http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburgh...s/s_519988.html</p> Yes, a Bengals article from a Pittsburgh paper</p> </p><h1 class="headline">QB Palmer declares Bengals the best</h1> <span class="boldgrey"> By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW </span> <span class="greytext">Wednesday, August 1, 2007</span> GEORGETOWN, Ky. - The pain gnawed away at Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer throughout the offseason. No, not his surgically repaired left knee damaged on a hit by former Steelers defensive lineman Kimo von Oelhoffen in the 2006 AFC Wild Card playoff game. </p> Palmer's knee is 100 percent again. </p> No, the pain that Palmer experienced was the anguish that he and the Bengals can never get last season back. </p>That last year's 8-8 record was the result of a disappointing three-game losing streak to end the season, turning a potential trip to the playoffs into an early vacation. All Palmer knows is that he doesn't want to experience that feeling of helplessness again. </p> "We just realize you can't let up at all. This league's too good,'' Palmer said Monday night following the Bengals' training camp practice at Georgetown College. </p> Everything was going just swimmingly for the Bengals, who were 8-5 and fresh off a season-high four-game winning streak when they visited the Indianapolis Colts in a Monday Night Football game Dec. 18. </p> What followed, however, were losses to the Colts (34-16), Denver (24-23) and Steelers (23-17 in overtime) in the season finale that eliminated Cincinnati from the postseason. </p> Palmer said the Bengals learned their lesson the hard way. </p> "You've got to play great every week because you can get beat if you're not playing your best,'' Palmer said. "We learned a valuable lesson last year, and hopefully that won't happen this upcoming year.'' </p> Not if Palmer, who became the first Bengal to win MVP honors in the Pro Bowl, has anything to do with it. </p> Bouncing back from his devastating knee injury, Palmer started every game in becoming the first Cincinnati player to pass for 4,000 yards in a season. He completed 324 of 520 attempts for 28 touchdowns (with only 13 interceptions) and his 4,035-yard total topped Boomer Esiason's 20-year-old team record set in 1986. </p> "I wasn't sure how much I was going to play, or how much I was going to practice (going into last season),'' Palmer said. "Now I'm cleared to do everything, cleared to go 100 percent. Everything's completely different.'' </p> Not much has changed in the AFC North, which Palmer considers to be the best division in pro football. Not surprisingly, Palmer considers the Bengals the team to beat. </p> "We expect to win our division and make a run at it,'' Palmer said. "We've got enough players, we've got good coaches and we've got some experience. We feel like we've got as good a chance as anybody at making a run at it. </p> "Every year it seems like the division gets tougher. In my opinion, it's the best division in football. It's a good thing we're in it because it gets you ready for the long haul of the season and for the playoffs.'' </p> </p>
I think Cincy takes the AFC by storm this year, Carson puts up HUGE numbers, and the defense finally learns to tackle.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think Cincy is the best in their division let alone conference or league.</div> Why do you think the NFC is better than the AFC?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think Cincy is the best in their division let alone conference or league.</div> Why do you think the NFC is better than the AFC? </div></p> I was trying to be clever & failed. I should have put Cincy IMO is not the best in the AFCN & left it @ that. </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think Cincy is the best in their division let alone conference or league.</div> Why do you think the NFC is better than the AFC? </div></p> I was trying to be clever & failed. I should have put Cincy IMO is not the best in the AFCN & left it @ that.</p></div> I think I'm funnier when I'm drinking too
