By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kansas State cornerback Terence Newman hangs out on the sidelines during Bengals practice Sunday afternoon. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

The Bengals will open negotiations today on a potential pre-draft contract with cornerback Terence Newman.

There was no information available regarding possible talks with quarterback Carson Palmer, but Newman and Palmer are the favorites to be the first overall pick in the draft by the Bengals on April 26.

Whether the Bengals would negotiate with both Newman and Palmer at the same time, or if one player is the top priority, could not be determined.

Quarterback Byron Leftwich is the Bengals' third option, but coach Marvin Lewis is not commenting on the draft or potential Bengals moves.

Lewis has said he wants to have the first overall pick signed ahead of the announcement at the draft.

Wide receiver Charles Rogers seems to be fading out of the picture, especially after reports of a suspicious scouting-combine drug test surfaced Monday. Detroit plans to take Rogers with the No. 2 overall pick.

Newman and Palmer visited the Bengals over the weekend, and Leftwich visited April 8.

Newman is a multitalented cornerback from Kansas State.

In addition to earning All-America honors on defense - he also was the Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back - he averaged 26.1 yards on kickoff returns and 15.4 yards on punt returns. He also covers punts and kicks.

In Kansas State's come-from-behind victory over Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl, Newman played 130 plays and accounted for 149 all-purpose yards as a receiver and return specialist. His 29-yard end-around led to one score, and a 27-yard punt return set up the winning touchdown.

He also led the Wildcats with 10 tackles.

The Bengals apparently are satisfied that Newman's left shoulder, injured this past season, is healthy.

Reports last week said he suffered nerve damage and a weakened deltoid muscle in the shoulder and upper arm.

On Monday, Newman's agent, David Ware, said Newman's shoulder was healthy and that the NFL teams with the top 10 picks all determined he was fine.

Palmer, Newman and Leftwich are three of the prospects attending the draft in New York City. The others are Rogers and defensive linemen Terrell Suggs, Dewayne Robertson and Jimmy Kennedy.

Newman would be only the second cornerback selected in the first round by the Bengals. The other was Rickey Dixon from Oklahoma in 1988.

Dixon played safety in college but was projected as an NFL cornerback. He ended up playing safety with the Bengals.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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