By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer

TAMPA, Fla. - In the context of training camp and competition for roster spots, the effort to play a preseason opener is worth it, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Sunday.

Two days after it was scheduled and three days after its postponement, the Bengals open their preseason tonight against Tampa Bay.

GAME DAY

Bengals at Bucs When: 7:30 p.m. today. Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla. Series: Tampa Bay leads preseason series, 7-4, winning the past three. TV: Ch. 19, 45, live game coverage at 7:30 p.m. Radio: WCKY-AM (1360), WOFX-FM (92.5).

"They're the only way you have to evaluate guys," Lewis said shortly after the team arrived by bus in Tampa from Orlando, where it had been since early Friday morning.

"You have guys who are competing for jobs or who are on the bubble, and you have to evaluate them live. You can go and push around in shorts and shoulder pads, but it doesn't really matter, because that's not how the game is played on Sunday."

The threat posed by Hurricane Charley led the Tampa Sports Authority on Friday to postpone the game for at least two days.

The Bengals practiced twice at Tampa Bay's training camp home in Kissimmee, Fla., and bought some of their leg-weary skill players some unexpected rest and time to heal nagging injuries.

Tight end Matt Schobel, who has a slight hamstring injury, is among the players Lewis said now has a chance to play because of the delay.

And rookie running back Chris Perry showed Lewis he's ready to play less than a week after ending his contract holdout.

"I think, with the difference in the time we've had, he's had basically a week of practice," Lewis said of Perry. "Now he's had a week to get his legs underneath him and know what he's doing and where he's going. The time has been a benefit for him."

First-year starting quarterback Carson Palmer had to wait two extra days to get his first start since Jan. 2, 2003, ironically also in Florida at the Orange Bowl.

"It's been a long offseason - last year was long. It has been a year since I played in an actual game, so I'm looking forward to it," said Palmer, who assumes the starting role from Jon Kitna.

"I'm excited to play in just any football game - whether it's NFL, Canadian football, European football, it's fun."

Palmer, who Lewis said would play into the second quarter, appears to be viewing the game as a steppingstone in his development.

"Go out and be effective and move the ball," Palmer said when asked about his goals. "Just really getting command of the offense and knowing where everybody is on every play."

In the Buccaneers, the Bengals are facing the 2002 NFL champions. And coming up Saturday is New England, winner of two of the past three Super Bowls, in the Bengals' preseason home opener.

"What you want to do is compete against the best," Palmer said.

Lewis, a former defensive coordinator, said Palmer would be challenged by a Tampa Bay defense that was fifth in yards allowed and fourth in points given up in 2003.

"Even though it's preseason, he's going to play against two very stout groups to begin with, and they're going to check him out," Lewis said of Palmer's first pair of starts. "He's got to be up to regular-season form quickly."

The game will be a homecoming for Florida native Nate Webster, the Bengals' middle linebacker, who played his first four NFL seasons with Tampa Bay before signing with the Bengals as a free agent in March.

"To visit my old home, I guess, and tell them bye one more time," Webster said when asked what the game meant to him. "To show that I'm excited and happy with my new home."

The Bengals also will see some familiar faces on the Buccaneers sideline.

Former Bengals running back Brandon Bennett, wide receiver Danny Farmer and defensive end Reinard Wilson - all of whom went to training camp with the Bengals in 2003 - are expected to play for Tampa Bay.

The Bengals will return via charter plane after the game, but the unexpected four-day stay in Florida will change their training camp schedule.

There will be no practice this afternoon, as scheduled. The two practices Tuesday also are canceled, as is the morning practice Wednesday.

The Bengals still will practice from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday and twice Thursday at Georgetown College.

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E-mail mcurnutte@enquirer.com

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