Can Carson Palmer make the Bengals a winner?

Let's see, he hasn't taken a regular-season snap, and history says the game is unkind to first-time starting quarterbacks. Troy Aikman was 0-11 in his rookie season. John Elway threw twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. Peyton Manning was 3-13. Only there's a difference here: This isn't Palmer's first season. It's his second, and that might be a blessing.
"Now, he's not feeling like a rookie who's here for the first time, where everything is new," said quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese. "All those things that are anxiety builders for a guy are not there. So there's a confidence. Plus, he's seen how the game works and how we might change things during a game. And he's built relationships with his teammates. He just wants to be seen as one of the guys, who isn't treated any differently than anyone."
Good luck. Because of his position and because he's a No. 1 pick he must be treated differently than everyone. But he's in a better spot than, say, Manning was in his first tour of duty. The Bengals have a solid offensive line. Running back Rudi Johnson looks legit. And the defense should improve from its 28th-place finish of a year ago. All of that will help with Palmer's learning curve. Then there's his natural ability. Zampese compares Palmer's arm to that of a young Jim Everett, and that's not bad. But the arm is not the issue; experience is. Look for Palmer to gain plenty of exposure in preseason games.

posted by Anonymous @ 12:39 PM

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