DaytonDailyNews.com

CINCINNATI — The Bengals' new slogan for 2008 is one word in white block letters stenciled across orange shirts: NOW.

It's head coach Marvin Lewis' brainstorm.

"His point is, don't wait," quarterback Carson Palmer said Wednesday, May 22. "Now's our opportunity. This year's our opportunity.

"He said in the first meeting that we have enough talent in the room — and he said, 'Right now' — to win the Super Bowl. 'Don't wait for things to happen. Don't think that we'll be a good team in years to come. Don't think that there's a Super Bowl in our future and you can take your time and be lackadaisical about it. You need to be aggressive. You need to want it. You need to be hungry for it. And now's the time.' "

Heap o' praise

Robert Geathers praised fellow defensive end Antwan Odom, a free agent from the Tennessee Titans.

Odom is at right end, with Geathers on the left side.

"He's really athletic," Geathers said. "I didn't realize he could get off the ball as quick as he does."

Added Odom: "I'm just working on getting around that corner. I don't want to speed-rush every time. I want to be able to beat somebody with my hands."

Comeback kid

Tailback Kenny Irons, who suffered a torn left ACL at Detroit on Aug. 9, 2007, did some light running and cutting drills on a side field.

When will he be ready?

"I have no idea," he said. "My job is just to continue to work hard. I've got my weight back up to 190. I want to be at 205.

"I'll be at training camp just like I'm here, outside doing my drills. I'll let the trainers know how I feel. They'll tell me when it's time. I'm just busting my tail."

Getting comfy

Rookie wide receiver Jerome Simpson, the club's second-round draft pick, clicked quickly with Palmer.

"The first couple passes, you've got a comfort level with him," Simpson said. "He puts the ball in the right spot. You've just got to run your route right, and the ball's going to be there."

Anchored at end

Eric Henderson is happy to be back at defensive end after his trial at outside linebacker in 2007.

"Oh, man, it's a blessing. It's great. I've been missing it," Henderson said. "I'm dying to get on the field. My veins are about to pop out. I think the coaches sensed that, and I'm happy to be getting this opportunity. I feel fresh out there. I'm hungry and just anxious to play."

Reaction to Odell Thurman's release

Head coach Marvin Lewis: "He has not played football in two years, and we have people who will be better for our team. His grandmother's been buried for quite a while. Don't get into his whole family structure. We've been patient enough with Odell, and he's no longer here. No big deal."

Quarterback Carson Palmer: "Odell was a well-liked guy and had possibly more talent than anybody we've seen come through here. You only get so many second-round draft picks and, when you only get one year out of them, it affects your team tremendously. It's just tough to lose the player that he was, and you really can't replace him."

Middle linebacker Dhani Jones: "There are a lot of things people might say happened, but it just wasn't the right time for him here. We know that elsewhere he can do a great job."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com

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