By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis would like to see Rudi Johnson signed to a long-term contract, anticipates that Carson Palmer will be part of an improved offense and says first-round draft pick Chris Perry will determine how much time Perry gets on the field.

Lewis answered questions for 35 minutes Tuesday afternoon during an Online chat with fans on Cincinnati.com. Many queries concerned the offensive backfield.

"That would depend on his ability to handle the physical nature of the NFL and picking up the ins and outs of our offense," Lewis said when asked how much Perry would play this coming season.

Perry is a candidate to return kickoffs, along with newly acquired Patrick Johnson and Deltha O'Neal.

Asked, too, about criticism for picking the former Michigan star in the first round, Lewis said, "Chris was the first-rated running back on most of the NFL team's draft boards."

Johnson is the heir apparent to the departed Corey Dillon - traded to New England - as the starter. Still, Johnson remains unsigned as a restricted free agent, but Johnson has said he anticipates signing the Bengals' one-year tender offer of $1.824 million within a few days.

"There really is no time frame on extending Rudi," Lewis said of Johnson's contract. "We would hope to try to get it done, but I can't guarantee it."

One question implied that Johnson and Perry would have a difficult time replacing Dillon, "the best back the Bengals ever had."

Replied Lewis: "That would be debatable. Teams are made of players. Rudi did an outstanding job knowing everything about his assignments, run and pass."

Johnson led the team with 957 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground in 2003.

Besides trading Dillon for a second-round draft pick, the Bengals and Lewis also made news early in the offseason for promoting Palmer ahead of incumbent starter Jon Kitna - even though Palmer has yet to take an NFL snap and Kitna is coming off a career year.

Asked if he would use the preseason to get Palmer extra work, Lewis said, "Carson will probably play more than most returning starting quarterbacks."

Asked how he could justify demoting Kitna, Lewis said, "I believe that Carson has the ability to enhance our quarterback position and our football team."

But Palmer would not be allowed to take the team down with him should he stumble badly.

There is no prescribed point where Palmer would be benched for playing poorly.

"I don't want one position to keep us from winning football games," Lewis said, "so I can't give you a number."

The Bengals have two rookie quarterbacks on the roster and last week picked up third-year pro Kurt Kittner off waivers from Atlanta.

"We will see how Kurt can do on the field," is how Lewis answered a question on whether Kittner would be his third quarterback behind Palmer and Kitna.

Lewis also said:

• On not drafting a center to replace Rich Braham: "Richie would say he needs no long-term replacement, but I feel comfortable we now have a couple of guys in house to compete for that spot. They are Thatcher Szalay, Larry Moore and Mike Mabry."

• On the status of wide receiver Kelley Washington: "Kelley has been working extremely hard this offseason. He's competing with Peter Warrick to be a starter."

• On who the team's fourth receiver would be today: "T.J. Houshmandzadeh or Patrick Johnson."

• On the team's chances of making the playoffs: "I would believe our chances are very good, but it comes to making football plays and preparation, just like a year ago."

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