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.

Published 2:02am Wednesday, July 27, 2011

The Associated Press

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.

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.

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The saga over the NFL football lockout continues… and those in Georgetown are waiting intently.

The city has hosted the Cincinnati Bengals training camp for 15 years, and sees financial gains whenever the team comes to town.

If you come into historic Fava’s Restaurant in downtown Georgetown during Bengals training camp, you might get an NFL-sized meal.

“Every year we have a Bengal Burger with Curly Tiger Tails and that boosts our sales during this time,” says Jeni Grucow of Fava’s.

The meal only hits the menu during training camp.

“We might not get but a few of the Bengals, see a few of the Bengals. But we’ll get a lot of families that come down and bring their kids and they’re all dressed up in the Bengals colors. They just come to watch them practice,” says Grucow.

But with the NFL lockout continuing, if the practice facility on Georgetown College’s campus remains empty… restaurants and stores in Georgetown could be affected.

“We’re not gonna have that little increase during that time they’re here. We’re not gonna have that if they’re gone,” Grucow adds.

Resa Browning just opened a children’s clothing store “Seeds and Saplings” a few months ago.

She has been looking forward to the additional foot-traffic that having the Bengals in town brings.

“That time of the year when you’re trying to get rid of your summer merchandise and get ready for fall and back to school. It’s a perfect time for people to come down for Bengals training camp as well,” Browning says.

The Bengals time in town usually boosts the city’s economy by about $3 million a year.

Training camps are supposed to open on Wednesday, but there is no guarantee the Bengals will make it to town this week… or even at all.

Still, these businesses are not willing to think that way just yet.

Right now they are hoping for the best and prepping for a sea of “orange and black” to come their way.

“Haven’t really thought about it. I hope they make their mind up to come,” says Grucow.

“We are definitely planning on it and hope that it all works out, ” agrees Browning.

The NFL Players Association is expected to meet all weekend, but haven’t said when they’ll take a vote on the Collective Bargaining Agreement that would jump-start the season.