To make room for newly acquired quarterback Craig Krenzel, the Cincinnati Bengals waived rookie free agent quarterback Josh Haldi on Tuesday. Haldi, who played college ball at Northern Illinois, signed April 28. He was the only quarterback participating in the team's rookie mini-camp April 29-May 1 at Paul Brown Stadium.

The Cincinnati Bengals signed guard Kyle Talavitz to a two-year deal on Monday. Takavitz fills a void left by offensive lineman Alex Sulfsted's retirement earlier this month.

The Bengals aquired quarterback Craig Krenzel off waivers from Chicago on Monday. Concurrently, they released veteran linebacker Khalid Abdullah, and defensive tackle Terrance Martin. Krenzel will play backup to Carson Palmer alongside the NFL?s greatest backup Jon Kitna.

On paper, the Cincinnati Bengals have an extremely potent offense. Their offensive line is beyond solid and with a healthy Carson Palmer at the helm, the sky is the limit. With Rudi Johnson taking the ball on a regular basis, Palmer has his choice between Chad and T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Peter Warrick, Chris Henry, Tab Perry and Kelley Washington to throw it to. Said offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski on Palmer: "He's doing things out there now with changing protections calls, making adjustments we need to make, getting people lined up right," Bratkowski pointed out. "We all learn at different speeds. I'm a bit of a slow learner. I kind of need to see things and think them through and get a feel for it a few times and then I get it, and I think Carson's probably like that. But once he gets it, he's got it. "I'll tell you what.? Said Bratkowski. ?What I've seen out there, the players were doing it. They were preparing themselves like no other time I've been here in five years."

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer has recovered from a sprained knee and is back in full form. "Anytime you go through an injury, it gives you new perspective," Palmer said. "It makes you hungry again." With a healthy Palmer, the Bengals are confident that this is their year. "I feel the excitement," Palmer said. "We feel we have a chance to be a good team.?

From offensive lineman to construction development partner, Alex Sulfsted has decided to call it quits after only playing 18 career games in the NFL. "I went from football on Wednesday to working a 10-hour day." Sulfsted, a former Mariemont High School star who started three years at Miami University, met most of his football goals, he said. The Bengals on Monday released the news that Sulfsted was retiring. "I played in the NFL, I started (games), I played for the Bengals, which has always been, and will always be, my favorite team," he said. "It's a perfect time to move on with business."

Chad Johnson stressed Wednesday that a holdout is not in his plans. Agent Drew Rosenhaus represents the Bengals wide receiver, who is under contract through the 2009 season. An ESPN.com story about Rosenhaus included a comment from the agent that Johnson was "sorely underpaid." "My agent doesn't run me. I run myself," Johnson said after Wednesday's workout. "He works for me. Therefore, if there were any holdout going on it would be going on right now with the rest of those that are holding out for more money right now. "(Number) 85 ain't going nowhere." In November 2003, the Bengals gave Johnson a $12.5 million signing bonus on a five-year contract extension worth $26 million. According to the NFL Players Association, his salary will rise from $1 million this season to $3.6 million by 2009. "That's Drew's opinion," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said. "He's got that opinion about nine or 10, 12, 15 guys all around the league through this point. No big deal." Johnson led the AFC in receiving yards (1,274) last season, caught a career-high 95 passes and was voted to the AFC Pro Bowl squad for the second consecutive year. "Am I underpaid? I'm not sure," Johnson said.

Contrary to earlier reports, the Cincinnati Bengals will not release linebacker Nate Webster. The Bengals have agreed to a restructured deal that will pay him the league minimum (for a five-year player) of $540,000 this season, with the opportunity to earn as much as another $500,000 in incentive pay based on playing time. Webster?s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined to comment about the new contract. "I'm choosing not to talk about that situation right now," Rosenhaus said.