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Reunion with Kitna kicks off preseason
'I admire him. I look up to him. I love him like a brother,' Carson Palmer says of his former mentor.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Before Carson Palmer began his reign as Cincinnati's starting quarterback in 2004, there was Jon Kitna.
"Kit" was the key ingredient in the Bengals' turnaround from a miserable 2-14 team in 2002 to a respectable 8-8 squad in 2003 — Marvin Lewis' first season as head coach.
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Now Kitna, an 11-year veteran, is charged with resurrecting the 3-13 Detroit Lions.
Best friends Palmer and Kitna will face one another on Thursday night when the Bengals visit Detroit in the preseason opener for both teams.
"I admire him. I respect him. I look up to him. I love him like a brother, and I'm excited for him," Palmer said about Kitna. "Everybody knows what a heck of a guy he is."
Palmer was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2003 draft, but Lewis anointed Kitna the starter. He earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors, stayed on two more years as Palmer's mentor, then bolted to Detroit in free agency.
"(Kitna) was, no question, the leader of this team — on the field and subtly behind the scenes," Lewis said. "He was an extension of the coaches. We wouldn't have (had success) if it weren't for Jon Kitna and his leadership.
"What he was able to get done and then to take the step back and still stay in that position of leadership and allow Carson to continue to grow ... he's a great, great team person.
"He's a fine player, very competitive. He's gone a long way in the National Football League, giving his team a chance to win, and that's what he gave us. I said, 'Jon, this is your team. Take care of it.' And he did that. We had some success."
Kitna's surrounding talent in Detroit this season — wide receivers Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson, tailbacks Kevin Jones and Tatum Bell — led to his bold prediction of a 10-win season.
"He's extremely happy with the speed and weapons they've got," Palmer said. "I'm excited to watch their offense and watch Kit go to work."
Preseason Game 1
Who: Bengals at Detroit Lions
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
TV: Live on WKEF Channel 22; replay at midnight on FSN Ohio
Radio: WTUE-FM (104.7)
