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Fashion Week in Berlin
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Swim wear Fashion Week
YBS: Conner Puckett Classic Golf Outing
BENGALS NOTES
Absence of Chad, T.J. doesn't bother Palmer
BLOG: Interview with the Bengals' offensive coordinator
COMMENT: Will Chris Perry finally come back and play this year?
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
CINCINNATI — Angry? Upset? Oh, no. Quarterback Carson Palmer is neither.
He had plenty of wide receivers to work with Tuesday, May 13, during the first in a series of on-field coaching sessions at Paul Brown Stadium.
Extras
It's just that none of the guys here are named Chad Johnson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Houshmandzadeh is working with a personal trainer in California. Johnson is holding out with a trade demand.
"My frustration level? I'm at zero right now," Palmer said. "I'm not frustrated at all. I'm happy and excited to be back on the field myself, whether they're here or not. I'm excited to be back with these guys, the guys that are here."
'Missing valuable time'
Palmer conceded, however, that the absence of Johnson and Houshmandzadeh represents a missed opportunity.
"We're definitely missing valuable time," Palmer added. "We'll get to work whenever they get here. But timing and rhythm is something you build over time with repetition.
"We have built it in years past. We're losing time right now, but the guys that are here are getting work in. It's giving them a chance to really develop and get some experience."
Plethora of receivers
There are 12 wide receivers on the offseason roster, and veteran Bennie Brazell is expected to be lucky No. 13 if he passed Tuesday's physical exam.
Why so many wideouts?
"Because we're not going to be able to take them all to (training) camp," head coach Marvin Lewis said. "Everything they do is competitive and important, with guys vying for jobs."
Two absentees
How does Lewis feel about Johnson's and Houshmandzadeh's absence? "This is all voluntary, which is good," he said. "We're excited about the guys, as usual, who have been here, which has been common to our football team."
Glut of linebackers
Defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer likes the depth and quality at linebacker.
Who's the Sam (strong side), Mike (middle) and Will (weak side) 'backers?
"It's still so early," Zimmer said. "As coaches, we have to try to figure out, OK, this guy fits here and this guy fits there. They're all trying to learn the system."
Rookie reporting date
In the past, rookies weren't allowed to report back to their clubs until after their college's spring commencement date.
That rule has changed.
Now there's a uniform reporting date for rookies — Friday.
The May 20 practice represents the first day Bengals rookies will be on the field with veterans.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com
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