By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bengals first round draft pick Carson Palmer gets ready for training camp in Georgetown, Ky. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

GEORGETOWN, Ky. - Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer drove to Bengals training camp Sunday in a new blue pickup.

Then he let holdout second-round pick Eric Steinbach drive it back to Cincinnati. "I trust him with my life," Palmer said of the pass-blocking protection guard Steinbach will provide, "so I can trust him with my truck."

For the first times since he was a freshman at Southern Cal and a freshman in high school, Palmer arrived at a preseason camp as a backup. And Palmer was visibly relieved not to have to face being a rookie starting quarterback in the NFL. The job belongs to Jon Kitna, and Shane Matthews is No. 2.

"I'm thankful knowing that I'm not going to have to play every single game and take every single rep because I don't know it yet," Palmer said. "I'm not comfortable with the offense yet to be able to do that. It's comforting knowing that Kitna has this team in his hands, and he's a great quarterback and he can handle that responsibility."

HUNLEY ARRIVES: Nineteen years after the Bengals made him their first-round draft pick, linebackers coach Ricky Hunley finally reported to training camp.

A contract holdout prevented Hunley from ever playing for the Bengals, who traded his rights to Denver in October 1984.

"You know what I was really thinking (when he drove up)," Hunley said. "I'm really excited to get started. I'm tired of all the complaining and the whining about the past. I'm ready to get on the field and get busy.

"Marvin (Lewis) is ready. Our players are ready."

LOOKING GOOD: One of Lewis' biggest worries was whether his players would stay in shape during their time off.

Several players, including right tackle Willie Anderson, appear to have taken Lewis seriously. Anderson reported noticeably lighter than last year and said he had tipped the scales at 339 - one pound below his listed weight.

COUNTING: Jim Anderson started his 20th consecutive training camp as Bengals running backs coach. Lewis is the fifth Bengals head coach for whom Anderson has worked.

Anderson coached fullback Lorenzo Neal to the Pro Bowl in 2002, the only Bengals player to make the all-star game. It was the ninth Pro Bowl season for an Anderson position player - James Brooks, four; Corey Dillon, three; and Harold Green, one.

Anderson also is second only to Pittsburgh running backs coach Dick Hoak, 32 years, in consecutive service as a position coach with the same team.

UP NEXT: The Bengals will practice from 8:30-11 a.m. and again from 4-5:30 p.m. Both practices are open to the public.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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