Johnathan Joseph News

A crowd of about 200 on Select-a-Seat Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium watched the Bengals' last practice before training camp and were treated to a few long balls from quarterback Carson Palmer.

We've hit that period in the offseason where it gets really, really calm before all of the arguments and news that comes with training camp really takes off.

If the Bengals picked rookies of the year in the spring, the Defensive Rookie of the Year would be third-round pick Michael Johnson , the Georgia Tech pass rusher who has sent the coaches back to the blackboard and turned the heads of the quarterbacks.

With training camps starting next month and only two first-round picks under contract, it's time to start thinking about guys who might hold out.

The Cincinnati Bengals' offensive players, especially wide receiver Chad Ochocinco and quarterback Carson Palmer, made it a point Thursday to signal that the team is going to turn it around this season.

For a team that went 4-11-1 last season, the Bengals had all the cameras of a playoff team when they opened their minicamp Thursday morning across the street from Paul Brown Stadium.

"He hasn't been the rookie that jumps off side or holds, or gets beat," said quarterback Carson Palmer this week of his right tackle after the final voluntary session.

Nearly two weeks ago, the Bengals invited Rod Hood for a visit which apparently included the other professional football team in Ohio.

News circulating around the NFL is that the Cincinnati Bengals have sign former Cowboys safety Roy Williams.

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For a unit that had its highest defensive ranking in seven years last season, the Bengals' defense is continuing to develop.

On February 18, PFT suggested that the Bengals should have franchised Cedric Benson.

Florida State defensive end Everette Brown. And in the second round, at No. 38 overall, the Cincinnati Bengals select California center Alex Mack.

A Cincinnati Bengal arrested earlier this week on drunken-driving charges was cooperative but unable to keep his balance, according to dashboard video.

People ask me all the time who the Cincinnati Bengals are going to draft. I tell 'em that the moves the team makes in the offseason will dictate their drafting strategy.

The Bengals added right tackle to their laundry list of needs after Stacy Andrews surprisingly defected to the Eagles in free agency.

In his latest ten-pack, Mike Florio ranks the top-ten biggest first-round busts in the last twenty years .

I'm going to be on vacation for the next two days so I won't be able to update the series until Sunday at the earliest.

The likelihood that the Bengals are lucky enough to pick offensive tackle Jason Smith with the sixth pick, to me, is very small.

Looks like Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is a pretty persuasive guy, after all.