More heat on Palmer, Bratkowski from readers

Question, from Michael in Louisville: Carson Palmer has not been a playmaker. Why are the Bengals refusing to pull him and try Jin Kitna? Heck, if it works, then there is competition, and Palmer steps up his game or takes a cut in pay.

Bonus: If Kitna performs well, and we win some games, we could trade him.

Answer: Going back to Kitna makes no sense now. The Bengals are not going to make the
playoffs. Palmer is the future, and Kitna might still have some trade value. Not that the Bengals
are going to trade him.

Question, from Bob: Do you think the 15-yard personal foul call on Landon Johnson was
warranted? It seemed to me that Jerome Bettis was not down at the time, and I don't recall any
whistles blowing the play dead.

Answer: Johnson said he didn't hear a whistle. But Bettis was down by contact. Cornerback
Tory James made the tackle. Pittsburgh didn't score on the drive, but the 15-yard loss for the
Bengals didn't help. After the Steelers punt, the Bengals started their last drive on the 9-yard
line.

Question, from Jan: Don't laugh. I am a 45-year-old mom who has loved the Bengals since
Boomer Esiason. That is why I started watching. My husband and son watch only because I do. I can follow the game pretty well, or I can figure it out from the announcers. What is a safety? Is it simply that because Palmer was sacked in the endzone we made points for the other team? Thanks for any light you can shed. I really want the Bengals to win this season, and I
hope that they are in the playoffs this year or next year.

Answer: A safety occurs when the offense is tackled in its end zone. The defensive team
gets two points. Palmer was not tackled. But he was called for intentional grounding of an
incomplete pass while throwing from his end zone. By rule, that play is a safety.

Next year probably will be the year your loyalty is rewarded with a playoff berth. This
season might be lost.

Question, from Bill in Anderson Township: 1. It should not take a professional football
head coach over three hours to decide if his team is mediocre.

2. The bench is available for those who are.

3. Maybe those who cause an infraction on the field should sit out a series of downs;
maybe that would have a player thinking twice.

4. Lambasting coaches and players in front of a national audience does not bode well.
You have the whole week of practice to do that.

5. If my boss purchased a multi-million dollar piece of equipment to help run the
business and help the bottom line and I, as a manager, pulled its plug and had it depreciate, I
would be fired. Talk about mediocrity. That is why fingers have joints.

Answer: Coaches often use the media to emphasize a point to their team. Lewis said
nothing to reporters that he hadn't already told his team. Many Bengals fans think Lewis' anger
was long overdue for a Bengals coach.

Question, from Dave in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: What do you think about the play
calling in the third quarter? It appeared to be the same as last week where the offense went away from what was working. I know the penalties played a part, but it did not look like (offensive coordinator Bob) Bratkowski had any answers for the pressure.

Answer: The penalities were a big problem, and the calls on Chad Johnson were borderline
at best. They nullified a couple of good Rudi Johnson runs. The penalties and field position
limited the play options.

Question, from Brian in Sandston, Va.: I was at the Redskins game last week. Carson
Palmer looked very much like the talented "rookie" that he is. He made some brilliant passes and choices. Some of them left me scratching my head. He will eventually be fine. My question is, what will it take, and when will it happen that my Bengals are on equal par with the really legit teams in the league, such as the Patriots, Eagles and Steelers?

Answer: Marvin Lewis has a plan. He is putting it in place. Palmer is learning. He is
improving. The defense is becoming younger and faster, and the organization should be
congratulated for a fine draft class. I'm not sure when the Bengals will reach the level of
sustained excellence that some of those teams exhibit. But I wouldn't bet against Lewis.