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Bengals’ Palmer works to improve arm strength

Photos: Photos from Bengals camp

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AP photo/Tom Uhlman/Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer talks with receiver Chad Ochocinco, right, during football practice in Cincinnati, Thursday, June 18, 2009.

AP photo/Tom Uhlman AP photo/Tom Uhlman/Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer talks with receiver Chad Ochocinco, right, during football practice in Cincinnati, Thursday, June 18, 2009.

By Carlos “Big C” Holmes, Staff Writer Updated 1:16 AM Friday, June 26, 2009

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer looked good at minicamp last week, but admits that his arm strength needs some work. The quarterback’s plan to strength the arm is no ancient Chinese secret. In fact, the solution to the problem is a fairly easy fix.

“Throw,” Palmer said. “It’s just like when a track guy needs to get faster. You don’t do 5,000 squats, you run and run some more. To get your arm in shape you throw and continue to throw. So I will be throwing all summer long as well as in training camp.”

Palmer missed 12 games last season with a serious elbow injury. Now the former Pro Bowler is looking to rebound and lead his team to the playoffs. Palmer’s offseason preparation has included the OTAs and minicamp. These are the first steps in his return to prominence.

“It’s great to be back,” Palmer said. “It’s an exciting time having a minicamp just before training camp. When you have them early you’re really not prepared. Whereas this team was ready for camp conditioning-wise, but more importantly knowledgeable of the offense and defense. I think we have the right mindset and confidence going into training camp to have a great camp and preseason.”

Palmer looked really sharp throwing against defenders in the team’s three-day minicamp. He zipped the ball around the field effortlessly and was precise with his throws. Although the quarterback’s arm strength isn’t quite what it used to be, he still had enough to make all the throws with some mustard.

Palmer is considered one of the most prolific passers in the league, throwing for 15,630 yards and 107 touchdowns in six seasons with the Bengals. The team has counted heavily on the quarterback’s arm and now he will be forced do it with a young receiving corps. Palmer admits that it will be no easy task.

“It’s definitely going to be tough,” he said. “We have a tough offense to understand and we have a lot of new guys in a lot of new spots. More importantly we have guys who are hungry. We have guys who not only want to win a job, but who want personal success as well as team success. When you have young guys it’s always scary, but when they’re hungry that’s all you can ask for.”

Of course it will take some time for the new components on offense to gel, but things appeared to be coming together rather quickly in minicamp.

The quarterback knows that he can’t do it alone and will need help from his 52 teammates in order to get the job done.

“We expect to win,” Palmer said. “We have a mature group of guys who understand that you can’t half-do things. The other teams and players in this league are too good. You have to play as a unit and play together. We realize when we do that we can win.”

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