By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Though second-year Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer was promoted ahead of Jon Kitna in the offseason, Kitna remains a valuable and highly respected member of the team.

The Bengals - and Kitna - showed that Tuesday as the contract of last season's starter was extended through the 2005 season.

"This solidifies Jon's position with the Bengals and brings stability and depth to our quarterback situation," coach Marvin Lewis. "He is not only a very good player, he is one of our most positive team leaders."

Kitna has pledged his support to Palmer and to teammates and coaches. In fact, Kitna called Palmer shortly after Lewis had informed them of his decision on the starter.

"I am looking forward to doing everything I can to make Carson's season go smoothly," Kitna said. "It'll be great if I don't have to play much. But if I am called on to go in there, I'm working in a system where I've had success and with coaches I know and respect."

Kitna, who now makes his year-round home in Greater Cincinnati, said his family situation also contributed to his decision.

The move will help ease the team's salary cap crunch.

The Bengals saved roughly $1.3 million in cap space by trading running back Corey Dillon to New England on Monday for a second-round draft pick, No. 56 overall.

Kitna was initially signed through the 2004 season, and the extension is expected to have reduced his salary cap implications by spreading out his $3.375 million base salary for 2004.

Kitna would have made a $1 million base in 2004 if he had played in less than 80 percent of the team's offensive snaps, but he was the only quarterback in the league to play all of his team's offensive plays in 2003.

He posted career highs in completions (324), passing yards (3,591), touchdown passes (26), completion percentage (62.3) and passer rating (87.4).

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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