Gruden still awaits Palmer

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

New Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden still hasn’t talked to Carson Palmer. He’s leaving that awkward coach-to-quarterback talk for another time.

Gruden was in town Monday to start teaching his philosophy to the rest of the coaching staff. He’s implementing a far different offense — totally new terminology — on a team unsure about its franchise player.

Palmer asked for a trade following a 4-12 finish that left the Bengals with only two winning records in the last 20 years. Owner Mike Brown refused, creating the possibility of friction at the most important position while the team changes offenses.

Gruden, hired four days earlier, said he won’t contact Palmer until Brown and coach Marvin Lewis get the situation resolved.

“Things were said before I got here, and I think they’ve got to take care of those things in-house first,” Gruden said. “Then if they need me, I’ll be glad to talk to him and do what I need to do to try to get him back. But I think that’s got to come from upstairs, that’s got to come from the head coach.”

The 31-year-old quarterback made his surprising trade request after the Bengals finished another dreadful season and Lewis agreed to return as head coach even though Brown promised no significant change in how the organization operates.

Longtime offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski was fired a few weeks later, the only change so far. The rest of the staff is intact.

Gruden is basing his offense on the assumption he’ll have Palmer running it.

“Until I hear something different, we’re going to go forward with him as our quarterback,” Gruden said. “That’s the only approach I can take right now. Whether it’s right or wrong, I do not know. But that’s the way I’m going about things.”

There’s a lot of uncertainty as the offense starts its transition. Top receiver Terrell Owens is a free agent unlikely to return.

Receiver Chad Ochocinco has a year left on his contract but is at odds with Lewis. Running back Cedric Benson also is a free agent, turned off by the team’s decision to throw more last season.