CINCINNATI - OCTOBER 25: Carson Palmer #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after thowing a touchdown pass during the NFL game against the Chicago Bears at Paul Brown Stadium on October 25, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals won 45-10. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carson Palmer
Andy Lyons
By the end of last season, the Bengals passing attack was almost unrecognizable.
It was dinks, dunks, and Chad Ochocinco. When Darrelle Revis arrived to take away 85, there was almost nothing left.
The Bengals have made noise this offseason for their reclamation projects, but Paul Daughtery of the Cincinnati Enquirer points out in a great piece on Tuesday that Carson Palmer’s arm is the real Bengals story to follow in 2010.
Something didn’t seem right with Palmer’s wing by the end of 2009. The admitted member of PFT Planet insists his arm is “stronger than ever’’ after exercises for his troublesome elbow. It looked otherwise late last year.
Palmer was a player five years ago that looked just a notch below Manning and Brady. Now, no one seems totally confident where the rest of Palmer’s career will go.
He wasn’t playing with a full deck last year, but the additions of Antonio Bryant, Jordan Shipley, Matt Jones, and Jermaine Gresham at tight end should help.
If the Bengals can improve their below average passing game from a year ago, they have a chance to surprise people. Again.