By Charlie Wilmoth – Contributor The Bengals signed second-rounder Andy Dalton, who they hope could step in for Carson Palmer right away. Follow , and Like SBNation.com on Facebook. Jul 30, 2011 – The Cincinnati Bengals have signed second-round 2011 NFL Draft pick Andy Dalton to what appears to be a contract worth $5.2 million. That means he’s ready to go at the Bengals’ first practice on Saturday at 3:00 PM.  Second-round draft pick Dalton agreed to terms on what ESPN reports to be a four-year deal worth $5.2 million. Combined with the signings of offensive guard Clint Boling (fourth round) and running back Jay Finley (seventh round), that leaves linebacker Dontay Moch (third round) as the only unsigned draft pick. Dalton’s signing isn’t really a surprise, but the timing is good for all concerned, given that with Carson Palmer’s absence, Dalton is expected to compete to be the Bengals’ starting quarterback. Cincinnati offensive coordinator Jay Gruden has called Dalton “the most NFL-ready guy in this draft,” and it isn’t as if the Bengals have a wealth of great quarterback options.  The Bengals will spend training camp preparing Dalton, and if he looks like he’s ready, that’s probably who they’ll go with. If not, Jordan Palmer could win the job. For more on the Cincinnati Bengals, check out Cincy Jungle. Read More: Carson Palmer (QB – CIN), Jordan Palmer (QB – CIN), Andy Dalton (QB – CIN), Cincinnati Bengals

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GEORGETOWN, Ky. – The Bengals released defensive end Antwan Odom on Friday, parting with the often-injured lineman as they opened training camp. The 29-year-old lineman was the Bengals’ top defensive addition after the 2007 season, getting a US$29.5-million, five-year contract as a free agent from Tennessee. He hurt his foot during his first training camp practice, setting a trend. He went on to start only eight games for the Bengals in 2008. He started the first six games in 2009, then tore an Achilles’ tendon. Last season, he started only three games because of a wrist injury and a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances. The Bengals made an anticipated move on Friday, putting quarterback Carson Palmer on a reserve list for players who failed to report to camp. Palmer has four years left on his contract but has told the team he’ll retire rather than play another year in Cincinnati. Cincinnati signed two more draft choices — guard Clint Boling from Georgia (fourth round) and running back Jay Finley from Baylor (seventh round). That gives them six draft picks under contract, including first-round pick A.J. Green, who agreed to a four-year deal on Thursday. Quarterback Andy Dalton, taken in the second round, hadn’t yet reached an agreement Friday. The Bengals hold their first practice on Saturday afternoon. The Bengals also said that cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones and linebacker Keith Rivers aren’t able to fully practice because of injuries. Jones is coming off neck surgery, while Rivers had wrist surgery in the off-season. Also on Friday, Cincinnati waived offensive lineman Andrew Mitchell and signed college free agent Ryan McKnight, an offensive lineman from South Dakota State.

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GEORGETOWN, Ky. – The Bengals started a new era in their history on Friday, opening training camp without Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco for the first time in nine years. Not a good start. The Bengals went 4-12 last year, then had one of the worst offseasons in franchise history, which is say—ing a lot. Palmer decided he’d rather retire than play another day in Cincinnati, players got arrested and many fans wrote off the franchise as hopeless. The hits keep coming. The Bengals lost cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who signed with Houston as a free agent, on the eve of camp. The cornerback who was first in line to replace him — Adam “Pacman” Jones — can’t fully practice for a few weeks because he’s still recovering from neck surgery. Linebacker Keith Rivers also is sidelined following wrist surgery, leaving the defence with a lot of big holes. Coordinator Mike Zimmer was visibly glum as he wheeled his luggage up to his dorm room at Georgetown College, where the Bengals will have their first workout on Saturday. “I’ve been in the tank since 6 o’clock last night,” Zimmer said, referring to the time he heard Joseph was leaving. “But I’m going to get out of it quick.” Joseph teamed with Leon Hall to form one of the league’s steadiest cornerback tandems. The Bengals allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent, but seemed confident they would be able to keep him. Zimmer was told to expect him back when the NFL’s lockout ended. The Bengals even assigned him a dorm room for camp and put his name on the green front door. So much for that. “The contingency right now is to figure out who the next guy is, whether he’s here in training camp or he’s on the street somewhere or he’s on another team or he’s in Canada,” Zimmer said. “Who knows? We’ve got to find somebody who can play.” Losing Joseph was a huge setback. “Of course it’s a shock,” Jones said. “J-Jo’s been here for five years and he’s one of the best players on the team. When you hear it, it’s very shocking.” The Bengals didn’t assign a dorm room for Palmer — no shock there. Palmer stunned the organization by asking for a trade following a 4-12 season. He said he would rather retire than play another year for one of the NFL’s most forlorn franchises, with only two winning records in the last 20 years. Owner Mike Brown insisted this week that he wouldn’t trade Palmer, who was placed on a reserve list for players who didn’t report to camp on Friday. Palmer’s decision to stay away surprised his teammates initially, but they’ve come to accept it. “People just realized he was frustrated,” offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “But there’s a lot of teams around the league that have frustrating years, and it doesn’t mean you quit and walk away.” Although they say they won’t trade Palmer because it would amount to rewarding someone who wants out, they sent Ochocinco to New England for draft picks on Thursday night. The self-promoting receiver had tried to get traded three years ago, but the Bengals refused. “Chad was a great teammate and a lot of fun,” Whitworth said. “I enjoyed him every day. But he’s moved on, too. It’s definitely going to be different. Now it’s a chance for the younger guys on the team to step up and make this their football team and leave their legacy.” The Bengals added to their legacy of off-field problems this month, when Jones and free-agent running back Cedric Benson were arrested. Both could be disciplined by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Jones hurt his neck last season and needed surgery. He had another procedure over the summer to help it heal. Jones said on Friday that he probably won’t be allowed to participate in any drills that involve contact for two or three weeks. Jones knows that fans are expecting another dreary season in Cincinnati because of all the change. “All I’ve got to say is: There’s going to be bright days on the other end,” Jones said. “I promise you we won’t be 4-12 this year.”

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The Bengals went 4-12 last year, then had one of the worst offseasons in franchise history, which is saying a lot. Palmer decided he’d rather retire than play another day in Cincinnati, players got arrested and many fan wrote off the franchise as hopeless. The hits keep coming. The Bengals lost cornerback Johnathan Joseph, who signed with Houston as a free agent, on the eve of camp. The cornerback who was first in line to replace him — Adam “Pacman” Jones — can’t fully practice for a few weeks because he’s still recovering from neck surgery. Linebacker Keith Rivers also is sidelined following wrist surgery, leaving the defense with a lot of big holes. Coordinator Mike Zimmer was visibly glum as he wheeled his luggage up to his dorm room at Georgetown College, where the Bengals will have their first workout on Saturday. “I’ve been in the tank since 6 o’clock last night,” Zimmer said, referring to the time he heard Joseph was leaving. “But I’m going to get out of it quick.” Joseph teamed with Leon Hall to form one of the league’s steadiest cornerback tandems. The Bengals allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent, but seemed confident they would be able to keep him. Zimmer was told to expect him back when the NFL’s lockout ended. The Bengals even assigned him a dorm room for camp and put his name on the green front door. So much for that. “The contingency right now is to figure out who the next guy is, whether he’s here in training camp or he’s on the street somewhere or he’s on another team or he’s in Canada,” Zimmer said. “Who knows? We’ve got to find somebody who can play.” Losing Joseph was a huge setback. “Of course it’s a shock,” Jones said. “J-Jo’s been here for five years and he’s one of the best players on the team. When you hear it, it’s very shocking.” The Bengals didn’t assign a dorm room for Palmer — no shock there. Palmer stunned the organization by asking for a trade following a 4-12 season. He said he would rather retire than play another year for one of the NFL’s most forlorn franchises, with only two winning records in the last 20 years. Owner Mike Brown insisted this week that he wouldn’t trade Palmer, who was placed on a reserve list for players who didn’t report to camp on Friday. Palmer’s decision to stay away surprised his teammates initially, but they’ve come to accept it. “People just realized he was frustrated,” offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said. “But there’s a lot of teams around the league that have frustrating years, and it doesn’t mean you quit and walk away.” Although they say they won’t trade Palmer because it would amount to rewarding someone who wants out, they sent Ochocinco to New England for draft picks on Thursday night. The self-promoting receiver had tried to get traded three years ago, but the Bengals refused. “Chad was a great teammate and a lot of fun,” Whitworth said. “I enjoyed him every day. But he’s moved on, too. It’s definitely going to be different. Now it’s a chance for the younger guys on the team to step up and make this their football team and leave their legacy.” The Bengals added to their legacy of off-field problems this month, when Jones and free-agent running back Cedric Benson were arrested. Both could be disciplined by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Jones hurt his neck last season and needed surgery. He had another procedure over the summer to help it heal. Jones said on Friday that he probably won’t be allowed to participate in any drills that involve contact for two or three weeks. Jones knows that fans are expecting another dreary season in Cincinnati because of all the change. “All I’ve got to say is: There’s going to be bright days on the other end,” Jones said. “I promise you we won’t be 4-12 this year.” Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP)—The Bengals started a new era in their history on Friday, opening training camp without Carson Palmer(notes) and Chad Ochocinco(notes) for the first time in nine years. Not a good start. The Bengals went 4-12 last year, then had one of the worst offseasons in franchise history, which is saying a lot. Palmer decided he’d rather retire than play another day in Cincinnati, players got arrested and many fan wrote off the franchise as hopeless. The hits keep coming. The Bengals lost cornerback Johnathan Joseph(notes), who signed with Houston as a free agent, on the eve of camp. The cornerback who was first in line to replace him—Adam “Pacman” Jones—can’t fully practice for a few weeks because he’s still recovering from neck surgery. Linebacker Keith Rivers(notes) also is sidelined following wrist surgery, leaving the defense with a lot of big holes. Coordinator Mike Zimmer was visibly glum as he wheeled his luggage up to his dorm room at Georgetown College, where the Bengals will have their first workout on Saturday. “I’ve been in the tank since 6 o’clock last night,” Zimmer said, referring to the time he heard Joseph was leaving. “But I’m going to get out of it quick.” Joseph teamed with Leon Hall(notes) to form one of the league’s steadiest cornerback tandems. The Bengals allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent, but seemed confident they would be able to keep him. Zimmer was told to expect him back when the NFL’s lockout ended. The Bengals even assigned him a dorm room for camp and put his name on the green front door. So much for that. “The contingency right now is to figure out who the next guy is, whether he’s here in training camp or he’s on the street somewhere or he’s on another team or he’s in Canada,” Zimmer said. “Who knows? We’ve got to find somebody who can play.” Losing Joseph was a huge setback. “Of course it’s a shock,” Jones said. “J-Jo’s been here for five years and he’s one of the best players on the team. When you hear it, it’s very shocking.” The Bengals didn’t assign a dorm room for Palmer—no shock there. Palmer stunned the organization by asking for a trade following a 4-12 season. He said he would rather retire than play another year for one of the NFL’s most forlorn franchises, with only two winning records in the last 20 years. Owner Mike Brown(notes) insisted this week that he wouldn’t trade Palmer, who was placed on a reserve list for players who didn’t report to camp on Friday. Palmer’s decision to stay away surprised his teammates initially, but they’ve come to accept it. “People just realized he was frustrated,” offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth(notes) said. “But there’s a lot of teams around the league that have frustrating years, and it doesn’t mean you quit and walk away.” Although they say they won’t trade Palmer because it would amount to rewarding someone who wants out, they sent Ochocinco to New England for draft picks on Thursday night. The self-promoting receiver had tried to get traded three years ago, but the Bengals refused. “Chad was a great teammate and a lot of fun,” Whitworth said. “I enjoyed him every day. But he’s moved on, too. It’s definitely going to be different. Now it’s a chance for the younger guys on the team to step up and make this their football team and leave their legacy.” The Bengals added to their legacy of off-field problems this month, when Jones and free-agent running back Cedric Benson(notes) were arrested. Both could be disciplined by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Jones hurt his neck last season and needed surgery. He had another procedure over the summer to help it heal. Jones said on Friday that he probably won’t be allowed to participate in any drills that involve contact for two or three weeks. Jones knows that fans are expecting another dreary season in Cincinnati because of all the change. “All I’ve got to say is: There’s going to be bright days on the other end,” Jones said. “I promise you we won’t be 4-12 this year.”

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