Bengals pick Palmer to kick off draft

[The_Philster]

NEW YORK (April 26, 2003 5:19 p.m. EDT) - The Cincinnati Bengals, hoping to reverse a recent history of draft flops, took Southern California quarterback Carson Palmer to open the NFL draft Saturday.

Palmer actually agreed to contract terms Thursday. He's the first Heisman Trophy winner selected at the top of the draft since Vinny Testaverde went to Tampa Bay in 1987.

Palmer is expected to back up Jon Kitna this season for the Bengals, who were 2-14 last season, giving them the first choice for the third time in a decade - although they traded for it in 1995 and took running back Ki-jana Carter. In 1994, they earned the opening spot and took defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson.

Neither made much impact in Cincinnati....more

[The_Philster]

Palmer nervously, officially becomes a Bengal

CINCINNATI (April 26, 2003 4:02 p.m. EDT) - Two days after they slipped a $10 million check into Carson Palmer's 10-inch hand, the Cincinnati Bengals got their No. 1 pick - along with a smidgen of respect.

The Bengals relinquished their reputation for first-round bungling - the Vikings took a turn on the hot seat instead - by having the Heisman Trophy winner already signed and delivered Saturday.

"Any first-round pick would be a big plus for a team in that situation," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said.

It hasn't in the past. The Bengals have remained the NFL's worst team in the past 12 years despite one high draft pick after another, including first-round quarterbacks David Klingler and Akili Smith....more