What Was That?

It is only one game, but it makes me think the Bengals rebuilding job on offense isn't as troublesome as I thought it was.  Jerome Simpson, where have they been hiding you?  Andre Caldwell, stay nice and steady.  Jordan Shipley, keep growing, and Jermaine Gresham, gonna be a beast.  Those are some thoughts after yesterday's game.  The other, and perhaps more important thought, I've never seen Carson Palmer look that comfortable in years.  In command, throwing the ball with confidence, and not looking like a hayseed dropped in the middle of Time's Square whistling at all the big buildings around him.  I'm not sure Carson is a little skittish with T.O. and Chad, or just wants to keep them happy so he doesn't have to hear the complaining, but something was different Sunday.  Against the Chargers Carson definitely took what the defense gave him, play after play after play.  Catching the Chargers confused on the bomb to Simpson was the kind of stuff we saw in 2005 when Carson was considered and up and coming elite quarterback.  So it's in there, he still has it.  And the Bengals stuck to the run.  It's probably too late to convince Cedric Benson to stick around, but if he saw what I saw on Sunday, he might give it another thought.

Of course a lot things depend on who will be the head coach next season.  I think change is needed, and that's not a knock on Marvin.  He gave it a good shot.  But if Mike Brown is desperate enough to give the next guy just enough power to name his own staff, then it's another step in the right direction.  I don't expect that to happen, but since it's the holiday season, I'll remain hopeful.