05-19-2009, 03:05 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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FBF Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: New York
Posts: 9,304
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Palmer ready to hit field
Quote:
By Joe Reedy
After nearly five months of armchair quarterbacking and figuring out who fits where, and two months of offseason conditioning, the action shifts to the field Tuesday as the Bengals start Organized Team Activities.
The immediate question will be how Carson Palmer feels. The quarterback said last week his throwing elbow is 100 percent, and that he plans to throw 150 passes during the two-hour practices, which is consistent with past years.
Palmer, who missed 12 games last season with an elbow injury, said the offseason has been “pretty normal” as far as training and conditioning work.
“I’m very eager to get out there and participate,” Palmer said. “When you combine the fresh new guys with those trying to win jobs, there are a number of guys I’m excited about.
“You kind of get the sense that the moves we made hadn’t been done here in awhile. We had a good offseason and made great moves to help the teams in areas where we needed to be helped. There were some aggressive moves.”
On defense, it will be interesting to see where draft picks Rey Maualuga and Michael Johnson line up. Maualuga played mostly at strong-side linebacker during the rookie minicamp two weeks ago while Johnson alternated between the defensive line and linebacker. In the secondary, there will also be plenty of competition.
Roy Williams, who has been with the team for about two weeks, said he is pleased with his condition and excited about the OTAs. Safety Chris Crocker echoed that view.
“There’s always competition. It doesn’t matter who you bring in,” Crocker said. “You always have to play well because you’re always being evaluated. We’re definitely deeper.”
With four definite new starters on offense, and possibly six depending on what happens the next few months, OTAs give the new pieces a chance to gel, especially on the offensive line, where there will be three newcomers.
While as many as four players vie for the center spot, the bigger question will be where rookie Andre Smith lines up – right or left tackle?
Draft picks also get to meet and line up against most of the veterans for the first time.
Teams can conduct up to 14 of these on-field coaching sessions as part of their offseason programs. Clubs may also conduct one mandatory veteran minicamp.
The Bengals will conduct their OTAs Tuesday through Thursday for the next four weeks. The mandatory veteran minicamp is June 18-20.
“This is the first chance to get back on the field, to be together and work together,” offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth said. “It gives us a chance to learn and build.”
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http://news.cincinnati.com/article/2...y+to+hit+field
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Palmer ready to hit field
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