By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BENGALS POLL

Coach Marvin Lewis this morning named Carson Palmer the Bengals' starting quarterback.

"As we go forward, Carson will be the guy who gets the start," Lewis said. "I thought long and hard about this."

Palmer, the NFL's first overall draft choice by the Bengals in 2003, will supplant starter Jon Kitna. Kitna registered a career high 26 touchdown passes in 2003 and was the only NFL quarterback to play every offensive snap for his team. "Obviously, Jon is disappointed. He wants to play," Lewis said of Kitna. "He wants to be a part of us winning football games."

Lewis said the naming of Palmer would allow the organization to shape the team around his talents and level of inexperience.

Lewis also announced that the Bengals have extended one-year tender offers to all seven of their restricted free agents. The team tendered tailback Rudi Johnson a one-year offer at $1.8 million, which would give the Bengals first- and third-round draft choices as compensation should they allow Johnson to sign with another team.

The Bengals this morning released defensive tackle Oliver Gibson, a transaction that will save the Bengals almost $2 million in space under the salary cap in 2004. Lewis also had no comment when asked about ongoing efforts to resolve the situation with tailback Corey Dillon. Dillon has said he wants to be traded or released. ---

E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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