Brown said the club will move on without its franchise quarterback. The Bengals plan to hold their first training camp workout Saturday in Georgetown, Ky.

“I honestly like Carson Palmer,” Brown said. “He was a splendid player for us. He’s a good person. I wish him well. And he is retired. That is his choice. … I’m not expecting him to be back.”

Asked why he wouldn’t trade Palmer and get some draft picks in return, Brown said it was a matter of principle.

“Carson signed a contract. He made a commitment. He gave his word,” Brown said. “We relied on his word. We relied on his commitment. We expected him to perform here. He’s going to walk away from his commitment. We aren’t going to reward him for doing it.”

Brown has traditionally taken a hard line on players trying to leave. Receiver Chad Ochocinco unsuccessfully lobbied for a trade three years ago, but Brown refused. Ochocinco has one year left on his deal, but is hoping to be released in the next few weeks.

Brown and coach Marvin Lewis declined to say anything about Ochocinco on Tuesday other than that he’s under contract. The Bengals picked receiver A.J. Green in the first round of the draft, giving themselves his eventual replacement.

The Bengals drafted Andy Dalton in the second round last April. Brown indicated on Tuesday that he’ll be the starter heading into camp, even though he hasn’t been able to work with coaches because of the NFL’s lockout. Jordan Palmer — Carson’s younger brother — is the only experienced quarterback on the roster.

Brown said the team will look for another veteran, but will give Dalton a chance to win the job.

“We think he is promising for our future,” Brown said. “Yes, he’ll have teething problems. It won’t be altogether easy for him all the time. But we’re going to put him in there. If he can do it, we’re going to go with him. And I hope he can manage it.”

Dalton arrived at Paul Brown Stadium in the afternoon, accompanied by an assistant coach, and went inside for meetings.

The Bengals are coming off a 4-12 season that included 10 straight losses. Carson Palmer told the team he wouldn’t be back after Lewis decided to return even though Brown promised no significant changes in how the organization is run.

The Bengals originally planned to have players report at Georgetown College — a 90-mile drive south of Cincinnati — on Wednesday and have their first practice a day later. They pushed the schedule back by two days.

Players will have physicals at the stadium on Thursday and Friday morning, then report to Georgetown on Friday afternoon.

Players visited the stadium throughout the day, getting playbooks and meeting briefly with coaches who were busy trying to contact college free agents. Cincinnati has one of the NFL’s smallest front offices, making a hectic time even more challenging.

“It’s been a crazy day,” offensive line coach Paul Alexander said. “In fact, all the linemen came through and I was able to spend about one minute with each guy and then, ‘Get out of here, I’ve got to go try to sign some college free agents.’”

Brown, who functions as the team’s de facto general manager, was pleased to have everything up and running again.

“We’re like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves — ‘Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho!’ — with the spirit over there today,” Brown said.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

CINCINNATI — Bengals owner Mike Brown insisted on Tuesday that he won’t trade quarterback Carson Palmer, who wants to leave one of the NFL’s least-successful franchises.

Palmer, who has four years left on his contract, told the team in January that he would retire if he’s not traded. The Bengals have only two winning seasons in the last 20 years, one of the worst stretches of futility in league history.

Brown said the club will move on without its franchise quarterback. The Bengals plan to hold their first training camp workout Saturday in Georgetown, Ky.

“I honestly like Carson Palmer,” Brown said. “He was a splendid player for us. He’s a good person. I wish him well. And he is retired. That is his choice. … I’m not expecting him to be back.”

Asked why he wouldn’t trade Palmer and get some draft picks in return, Brown said it was a matter of principle.

“Carson signed a contract. He made a commitment. He gave his word,” Brown said. “We relied on his word. We relied on his commitment. We expected him to perform here. He’s going to walk away from his commitment. We aren’t going to reward him for doing it.”

Brown has traditionally taken a hard line on players trying to leave. Receiver Chad Ochocinco unsuccessfully lobbied for a trade three years ago, but Brown refused. Ochocinco has one year left on his deal, but is hoping to be released in the next few weeks.

Brown and coach Marvin Lewis declined to say anything about Ochocinco on Tuesday other than that he’s under contract. The Bengals picked receiver A.J. Green in the first round of the draft, giving themselves his eventual replacement.

The Bengals drafted Andy Dalton in the second round last April. Brown indicated on Tuesday that he’ll be the starter heading into camp, even though he hasn’t been able to work with coaches because of the NFL’s lockout. Jordan Palmer — Carson’s younger brother — is the only experienced quarterback on the roster.

Brown said the team will look for another veteran, but will give Dalton a chance to win the job.

“We think he is promising for our future,” Brown said. “Yes, he’ll have teething problems. It won’t be altogether easy for him all the time. But we’re going to put him in there. If he can do it, we’re going to go with him. And I hope he can manage it.”

Dalton arrived at Paul Brown Stadium in the afternoon, accompanied by an assistant coach, and went inside for meetings.

The Bengals are coming off a 4-12 season that included 10 straight losses. Carson Palmer told the team he wouldn’t be back after Lewis decided to return even though Brown promised no significant changes in how the organization is run.

The Bengals originally planned to have players report at Georgetown College — a 90-mile drive south of Cincinnati — on Wednesday and have their first practice a day later. They pushed the schedule back by two days.

Players will have physicals at the stadium on Thursday and Friday morning, then report to Georgetown on Friday afternoon.

Players visited the stadium throughout the day, getting playbooks and meeting briefly with coaches who were busy trying to contact college free agents. Cincinnati has one of the NFL’s smallest front offices, making a hectic time even more challenging.

“It’s been a crazy day,” offensive line coach Paul Alexander said. “In fact, all the linemen came through and I was able to spend about one minute with each guy and then, Get out of here, I’ve got to go try to sign some college free agents.’”

Brown, who functions as the team’s de facto general manager, was pleased to have everything up and running again.

“We’re like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves — Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho!’ — with the spirit over there today,” Brown said.

Chad Ochocinco(notes), or Senor Esteban Ochicinco when he’s in a “black Mexican” mood, is at it again. After trying pro soccer and bullriding as distractions during the lockout, Ocho heard it from Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown(notes), who recently said of his primary receiver that “maybe he’ll be a snake wrangler and we’ll watch to see if he gets bit … let’s face it, we want a football player. We aren’t hiring a bull rider, a dancer, a soccer player. We want a football player. It’s simple. And that should be the focus, not on other things.”

Of course, based on most of his drafts through the last 20 years, it could be argued that Mike Brown wouldn’t know a football player if one bit him on the tuckus. That’s another matter, though. The point here is that Ocho did not take kindly to Brown’s take on things, especially given the fact that in a lockout, Brown has no business whatsoever telling his players what to do unless they’re breaking the law (and again, given Brown’s personnel history, that’s always a fair bet).

On his Twitter account yesterday, Ocho announced that he would be very interested in snake-wrangling.

“Thanks to my owner Mike Brown for the great idea,” Ochocinco wrote. “I’m going to be a #SnakeWrangler,I got the awesome idea from my owner. … Does anyone know these snakes I’m gonna catch,Taipan, Blue Krait, Eastern Brown Snake, Rattle Snake and the Death Adder.”

Interesting enough, but we think that Ocho is far too entertaining to risk life and limb wrangling a group of potentially poisonous snakes. So, as a public service, we’d like to present Senor Ochocinco with seven different alternatives — weird sports that would fly quite a distance over Mike Brown’s head:

Wife-Carrying — Looks like it sounds. It’s a race in which men haul their betrothed over their shoulders and tackle a 250-meter path set up with hurdles and a pool. The swag for the winners is pretty impressive — when Madis Uusorg of Estonia won the 2007 Wife-Carrying Championships in Finland, he took home a plasma TV and his wife’s weight in beer. Small problem that Ocho isn’t actually married, but since he and Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis squabble like an old married couple, we’re willing to make an exception in this case. Bring the coach, Chad!

Bog Snorkelling —  From the sport’s official site: “Every August for the last 20 years, the smallest town in Britain has been host to the International Extreme Bog Snorkelling Championships. The winner is entered in the Guinness Book of Records.” Basically, contestants swim through 55-meter trenches in something called the Waen Rhydd Peat bog in Llanwrtyd Wells in Powys, Mid Wales. And no, as the great humorist Dave Barry likes to say, we are not making this up. The “water” in the bog is more of a thick, muddy soup, and contestants use the snorkel to breathe while in the muck all the way. The best bog swimmers appear to be able to complete the course in under two minutes, and with Ocho’s athleticism, we like his chances.

Adult Kickball — A kid-friendly activity for adults? Perfect fit for Ocho, and who doesn’t like kickball? One thing, though — we’re not sure what the guy in this picture was thinking, and this is not the best way to express your love of the Minnesota Vikings.

Chess Boxing — Perhaps the most interesting sport on the roll, Chess Boxing isn’t that much more complicated than it sounds, but these aren’t two things you’d put together, right? Form the official site: “In a chess boxing fight two opponents play alternating rounds of chess and boxing. The contest starts with a round of chess, followed by a boxing round, followed by another round of chess and so on.  A contest consists of 11 rounds, 6 rounds of chess, 5 rounds of boxing. A round of chess takes 4 minutes. Each competitor has 12 minutes on the chess timer.”

Since Chad includes boxing in his training, and he’s probably smart enough to enjoy a good game of chess, he’d be a natural for this one. The next match happens on June 24 in Berlin, and Chad could go up against the German champion, a guy named “Iepe the Joker.” Now, who wouldn’t pay to see that?

Cheese Rolling — Contestants run down a hill as fast as they possibly can, trying to outrace huge rolling circles of cheese and avoid killing themselves in the process. A bit dodgy, but still better than snake-wrangling. If Ocho could get out to the next event, which starts May 28 in Gloucestershire, England, he could also enjoy pig racing and something called “sheath throwing,” which sounds vaguely dirty. If you’d like to know more, there’s a book out entitled ‘Cheese Rolling in Gloucestershire’ by Jean Jefferies. Again, we are not making this up.

Canine Freestyle Dancing — There are times when you come across something that taxes your descriptive talents to the absolute limit. As this was the case for me when I caught this activity, I’ll let the video do the talking.

Outhouse Racing — Yes, really.  And it’s so popular in places like Mountain View, Arkansas, that you’re advised to book early. “The Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Races festival is the most popular weekend in Mountain View and overnight accommodations require reservations be made well in advance. Much of the lodging in Mountain View is already reserved,” they say.

Better get on it, Senor Ochocinco. We’re not sure when this offseason will end.

Related: Chad Ochocinco, Mike Brown, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings

CINCINNATI,Ohio – Does Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco need another job? Apparently so. Ochocinco, who has tried his hand at soccer and bull riding, is now taking up, (gasp) snake wrangling.

The move is in direct response to Bengals owner Mike Brown’s tongue-in-cheek comment a day earlier when asked about Ochocinco’s oddball offseason activities.

“Next maybe he’ll be a snake wrangler and we’ll watch to see if he gets bit,” Brown told the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Ochocinco took the bait. On Wednesday, he tweeted, “I’ve partnered with Snake Jungle to go out and become the first black #SnakeWrangler thanks to my owner Mike Brown for the great idea.”

You can say the 33-year-old is adventurous. He’s been a contestant on ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars’, lasted 1.5 seconds before being thrown off a bull at a Professional Bull Riding event, played soccer, and now this.

While Brown said Ochocinco’s off field antics are amusing, he did caution, “they concern me because let’s face it we want a football player. We aren’t hiring a bull rider, a dancer, a soccer player. We want a football player.”
 

Chad Ochocinco is no stranger to bringing attention to himself off the field.

With an appearance on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, and a try out with Sporting Kansas City of Major League Soccer on March 23, the Cincinnati Bengals wide reciever is always entertaining.

However, his most recent stunt was not deemed amusing by Bengals owner Mike Brown. 

Ochocinco added bull riding to his list of off-field stunts on May 14 in Atlanta. Although the ride was harmless, lasting only one and a half seconds, Brown was not impressed with his star receiver’s latest stunt.

“We aren’t hiring a bull rider, dancer or soccer player,” Brown, according to Cincinnati.com.  “We want a football player. It’s simple. The focus should be on football and nothing else.”

INDIANAPOLIS – Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown isn’t budging on his stance on quarterback Carson Palmer.

Palmer has asked for a trade from Cincinnati.

At the NFL Spring Meeting yesterday in Indianapolis, Brown said, “We don’t plan to trade Carson. He’s important to us. He’s a very fine player, and we do want him to come back.”

Brown says if Palmer chooses to retire, the team would go with Andy Dalton. The Bengals drafted Dalton this year in the second round.

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown reiterated Monday that the team has no plans to trade quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer, who has has spent his entire seven-year career with the Bengals, has demanded that the team trade him or he would retire. “We don’t plan to trade Carson,” Brown said Monday at the NFL spring meetings. “He’s important to us. He’s a very fine player, and we do want him to come back. If he chooses not to, he’d retire.” Brown said the team will go with rookie Andy Dalton as the starter if Palmer follows through on his threat.Palmer’s house in Indian Hill has a buyer and is expected to close on June 13. Dalton was drafted by Cincinnati with the 35th overall pick out of Texas Christian.

Copyright 2011 by SportsDirect. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t changing their tune on Carson Palmer.

Bengals owner Mike Brown told Albert Breer of NFL Network that he hopes to have Palmer back and won’t trade him, but that if Palmer follows through on a threat to retire rather than return to Cincinnati, the Bengals are prepared to turn to rookie Andy Dalton, the 35th pick in the draft.

“We don’t plan to trade Carson,” Brown said. “He’s important to us. He’s a very fine player, and we do want him to come back. If he chooses not to, he’d retire. And we would go with Andy Dalton, the younger player we drafted, who’s a good prospect. Ideally, we’d have both of them. That’d be the best way to go forward. If we don’t have Carson, we’ll go with Andy.”

Brown sang the praises of Dalton, describing him as a rookie who could be ready to start from Day One.

“He’s very football intelligent, he’s been with our coaches, and Jay Gruden, our coordinator,” Brown said. “Jay had a very good feeling about his football abilities, his abilities to understand the defenses and how to go about things. He’d been productive at the college level, and we think he has a good shot at it here.”

If Brown really feels that way about Dalton, however, it’s hard to see why he’s so steadfast in his refusal to trade Palmer. The Bengals appear to be ready to move on with Dalton as their starting quarterback, so why not try to bolster the roster by getting something for Palmer in a trade?

The question is moot until the lockout ends, but at the moment, Brown clearly doesn’t want Palmer to think he’ll have any other options besides Cincinnati and retirement.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Cincinnati Bengals spent the 35th overall pick in April’s draft on a quarterback.

But that doesn’t mean Bengals owner Mike Brown is budging on his stance on Carson Palmer, who has asked for a trade from the only NFL team for which he has played.

“We don’t plan to trade Carson,” Brown said Monday at the NFL Spring Meeting. “He’s important to us. He’s a very fine player, and we do want him to come back. If he chooses not to, he’d retire. And we would go with Andy Dalton, the younger player we drafted, who’s a good prospect.

“Ideally, we’d have both of them. That’d be the best way to go forward. If we don’t have Carson, we’ll go with Andy.”

Palmer, the No. 1 pick in the 2003 draft, has been the Bengals’ starter since 2004. Palmer’s younger brother, Jordan, also is on the roster and is leading player workouts during the NFL lockout, but Brown said he’d be comfortable with Dalton as the starter in 2011, based on the evaluation the Bengals’ staff has on the former TCU standout.

“He’s very football intelligent, he’s been with our coaches, and Jay Gruden, our coordinator,” Brown said. “Jay had a very good feeling about his football abilities, his abilities to understand the defenses and how to go about things. He’d been productive at the college level, and we think he has a good shot at it here.”

Mike Brown(notes), the owner of the Cincinnati Bengals, and reason that the Bengals are the way they are, spoke to Bengals.com about a number of issues, including instant replay. Brown has never been known as a friend to progressive thinking, so his views, while probably unpopular, probably won’t shock you.

You know how I feel about instant replay. It’s marvelous how complicated we can make it. I don’t have any objection to the guy upstairs saying this play needs to be reviewed. That takes the makeup challenge away from the coaches. That’s supposed to balance out the frequency of challenges. In my book, fewer challenges is better than more because I like the game to be uninterrupted. I like it to proceed. And I know the arguments for instant replay and yet I think it misses one key thing: It slows (the game) down and sometimes it produces justice that is most fine.

In other words, you can call these plays either way. They’re that close. In super slow motion? Yeah, it might be this instead of that, and in my book, why bother? Let the official on the field call it. It’s that close and let the game proceed. It all balances out over time. But that isn’t where we are. That was a fight for long ago, but I’ve never changed my basic view of it.

I hate to agree with Mike Brown, but on this particular issue, I’m going to have to be an enemy of progressive thinking, too. I think there’s a place for instant replay, but as it’s currently used? Mike Brown is right. I think we’ve structured instant replay in a way that the slowdown it imposes on the game isn’t worth what it gives us in terms of the proper calls. Especially since replay doesn’t always give us the right decision anyway.

Not that I’m completely on the same page as Brown. I don’t believe that things “balance out over time” — that’s some nonsense that sounds nice, but has zero basis in reality — but I don’t think what we’re getting is worth the epic slowdown it often produces.

Maybe I wouldn’t mind so much if there weren’t already so many interruptions built into the game. If the NFL would promise to never allow networks to do the “commercial, kickoff, commercial” progression anymore, then I’d promise to stop whining about how replay kills the flow of a game.

None of this really matters, either. It’s not like instant replay is something that’s up for referendum any time soon. I just thought that if Mike Brown said something that approached being sensible, he deserved to be recognized.

Gracias, PFT.

Related: Mike Brown, Cincinnati Bengals

If quarterback Carson Palmer held out the slightest hope he might get his wish and be traded by the Cincinnati Bengals, owner Mike Brown dashed it Monday at the NFL owners meetings in New Orleans.

Despite threats by Palmer that he would retire if he’s not traded, Brown told the team’s web site, Bengals.com, and the Cincinnati Enquirer that there are no plans to find a trade partner.

“Carson is our principal option. … We don’t know how that is going to end up,” Brown said. “It’s a very big question to be answered. If answered right, our chances will be pretty good. We’ll try to get it answered right … I hope he comes back and plays the way he can play. I think he’s a top quarterback. I haven’t talked to any other team about him and I have no plans to trade him.”

That clearly won’t sit well with Palmer, who has played for the Bengals for eight seasons but has played on just two winning teams. The Bengals were 4-12 this season.

Palmer has made several requests to be traded and has even put up him home for sale, but Brown has refused to budge. Now it remains to be seen if Palmer will make good on his vow to retire, despite the fact he’s just 31 years old.

In fact, Brown seems to believe Palmer will reconsider at some point.

“I’ve seen any number of players who at one point didn’t want to re-enlist, come back and play, and be quite happy about it,” Brown said. “It just depends how it goes. As far as getting value, I don’t see any opportunity to get what I consider value and having said that, it doesn’t make any sense to look to trade. It only makes sense to wait and hope Carson comes around.”

Dwight Howard throws his elbows like spears, but he’s not a dirty player. Carson Palmer quit on the Cincinnati Bengals, but he’s not a quitter. Those paradoxes aren’t mine, but yours.

And you wonder why I respond the way I do to Hate Mail? I’ll tell you why: Stupid people make me angry.

From: Ric Austin

Do your job right so I don’t have to waste my time reading your crap and then replying to it!

But then I’d miss out on the pleasure of your company.

From: Ric Austin

Seriously, have you ever watched a whole Magic game? Your little video clips only show when Dwight Howard has had enough. What about all the hits prior? As for your “dirty player” remark … please. Obviously you are not watching games.

Ah, my newest stalker. Listen groupie, I’ve seen Howard in person — for a whole game — at least 10 times. In fact, I saw this last year. Why can’t you remember I wrote that, stalker?

From: Josh

Two stories in a year, bashing the same player for the same reasons. Either you’re the only one who sees it — or there is a slight bias.

Oh. You remember I wrote that. Well, thanks.

From: Ernest

The Korver play that you referred to … Howard was hit in the head two or three times. He absorbs tremendous amounts of punishment every game. I guess he isn’t allowed to get frustrated. Look at some Magic games before you draw conclusions on Howard.

I’ve looked! I know it helps you sleep at night to say, “What does that guy know? He’s never seen Howard play.” Yes, I have. And I know plenty. Plus there’s that whole “bias” thing.

From: Adam

I must say, although I don’t personally agree with your opinions, you definitely know how to respond to hate e-mails.

Well, everyone has their niche. Faulkner writes long sentences. Hemingway writes short ones. I write mean ones.

From: Billy Herron

I will no longer read anything with your name on it. You’re a dirty writer!

Whereas you write sentences like a 9-year-old girl.

From: Mark Lamoureux

You are a real JERK! You have obviously never seen Dwight Howard play. This was the last time I will ever read anything you have to say!

Seems like I hurt your feelings, Mark. Go on. Let it out. You’ll feel better after a good cry.

From: Chris

Do you ever write anything positive?

Sure. Watch this: Thanks to the last two guys — Billy Herron and Mark Lamoureux — I realize Dwight Howard isn’t the biggest baby in Orlando.

From: Jason

You are a perfect example of a columnist not having a clue. Carson Palmer gave the Bungles eight prime years, and never said one word publicly.

That’s my point, Jason: He never said one word publicly. Rome burned around him — Chad Ochocinco kept lighting matches — and Palmer never said a word. Was happy being one of the guys, when a $50 million quarterback has to be a leader. But then, Palmer was never leadership material. He should’ve been a tight end.

From: D. Jones

The Bengals made bad decisions — teaming Palmer with Chad Johnson, getting away from running the football — and this was the last straw: They acquired T.O., which took Palmer out his game because he wanted to make T.O. and Chad happy and forced them the ball.

That’s my other point! Instead of doing what was best for the team, Palmer did what was best for Chad and T.O. by forcing balls their way. Why? Because Palmer was scared they’d get mad at him. He should’ve been a punter.

From: Kevin Tierney

Palmer has made you root for Mike Brown? I’m not a huge Palmer fan, but it isn’t his fault. It’s all Mike Brown. Palmer is walking away from big money. I don’t get your rationale at all. Why does this make us root for Mike Brown?

I’m rooting for Brown to stand up to Palmer. I want Palmer to quit like the baby he is, or come back to the Bengals with his tail between his legs. He should’ve been a farmer.

From: Chris D.

Couldn’t disagree with you more on your Palmer article. The fact you side with Mike Brown on this speaks volumes about where your head is. Funny how you lament being a fan of the team — knowing full well how Brown treats us — then turn around and side with him.

Funny how you read my story and got it so wrong. I said I was a fan of the NFL, and a resident of Cincinnati. Not a fan of the Bengals. Never said that. Read it again. Slower, this time. Ask someone for help with the bigger words.

From: Cesar

Because of people like you, everybody hates reporters. Writing cowardly out of frustration of NEVER knowing what it feels to be a player. Easy to criticize behind a desk.

I never played the game. I’m a coward. And I’m hated by readers. Well done, Cesar — that’s every cliché in the book. But the truth is, I write from a table, not a desk. The desk doesn’t fit in my mom’s basement.

From: Craig M.

I listened to you when you were on radio in Cincinnati. But didn’t you quit your radio gig here? I’m sure the station wanted you to do things you disagreed with, but you decided to leave instead of playing the game the way your boss wanted. Just like Carson Palmer.

I didn’t quit, I was fired! I win another argument. I beat you. I … oh, right. I was fired. Sigh.

From: Chase

You’re wrong and missing the point. There is no legacy to be had or tarnished in Cincinnati. Palmer is faced with the choice of playing a violent sport and risk further injury that could affect him for the rest of his life — or he could move to California and be rich. Which one would you choose?

I’d choose to play. The money will always be there. So will California, at least until it falls into the Pacific. But the chance to play in the NFL is fleeting. I’d milk it, but then, I’m not a quitter. But I did get fired once! Sigh.

From: Nick

Cincy native here, used to listen to you on the radio. I thought you were probably a cool dude to have a beer with until you came out of the liberal closet. Come on broseph, you’re better than that.

Broseph, you had no shot at having a beer with me. In less than 40 words you’ve identified yourself as a complete douchebag.

From: Mr. Romano

Your column arguing against the NFL owners was unusually tame. I know this Ohio winter has you down, but don’t take it out on us.

Unusually tame? I called owners silver-spooned spoiled brats. I used a man’s suicide as an unfair emotional tug against them. And I said I’d rather step on a snake than pull for them. I bet you wouldn’t have written this e-mail if I’d called Jerry Jones a douchebag.

The NFL owners may be saying that their business model is not sustainable (though it would help their cases if they’d open their books), but there’s apparently nothing wrong with the financial model of one Carson Palmer(notes), Cincinnati Bengals quarterback. Or, at least, that’s what Palmer is now … and what he doesn’t want to be anymore. For months, Palmer has been making extreme noises about his desire to get out of Cincinnati once and for all, and he’s been at his most strident about it in the last few days.

According to WCPO-TV in Cincinnati, Palmer recently told a friend that he would “never set foot in Paul Brown Stadium again,” and that he has “$80 million in the bank. I don’t have to play football for money. I’ll play it for the love of the game but that would have to be elsewhere. I’m prepared to live my life.”

Palmer’s agent, David Dunn, released this statement in the wake of those comments: “Because of the lack of success that Carson and the Bengals have experienced together, Carson strongly feels that a separation between him and the Bengals would be in the best interest of both parties.”

Since injuries have taken the sharpness off his game over the past few seasons, Palmer has fallen from his former Pro Bowl status. In just about every full season he’s played since 2005, Palmer’s efficiency has decreased. He had a nice little rebound in 2010, throwing for 3,970 yards, 26 touchdowns and 20 interceptions with Chad Ochocinco(notes), Terrell Owens(notes) and rookie tight end Jermaine Gresham(notes) on the roster. But it’s been a challenge for Palmer to scale the dizzying heights of the AFC North with team owner Mike Brown’s(notes) frequently questionable management decisions, just as it’s been a problem for the Bengals to rely on a quarterback who probably still has a few years left, but can’t always be relied on to stay healthy and efficient.

The first overall pick in the 2003 draft, Palmer led the Bengals to the playoffs in 2005 and 2009 — the only winning seasons the team has enjoyed since 1990. If he does leave, it will most likely be by way of retirement unless Brown hears an offer for Palmer he can’t refuse, and Brown has said that he will not entertain the concept of Palmer leaving the team by his hand. That may be a simple ploy, but one never knows with the erratic Brown.

Palmer signed a six-year, $118.75 contract extension in December of 2005 that takes him through the 2014 season. He may be attractive to several teams in need of quarterbacks, but not likely at the $11.5 million in base salary due him in the 2011 and 2012 seasons. If he were to retire, the Bengals would hold his rights through the length of his current contract, though one never knows what may happen on the other side of a new collective bargaining agreement.

Related: Carson Palmer, Terrell Owens, Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals

A few weeks ago, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer reportedly met with Bengals owner Mike Brown and requested a trade.  That request, according to Brown, was flat denied.  Palmer has said he will retire instead of playing for the Bengals and collecting the $50 million left on his contract.  Fat chance.

The latest salvo in this deepening divide between player, team and fan-base was fired this morning when news broke that Palmer had but his Cincinnati-area house up for sale.  We’ve seen moves like this in the past, and it usualy ends with the quarterback switching addresses on Sundays as well.

“He’s not coming back”, according to a real estate agent who talked Wednesday morning with the disenchanted Bengals quarterback.

That is the same theme echoed by another associate of Palmer, who says that unless he is released by the Bengals so as to play somewhere else, he is prepared to retire.

Once a player checks out, both physically and mentally, from the community, the fans will do the same with him and it is probably best for everyone that Palmer move on.  Knowing the way Brown and the Bengals do things, however, that won’t likely happen.