Dare we say it? The Bengals are back - Kickoff

Football Digest, July-August, 2003 by William Wagner

FOR THE PAST DOZEN YEARS OR so, marquee draft picks who went to the Cincinnati Bengals never were heard from again. David who? Ki-Jana who? Akili who?

But quarterback Carson Palmer, the No. 1 selection in this year's draft, just might break that chain of futility.

STEP NO. 1 Palmer is part of a massive rebuilding project on Cincinnati.

At the risk of going out on the mother of all limbs, it looks as if a new day is dawning in Cincinnati. It all started with the hiring this winter of Marvin Lewis as the head coach. Lewis, the subject of our "Interview" this issue [see page 16], has already accomplished the near-impossible: He has created an upbeat atmosphere on a team that has had a dark cloud hanging over its headquarters. This wouldn't have happened, however, if owner Mike Brown--the target of most of the blame for the Bengals' ineptitude--hadn't finally decided to recede into the background and give his head coach a free hand.

The results were immediately evident. In the past, most free agents steered clear of Cincinnati. Not anymore. Lewis' reputation as a coach who can bring out the best in his players attracted the likes of linebacker Kevin Hardy, defensive tackle John Thornton, cornerback Tory James, defensive lineman Carl Powell, and light end Reggie Kelly. All of those players should be key contributors, especially Hardy.

The Bengals then went out and had their best draft in years. In addition to Palmer, they picked up potentially solid starters in guard Eric Steinbach, wide receiver Kelley Washington, and defensive back Dennis Weathersby.

Still, as great as the Bengals have looked in the offseason, these are still the Bengals. Who knows what will happen when the games start? We're talking about a team, after all, that last had a winning season in 1990. Since then, plenty of players have come to Cincinnati amid high expectations only to sink to new lows.

The difference now, however, is that Cincinnati seems to have a plan. Lewis, who captured a Super Bowl title with the Baltimore Ravens in 2000 as their defensive coordinator, is known for his meticulous preparation and steady hand. And that's exactly the type of coaching someone like Palmer will need to make it in the NFL. Palmer, scouts say, has the physical ability to be a star, but he will need a few years to develop. Continuity will be the key.

That's something Akili Smith, the team's No. 1 pick in 1999, never had. While his skill level may have been overestimated by scouts, Smith never had a hope of succeeding under center with the Bengals. The team's game plan seemed to change from week to week, and within a couple of years, Smith's confidence and his career were shot.

Don't look for such a scenario to unfold with Palmer. Like the rest of the players on the Bengals, he'll be coached the right way. And maybe--just maybe--he'll be different from his predecessors and the highlight of his pro career won't be draft day.