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Palmer says he has no grudge vs. Steelers
Bengals star says this is a big game and a special week, but not because Pittsburgh hurt him.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
CINCINNATI — Carson Palmer's news conference was rated "R" on Wednesday. For respect.
"Hate" wasn't mentioned in the same breath with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not like in the spring, when Palmer — a USC guy — said, "I hate them. I hate them even more than I hate UCLA."
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Next game
- Who: Bengals at Steelers
- When: 1 p.m. Sunday
- TV: CBS (WHIO, Channel 7)
- Radio: WTUE-FM (104.7)
"Being the defending world champs, you have to respect them," Palmer said this time. "But they are our rivalry. They're our big rival. I don't think there's a person in this locker room who likes the Steelers or roots for the Steelers or hopes they do well. We enjoy playing them. We look forward to the challenge."
Palmer's left knee was wrecked in the Bengals' 31-17 home playoff loss to Pittsburgh on Jan. 8. Surely his injury — which required eight months of rehabilitation — adds fuel to the fire. Right?
"No," Palmer said. "I've said time and time again: Bad things happen some games. Good things happen some games. I don't hold any grudges toward that team or an individual. It's part of the game. I'm not concerned with any of that."
In the Steelers' locker room after beating Cincinnati, they celebrated by yelling the Bengals' "Who Dey" chant and answering with shouts of: "We Dey!" Doesn't that memory boil Palmer's blood?
"No," he added. "Some people have different opinions of that. I don't think much of it. I'm sure they were excited to beat us and move on in the playoffs. Who knows what we're going to be saying if we have a chance to beat them and move on. It's just part of the fun of the game."
Palmer said rivalries "make it fun for the players, for the fans and I'm sure the media. People get into it more. Everybody's talking, 'It's Steeler Week. It's Steeler week.' I'm not sure if in Pittsburgh they're saying, 'It's Bengal week.' But around here, it means a lot to us.
"Not that any game means more than any other. But this one might a little bit just because they're the defending (Super Bowl) champs, They knocked us out last year and they're the Steelers, and they're in our division. It's a special week."
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@daytondailynews.com
