Owner: Bengals won't trade Palmer, consider QB to be retired

CINCINNATI -- Bengals owner Mike Brown insisted on Tuesday that he won't trade quarterback Carson Palmer, who wants to leave one of the NFL's least-successful franchises.

Palmer, who has four years left on his contract, told the team in January that he would retire if he's not traded. The Bengals have only two winning seasons in the last 20 years, one of the worst stretches of futility in league history.

Brown said the club will move on without its franchise quarterback. The Bengals plan to hold their first training camp workout Saturday in Georgetown, Ky.

"I honestly like Carson Palmer," Brown said. "He was a splendid player for us. He's a good person. I wish him well. And he is retired. That is his choice. ... I'm not expecting him to be back."

Asked why he wouldn't trade Palmer and get some draft picks in return, Brown said it was a matter of principle.

"Carson signed a contract. He made a commitment. He gave his word," Brown said. "We relied on his word. We relied on his commitment. We expected him to perform here. He's going to walk away from his commitment. We aren't going to reward him for doing it."

Brown has traditionally taken a hard line on players trying to leave. Receiver Chad Ochocinco unsuccessfully lobbied for a trade three years ago, but Brown refused. Ochocinco has one year left on his deal, but is hoping to be released during the next few weeks.

Brown and coach Marvin Lewis declined to say anything about Ochocinco on Tuesday other than that he's under contract. The Bengals picked receiver A.J. Green in the first round of the draft, giving themselves his eventual replacement.

The Bengals drafted Andy Dalton in the second round of April's draft. Brown indicated on Tuesday that he will be the starter heading into camp, even though he hasn't been able to work with coaches because of the NFL's lockout. Jordan Palmer -- Carson's younger brother -- is the only experienced quarterback on the roster.

Brown said the team will look for another veteran, but it will give Dalton a chance to win the job.

"We think he is promising for our future," Brown said. "Yes, he'll have teething problems. It won't be altogether easy for him all the time. But we're going to put him in there. If he can do it, we're going to go with him. And I hope he can manage it."

The Bengals are coming off a 4-12 season that included 10 consecutive losses. Carson Palmer told the team he wouldn't be back after Lewis decided to return even though Brown promised no significant changes in how the organization is run.

The Bengals originally planned to have players report at Georgetown College -- a 90-mile drive south of Cincinnati -- on Wednesday and have their first practice a day later. They pushed the schedule back by two days.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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State lawmakers to consider bill for new Vikings stadium

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings finally got their stadium bill Friday, but with just 45 days left in the legislative session, they must compete for attention from state lawmakers who are mulling deep spending cuts in response to a $5 billion budget shortfall.

The bill is set to be introduced Monday, but its text was released Friday. It proposes spending $300 million in money from state taxpayers to help cover the costs of the Vikings' long-sought replacement for the Metrodome. Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, said she's glad to finally have a proposal for fellow lawmakers and the public to consider.

Despite the shrinking amount of time available, Rosen doesn't believe legislative committees would take up the bill in the next few weeks. She acknowledged the bill leaves many unanswered questions, chief among them which Twin Cities city or county will partner up as a home for the stadium and tap local taxpayers for another portion of the cost.

"I think there's plenty of time to get a Vikings bill done (this year)," Rosen said, noting that a previous bill was introduced last year with just 10 days left in the session. This year, the regular legislative session by law must end by May 23.

The bill would raise money for the stadium with a 10 percent state sales tax on sports memorabilia, along with a sales tax on luxury seats at the new stadium and on digital video recorders, and proceeds from stadium naming rights and a football-themed state lottery game.

The bill doesn't identify a location for the new covered stadium to replace the Metrodome, instead creating a Minnesota stadium authority with members appointed by the governor who will gather site bids from local governments and choose a stadium site by Feb. 15, 2012. The Vikings would be responsible for one-third of costs estimated to reach at least $900 million, plus any cost overruns.

City or county officials interested in the stadium would submit bids that include a financing package for a local share. Aspiring local partners could raise that share with a half-cent increase in their local sales tax, as well as by levying or increasing local sales taxes on liquor, lodging, entertainment, game admission, food and beverage.

So far, only Ramsey County has stepped forward as a potential local partner by offering the site of a former Army ammunition plant about 10 miles north of St. Paul. Vikings officials have expressed a preference for the current Metrodome site for a variety of reasons, but local leaders in Minneapolis and Hennepin County have been more hesitant to embrace the team.

Rosen said the creation of the stadium authority -- it would replace the current Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission -- and the 2012 location deadline will give the Vikings more time to recruit the right local partner.

Lester Bagley, the team's point man on stadium affairs, didn't immediately return a call to The Associated Press seeking comment Friday. He said one week ago that the details in the bill summary amounted to a good beginning framework for a stadium plan.

The Vikings have sought state assistance to build a new stadium for about a decade; their lease at the Metrodome ends after the 2011 season, and team officials have said the nearly 30-year-old venue is no longer sufficiently profitable. The collapse of the Metrodome's roof last December added urgency to the Vikings' pleas, and supporters have raised concerns that failure by the state to help pay for a new stadium could result in the team's relocation.

The Senate bill argues that spending state money on a private enterprise "provides to the state of Minnesota and its citizens highly valued intangible benefits that are virtually impossible to quantify." But so far, leaders of the Legislature's Republican majorities have avoided detailed discussions of the bill, saying the state budget takes precedence.

Gov. Mark Dayton has been more supportive.

"I'm glad the Legislature is taking that step, and I remain hopeful that they'll take the initiative to pass this," he said Friday.

Dayton said lawmakers could easily handle a stadium debate while completing a budget.

"There's plenty of time," he said. "I mean this respectfully -- they're good at multitasking. They do that all the time."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Report: Chargers would consider using franchise tag on Jackson

Would the San Diego Chargers consider keeping wide receiver Vincent Jackson after spending most of the season in a contract dispute?

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, yes, but most likely only for one more year.

The newspaper reported there remains almost no way the Chargers will sign Jackson to a long-term deal, but they would consider putting a franchise tag (likely worth approximately $10 million for one season) on him if such a designation remains part of the NFL's next collective bargaining agreement. The current labor deal expires March 4.

The team views Jackson, who has sought as much as $50 million for five seasons, as a risk because of his arrests for DUIs and driving with a suspended license. There is the potential for a long suspension from the NFL if he gets in more trouble off the field.

Jackson illustrated his value in this past Thursday night's victory over the San Francisco 49ers, catching three touchdown passes.

Jackson signed his contract tender for this season on Oct. 29 after Week 7. He missed the next three games because of a team-imposed suspension and being placed on the roster exempt list. By being eligible to play for the final six games (he missed one due to injury), he will accrue his sixth season toward free agency.

Jackson and his agent said at one point that the receiver wouldn't play at all this season because of his unhappiness at not getting a long-term deal. Counting the six games and the Chargers' Week 10 bye, Jackson will earn $240,058 rather than the $3,268,000 he would have made had he signed his tender as a restricted free agent before the season.

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Cardinals will welcome back Breaston, consider two LBs, too

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said there is no doubt that wide receiver Steve Breaston will play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Breaston had expected to return last weekend in Seattle, but he was held out because of the wet conditions. He has missed three games following arthroscopic knee surgery.

Whisenhunt also said Thursday that he is considering activating inside linebacker Gerald Hayes and rookie outside linebacker O'Brien Schofield. Both have been out all season, Hayes following back surgery and Schofield after reconstructive knee surgery.

Starting outside linebacker Clark Haggans hasn't practiced this week because of a groin injury. If Haggans can't play, his replacement would be second-year pro Will Davis, who played 24 snaps in relief in Arizona's 22-10 loss at Seattle.

"I've been preparing every week the same way, like I'm one play away," said Davis, a 2009 sixth-round draft pick out of Illinois.

Breaston said he was tired of talking about his injury situation but, nice guy that he is, did so anyway.

"It's tough, but it comes with the game," he said of missing so much time. "I was looking forward to being back last week, so that's disappointing. I just want to play some football again."

Breaston was injured at Atlanta in the second game of the season, but he tried to play through it the following week against the Oakland Raiders. That's when the decision was made to scope the knee.

"It's sore, but that's expected," Breaston said. "I felt good out there running. I'm getting my speed up, getting my burst together. I'm really ready to play on Sunday."

Breaston has 132 catches for more than 1,700 yards the past two seasons and has been sorely missed by an Arizona offense that ranks last in the NFL and has an undrafted rookie, Max Hall, at quarterback.

"You've got a veteran guy that's made a lot of big plays for us that you have confidence in," Whisenhunt said. "I know Max got a number of reps with Steve in camp, so there's a comfort factor there. It's always good when you have a player like Steve come back. That can only help us."

Hayes and Schofield started practicing just last week. If either is activated, it would require a roster move.

Hayes is a four-year starter who had been on the physically unable to perform list.

"We're working him in," Whisenhunt said. "He's got a couple of packages that he's playing in, and I think he's pretty close to being ready to go."

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Schofield, who had 12 sacks as a senior at Illinois, was considered among the top players at his position in college, but he blew out his left knee while practicing for the Senior Bowl. The Cardinals selected him in the fourth round, knowing they would have to wait for the knee to heal.

Schofield said he believed he might miss the entire season.

"But they gave me an opportunity to come out there and practice, and I was like, 'Man, it felt good,'" he said. "I got hit on the knee a couple of times, and I kind of paused and thought about it -- 'OK, no pain.' Everything feels good."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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