By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

David Ware, agent for cornerback Terence Newman, said late Monday that the Bengals have not begun negotiating a contract for his client and does not know if they will.

Ware added that, despite rumors around the league, his client's left shoulder is healthy.

"Middle of the week," said Ware when asked when the Bengals might begin talking to agents of prospective top picks.

"If you have players equally rated, you negotiate with both at the same time," Ware said.

The Bengals have the first overall pick in the April 26-27 draft.

The Bengals aren't saying if they favor Newman, quarterback Carson Palmer or fellow quarterback Byron Leftwich.

Word around the league is the Bengals are leaning toward Palmer, the former Southern California quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner who visited here Sunday.

A message left Monday afternoon for David Dunn, Palmer's agent, was not returned.

Palmer has some factors in his favor, including economics that suggest teams don't pay first overall-pick money to a cornerback.

Ware also rebutted reports that Newman has nerve damage in his left shoulder.

"I've talked to every team in the top 10 (of the draft), and they all said his shoulder is fine," Ware said.

The injury, which Ware said occurred with two or three games remaining in the Kansas State season, didn't prevent Newman from being an iron man in the Wildcats' season finale - when he played 130 plays of defense, offense and special teams.

"He also benched 225 (pounds) 12 times at the combine," Ware said. "You can't do that with a bad shoulder."

Also of interest, the Bengals reportedly have pre-draft visit dates set with guard Noah Swartz (Toledo) and center Dustin McQuivey (Utah).

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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