Brave Palmer Sees Only the Positives in Bengals

For all that USC quarterback Carson Palmer has -- the Heisman Trophy, the unwavering poise in the pocket, the armor-piercing spirals -- it’s what he doesn’t have that shows up most at the NFL combine.

Put simply, he has no fear.

Not only does he plan to work out for NFL scouts this weekend, something most prospective No. 1 picks would deem unnecessary, but he shows no trepidation about the possibility of winding up with the Cincinnati Bengals, one of the worst organizations in professional sports.

“I don’t know what the big knock is,” Palmer said Friday, referring to an organization that hasn’t had a winning season since 1990. “All I kept hearing was negative things coming into this. My agent and I sat down and he started telling me about the offensive line, and the defensive line coach, and Corey Dillon and the receivers that they have. It doesn’t look bad to me. It’s a great place for a quarterback to go, if they need a quarterback. But there has been a lot of negative talk.”

None of that negative talk has come from Palmer, who referred to embattled Bengal owner-president Mike Brown as “an awesome guy,” even though people throughout the league are consistently underwhelmed by Brown’s ability to gauge talent.

Palmer, the all-time leading passer from a conference that produced John Elway, Dan Fouts and Troy Aikman, is the consensus favorite to be drafted No. 1. Other players who potentially could move into that spot are Michigan State receiver Charlie Rogers, Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs and Kansas State cornerback Terence Newman, although anyone but Palmer would be an upset.

Coaches and scouts love Palmer’s accuracy and toughness, his willingness to stand tall as the pocket collapses around him, and the maturity he showed.

“What I saw in the Senior Bowl ... you can see a guy on film, you can see him on TV, but to see him physically and the way he delivers the ball, I was very impressed,” Baltimore Raven Coach Brian Billick said. “I think he’s probably solidified himself as the No. 1 quarterback.”

Other players in his position might choose to participate only in the team interviews and skip the workout -- why risk damaging your reputation? -- but Palmer would have none of it. He wanted to throw for scouts and will do so Sunday.

“There wasn’t much behind the decision,” he said. “I just wanted to come out and compete and work with those guys. I mean, how many opportunities do you have to throw footballs to the best receivers in the country and the best backs in the country? It’s just a fun thing. I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to enjoy it. It really wasn’t much of a decision. I’ve always been wanting to throw here.”

Palmer met Brown the week of the Senior Bowl, and he met new Bengal Coach Marvin Lewis this week. The Bengals have hinted they might have an interest in trading the top pick, but they are desperately in need of a quarterback -- as well as other players.

Lewis said he was impressed by the way Palmer adapted from a West Coast offense in his first two years at USC to more of a traditional offense under offensive coordinator Norm Chow and Coach Pete Carroll.

“There’s been a lot of change that’s occurred in [Palmer’s] life, but he’s been able to deal with it,” Lewis said. “He’s got that temperament you’re looking for.”

If he goes to Cincinnati, Palmer will be charged with helping resurrect a franchise that went 2-14 last season, with Jon Kitna, Gus Frerotte and Akili Smith all getting shots at quarterback.

Since they last made the playoffs after the 1990 season, the Bengals have gone 55-137 and have had a top-five pick in seven of 12 drafts, including this one. They used the No. 1 pick on David Klingler in 1992 and Smith in 1999, and both quarterbacks were unequivocal busts.

“I think I’m different than those guys,” Palmer said. “I think I’m a different player, a different person, than the guys they’ve drafted in the past. Not to say that I’m better than them or anything like that, but I haven’t met a whole lot of people like me. I look for the positives going into everything.

“And whether it be Cincinnati or wherever, I’m going to go in and think I’m going to be able to turn it around and win a lot of games.”

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USC running back Justin Fargas recorded the fastest 40-yard dash time of the day Friday, covering the distance in 4.3 seconds. One scout reportedly clocked him at 4.28.

“I don’t know that anyone felt that that’s what he would run,” said Charley Casserly, general manager of the Houston Texans. “But he ran it.”