Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer isn't worried about receiver Chad Ocho Cinco, who hasn't attended the team's recent workouts. "I'm not worried about him. I'm worried about the guys we have here," said Palmer. "The guys that want to be here and want to work now are the guys in the locker room and here today and here this offseason. I'm not going to worry about anyone else."

The Bengals are scheduled to host Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin April 2-3, and reports indicate that there is a very good chance they could select him on draft day. Cincinnati owns the sixth overall selection in the 2009 draft.

The Bengals are unsure whether wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco will report to the team's offseason conditioning program. "I plan on everyone to be here until I hear that they're not," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "Now, there are some guys in weddings or classes who won't be here the first week but will the second, and vice versa. We should be at 90 percent or better in terms of attendance." Ocho Cinco did not show up until minicamp in June of 2008 after demanding to be traded for much of the offseason.

Former Cowboys safety Roy Williams visited the Bengals on Thursday, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It was a good workout. I wanted to evaluate him from when I remembered him," Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said. "He's still got some quickness." Zimmer coached Williams in Dallas, where he held the same position.

The Bengals have the sixth overall pick in next month's NFL Draft and are taking a look at Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells. Wells is scheduled to visit the organization in Cincinnati during the first week of April. Many believe that he put himself back in the running as a potential Top 5 pick after an explosive performance at Ohio State's pro day on March 13. "It was big for me to perform well at the pro day," Wells said. "I knew deep down that I could do better in my 40-time than I did at the combine. It was more of a personal thing for me. It felt great when I crossed that finish line and heard my times."

The Bengals have released safety Dexter Jackson, the MVP of Super Bowl XXXVII for the Buccaneers, along with three other players. Cincinnati also waived guard James Blair, cornerback Marcus Brown and defensive end Victor DeGrate.

The Bengals are reportedly close to an agreement with quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan to make him their backup to Carson Palmer. O'Sullivan started eight games for the 49ers last year before being benched in favor of Shaun Hill.

The Bengals and receiver Laveranues Coles have agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth $28 million. Both sides are still working out the language of the contract, but it could become official by Thursday morning.

The Bengals have re-signed running back Cedric Benson. "Cedric was a great addition for us last year," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said, "and we're looking to see him pick up right where he left off." Benson started the last 10 games of 2008 and helped the club to a winning second-half record.

He needed longer to decide than he initially thought he would, but T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the most coveted free agent wide receiver on the market, has finally chosen a home for the 2009 season. Despite overtures from the Bengals and Vikings, Houshmandzadeh has agreed to a five-year, $40 million contract with the Seahawks. According to multiple reports, the deal includes $15 million in guarantees. While he was only ?officially? on the market for around 90 hours, his name was such a sizzling one on the NFL?s version of the hot stove that Cincinnati beat writers aren?t the only ones that know how to spell Houshmandzadeh anymore. This offseason?s crop of available pass-catchers was so thin that nearly every team looking to add a top-flight receiver was linked to T.J., but only three ended up having a legitimate chance at his services. Entering free agency, Houshmandzadeh was head-and-shoulders above every other unrestricted free agent at his position. If he was the top option, and he was, the fight for second place was among Nate Washington, Amani Toomer, Reggie Williams, Bobby Engram, Bryant Johnson and Jabar Gaffney. Based on that fact, it?s not surprising to see the Seahawks throw $15 million in guaranteed money at a receiver that will turn 32 just a few weeks into the 2009 season. That is the number that really matters in these free agent signings, because of the non-guaranteed status of NFL contracts. Sure, Albert Haynesworth signed with the Redskins for $100 million, but you and I have just about the same chance of collecting that much from Washington as he does. I probably should have focused on that fact more in the handful of other GTD pieces wrote over the weekend: (Redskins Sign Haynesworth For $100M, Browns Deal Winslow To Bucs, Washington Gives Hall $54M, Pioli Brings Cassel To Chiefs). When looking at free agent signings, a receiver is probably most likely to play out the life of his contract and eventually reap the full value of his initial pact. Houshmandzadeh will be 36 when this deal expires, an age at which crafty receivers can still be effective. Immediately, one might predict a huge season for T.J. considering that he has hauled in a total of 294 receptions for 3,128 yards and 25 touchdowns over the last three seasons, but as Seattle?s roster currently stands, opposing defenses will be able to double him when they feel inclined. Houshmandzadeh has good hands, and I?d blame a majority of his dropped passes this past season (5) on Carson Palmer?s injury. There?s a reason why the Bengals allowed Ryan Fitzpatrick to leave via free agency. Just as he was the unquestioned top wide receiver on the market over the past few days, Houshmandzadeh will ascend to the top of Seattle?s depth chart right away. Engram, a free agent as mentioned above, led the team in receiving last season with 47 catches for 489 yards and not a one touchdown. Houshmandzadeh would form a nice one-two combination with Deion Branch, if he could somehow stay healthy, but with Engram and Koren Robinson?s unrestricted free agent status, you have to believe that the Seahawks are going to target another receiver. I suppose they are ?in play? for Texas Tech?s Michael Crabtree with the fourth overall pick in April?s NFL Draft, but I?d like to see them go after someone like Shaun McDonald or Devery Henderson, no matter how unlikely of targets they might seem. The addition of Houshmandzadeh, along with the healthy (cross your fingers) return of Matt Hasselbeck should along the Seahawks to quickly erase the memory of their dreadful 4-12 season. I have maintained all along that they were the most talented four-win team in the NFL last season, and the coaching change won?t be drastic due to the time Jim Mora Jr. put in under Mike Holmgren. Grade for Seahawks: A- T.J. appeared to have his choice of destinations, which makes it hard to believe that he?d regret the deal?at least for the next few months. The sizable pay raise, alone, makes the pact a good one for Houshmandzadeh, who will also enjoy a departure from the drama of Chad ?Ocho Cinco? Johnson. Grade for Houshmandzadeh: A Losing Houshmandzadeh is dreadful news for the Bengals, who would have had an easier time getting rid of Johnson if T.J. had re-signed. Marvin Lewis has said that he doesn?t anticipate Cincinnati entering the 2009 season without both of their top receivers, and if that holds true, they?ll be stuck with the receiver they most wanted to get rid of in Ocho Cinco. Grade for Bengals: C-