The Bengals are preparing for life without Carson Palmer, regardless of whether he spends another season on the team.
In Bengals owner/president Mike Brown’s perfect world, they might draft a replacement for Palmer this year, let the rookie develop one year, and then grant Palmer his wish by letting him go in 2012.
Brown followed the exact same model after Boomer Esiason’s trade request in 1991. The Bengals just hope they pick a better rookie prospect than David Klingler this time around.
Geoff Hobson ofBengals.com writes that the Bengals are “clearly shopping in the quarterback” aisle at the Combine. Coach Marvin Lewis is operating as if Palmer is already gone. It’s believed that Brown is sitting in on some of the 15-minute interviews with quarterback prospects.
Brown’s presence says a lot. It says that we shouldn’t be surprised if the Bengals wind up taking Cam Newton or Blaine Gabbert with the No. 4 overall pick.