Johnson (knee) and CB Deltha O'Neal (knee) will have "minor cleanups" after the Pro Bowl. Johnson is a first alternate and could make the team if any of the three running backs on the AFC team withdraw.

From The huddle

[LB51]

Wow! Not gonna find too many people to read all of this. There is a very short attention span around here. I made it all the way to the word slant!

[kayaker0678]

sweet

all you need to know is it isnt the end of the world

[turnip]

This held my attention, good read!

[NJ29]

A few things that I disagree with, but overall, good stuff.

[kayaker0678]

what did you disagree about

[NJ29]

Well, he doesn't really play that big of a role, but I wouldn't call Rashad Bauman expendable. Just little stuff like that. I'm picky.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

INSIDE SLANT

"It would be hard to pass up a great deal from the Bengals," he said. "I like working with Carson and the staff. But it would have to be a really good deal to give up free agency. I have to believe I am in the top 32 quarterbacks in this league."

Keep dreaming, Kitna. The only question is will a GM be dumb enough to agree with you?

[walzav29]

What RU kidding? Who wouldn't want a 34 year old QB with a career rating of 75.3 with baby hands to build a team around. Poor guy. He should realize how lucky he is that 9 guys on a team even like him.

[Stripes]

I agree with Jon. I'd say he is very close to the bottom of that category, but he makes the list nonetheless. His career rating isn't all that bad. Out of the current starters in the NFL, I'd rank him higher than Alex Smith, Kyle Boller, Rex Grossman (maybe), Todd Bauman (if he is still above Brooks on the depth chart), Gus Frerotte, J.P. Losman, and maybe some others I am forgetting. While those players are bound to improve, Kitna is better as of now in my opinion. Still, I doubt any teams will be chomping at the bit to pick him up.