The Bengals pursuit of Sam Adams paid off Thursday night when they reached an agreement in principle on a three-year contract with the unrestricted free agent from the Buffalo Bills. Terms of the deal weren't revealed, but ESPN.com reported Adams can make about $4 million in 2006 if he reaches certain playing time and performance levels. The deal likely won't be consummated until the weekend because the Bengals want Adams to take a physical exam.

A report in the Detroit News said the Bengals, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs have all shown interest in Lions quarterback Joey Harrington. Harrington, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2002 draft, will not return to Detroit in 2006. The Lions have signed former Bengal Jon Kitna and former Arizona Cardinal Josh McCown to compete for the starting spot next season.

Carson Palmer says he expects to play in the regular-season opener, but that also might be in question. "I wish I knew when I was coming back," Palmer said Wednesday. "The last thing I need to do is push anything too early and push back the date that I can really step on the field 100 percent."

Bengals president Mike Brown, one of two NFL owners to vote against the new labor agreement, thinks the deal is bad for his small-market team. The Bengals and Buffalo Bills were the only teams to oppose the deal approved Wednesday. Buffalo's Ralph Wilson said owners weren't given enough time to understand the deal.

Bengals backup quarterback Jon Kitna has drawn the interest of several teams, including the New York Jets. The Newark Star-Ledger reported Friday that Kitna is one of the possible replacements or competitors for the job held the past few seasons by Chad Pennington. The Jets have tried unsuccessfully to renegotiate Pennington's contract in the past several weeks. The newspaper also reported that the Jets could draft Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler with the fourth overall pick April 29 or trade a late-round pick for Washington's Patrick Ramsey.

Receiver Kelley Washington and three other restricted free agents received one-year contract offers Friday from the Cincinnati Bengals, giving the team control over whether they stay or go. Receiver Kevin Walter, fullback Jeremi Johnson and guard Scott Kooistra also were tendered contracts, a move that allows the Bengals to match any offer they might receive from another team.