Leadership

With millions in the bank, Carson Palmer could be doing just about anything on a Friday morning in the offseason. Surfing in the Pacific Ocean, playing a round (or two) on just about any golf course in the world, or just hanging out with his dogs at home in Southern California. So where was #9 on Friday, May 2nd?

On the sidelines at PBS, scouting a batch of first-year NFL players at the Bengals Rookie Weekend Minicamp.

"You want to see if they're better than you think, or worse than you think. (The rookies) have exceeded expectations," Palmer said.

We're all about "Fair and Balanced Coverage" at FOX. And given all of Chad Johnson's inflammatory comments about the Bengals organization this offseason, it's only fair to point out leadership when you see it. Entering his 6th season in the NFL, Carson has emerged as a true leader in the Bengals locker room.

Palmer also got a first-hand look at a couple of promising new targets. The Bengals drafted WRs Jerome Simpson in the 2nd Round from Coastal Carolina and Andre Caldwell from Florida in the 3rd Round. From the sounds of it, Palmer likes what he sees and expects an impact, especially from young players selected so high in the NFL Draft.

It's easy sometimes to focus on the negative. Things aren't going very well for the Reds so far down at Great American Ball Park. Their neighbor (or if he had his way, "former neighbor") down the way Chad Johnson seems far more worried about "who has his back" than winning a Super Bowl.

If you're a Bengals fan, and see the Face of the Franchise at PBS, when he isn't required to be there, that has to be encouraging.
-ZACH