Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals After Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer missed almost all of the 2008 season with elbow problems, Cincinnati will be looking to bounce back from dismal 4-12 record. Palmer played in just four games before tests revealed a partially torn ligament and tendon that kept him out for the remainder of the season.

The Bengals signal caller elected not to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the damage; instead, he chose to rest the elbow to allow it to heal. By March of this year, Palmer said that he was 100%.

NFL odds makers are apparently sceptical, giving Cincinnati 75/1 odds to win Super Bowl XLIV. Vegas is also saying that the Bengals are long-shots at a conference championship at 25/1.

In the off-season, Cincinnati had a good draft in landing Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith in the first round and USC linebacker Rey Maualuga
in the second. Both players could make an early impact. In the free agent market, Cincy added wide receiver Laveranues Coles from the Jets to replace the departed T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

If Chad Johnson (I am not calling him anything but Johnson) can rebound from a poor 2008 season, Palmer is truly back to Pro Bowl form, and Coles can gel in the offense; the Bengals can definitely put up some points in 2009.

The big question will be if their defense can stop anyone. Cincinnati does have the talent on that side of the ball. With the addition of Maualuga at linebacker, along with Keith Rivers, Jonathan Joseph, Leon Hall and Domata Peko, the Bengals will just need to come together as a unit. The pieces are in place, they just need to play.

I look for a healthy Bengals team to improve from 2008. They should be around 8-8 in 2009 and head into 2010 with some optimism for the future.