Owner Mike Brown softened on his stance concerning dealing 31-year old Carson Palmer, when the Raiders offered a king’s ransom for him.  The Bengals have dealt Palmer to the Oakland Raiders for a first round pick in 2012 and a conditional first round pick in 2013.  To steal a line from “The Godfather”, Mike Brown was offered a offer than he couldn’t refuse.  31-year old Carson Palmer played in 97 games (all starts) in his career with the Bengals and he completed 2,024 of 3,217 passes (62.9%) for 22,694 yards with 154 TD passes and 100 INTs (86.9 QB Rating).  Palmer also carried the ball 179 times for 316 yards (1.8 ypc) with 5 TD runs with the Bengals.  Palmer made it to two Pro Bowls in his time with the Bengals.  He is also #3 all-time in passing yards, passing TDs and interceptions in Bengals’ history behind Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason.  Owner Mike Brown comes out of the Carson Palmer saga smelling like a rose.

UPDATE:  The 2013 draft pick will be a first rounder if the Raiders get to the AFC Championship Game in either 2012 or 2013.  If they don’t, the pick in 2013 will be a 2nd rounder.

The Bengals have acquired 28-year old cornerback Kelly Jennings from the Seahawks for 24-year old DT Clinton McDonald.  Jennings played in 14 games for the Seahawks last year and he had 40 tackles, 13 passes defensed and 1 interception.  He has now played in 78 games in his first five years in the NFL and he has 208 tackles, 2 interceptions, 48 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 tackle for a loss.  Jennings will be the new nickel back for the Bengals going forward.  Clinton McDonald played in 8 games as a rookie for the Bengals last year and he had 4 tackles.  This was a solid deal for the Bengals.

The Bengals have acquired 23-year old safety Taylor Mays from the 49ers for an undisclosed future draft pick.  Mays played in all 16 games as a rookie last year for the Niners and he had 38 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 forced fumble and 2 passes defensed.  Mays got himself into the Niners’ Dog House early in his rookie season and he never got out of it.  The Bengals will likely make Mays earn his keep on special teams before he gets a chance at playing much on defense.  This was worth the risk as Mays was a second round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

The Bengals have dealt 33-year old WR Chad Ocho Cinco to the Patriots for a 5th round pick in 2012 and a 6th round pick for 2013.  Ocho Cinco played in 14 games (12 starts) for the Bengals last year and he caught 67 passes for 831 yards (12.4 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  He played in 151 games (132 starts) in his 10 years with the Bengals and he caught 751 passes for 10,783 yards (14.4 avg) with 66 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 24 times for 175 yards (7.3 ypc) for the Bengals.  Ocho Cinco made it to 6 Pro Bowls in his 10 years with the Bengals and he is also the all-time franchise leader in receiving yards (10,783) and receiving TDs (66).  Ocho Cinco’s off the field antics likely led to this deal as the Bengals didn’t get a fair deal with the Patriots.

The Bengals have acquired 26-year old free safety Reggie Nelson from the Jaguars for 24-year old cornerback David Jones.  Nelson was a former first round pick who disappointed the Jags.  He played in 16 games (14 starts) for the Jaguars last season and he had 70 tackles and 5 passes defensed.  Nelson has played in three years in the NFL appearing in 45 games (42 starts) in which he has 187 tackles, 1 sack, 20 passes defensed, 7 interceptions and 1 forced fumble.  David Jones played in 12 games (0 starts) for the Bengals last season and he had 11 tackles and 1 pass defensed.  He finished his three years in Cincy playing in 33 games (7 starts) in which he had 56 tackles and 7 passes defensed.  This was a outstanding trade for the Bengals as Nelson might have just needed some new scenery to excel.

The Bengals have acquired 25-year old running back Brian Leonard from the Rams for DT Orien Harris.  Leonard can handle both tailback or fullback because of his skill set.  Leonard only played in 2 games for the Rams last season carrying the ball 2 times for 7 yards (3.5 ypc).  He has now played in 18 games in his NFL career (2 years) and he carried the ball 88 times for 310 yards (3.5 ypc).  Leonard has also caught 30 passes for 183 yards (6.1 avg) in his NFL career.  Orien Harris played in 14 games for the Bengals last season and he made 14 tackles.  Here’s to hoping that the Rams answer the phone the next time the Bengals call them to trade.

The Bengals have acquired DT Shaun Rogers from the Lions for either a 3rd or 4th round pick.  The 28-year old Rogers is a load in the running game when he’s healthy as he stands 6’4″, 340 pounds.  Rogers played in all 16 games last season for the Lions and he made 39 tackles, defensed 3 passes, had 7 sacks and a interception that he returned 66 yards for a TD.  He will definately upgrade the Bengals defense.

Rogers has now played in 98 games in his NFL career and he has made 272 tackles, defensed 21 passes, has 29 sacks, forced 4 fumbles and he has one interception. 

UPDATE:  This trade fell through last night and the Lions then traded Rogers to the rival Cleveland Browns for a 3rd round pick in the 2008 Draft and CB Leigh Bodden.