The Bengals are discussing a team-themed lottery ticket with the state of Ohio. A number of teams have discussed such deals, and the Redskins have already agreed on a scratch-off game with Virginia. "We already have sponsorships with both teams and have started a dialogue," Ohio Lottery deputy director of marketing services Terri Tancredi said. "They're excited and we're working with product development right now to see if the numbers work." Tancredi confirmed that the state has talked with both the Bengals and the Browns about such a game.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer has changed his tune on the importance of wide receiver Chad Ochocinco. "He's a damn good receiver - that's obvious, everybody knows that - but the guys that are working here and busting their butt here deserve a shot," Palmer said. "When he shows up he'll show up and hopefully he's in great shape and he's ready to play. "But I never once said anything about not wanting him here and not needing him. He's a Pro Bowl receiver. He's put up a ton of yards. He's extremely dangerous to cover. We would love him when he comes here, but he's not here right now." Earlier this offseason, Palmer said that Cincinnati would be fine without Ochocinco.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is thrilled to have Cedric Benson carrying the ball for him on offense. "He's explosive, smart, instinctive and strong," Palmer said. "He's everything you want in a tailback. I wouldn't stay we're going to run the ball more than we ever have, but we'll run the ball better." Benson earned a negative reputation in Chicago, but Palmer sees a different guy. "He's everything you've heard positive about him and nothing you've heard negative about him," Palmer said. "Guys can get portrayed wrong. I know first-hand from everything I've seen he's a classy guy. He's excited to be here and loves to work."

Safety Roy Williams, who signed with the Bengals this offseason, claims that he is still the same player he always was. "You can still see I haven't lost anything, I haven't lost a step," Williams said. Cincinnati defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer agreed, saying that the spring workouts aren't huge indicators, "but you can tell if it's a weakness and I haven't seen that yet."

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is very confident that the team will be much improved this season. Palmer missed a majority of the 2008 season due to injury, and Cincinnati added to their defense in the offseason. "We're going to be really good, I guarantee it," Palmer said recently.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer took a swipe at receiver Chad Ochocinco earlier this week on the Sirius NFL Radio 'Movin' The Chains' show. "It's definitely a new look for the Bengals receiver corps but I couldn't be happier with the guys we've got," Palmer said Tuesday. "T.J. [Houshmandzadeh's] gone and Chad's pretty much gone, he hasn't been here, so we've got guys that want those two spots, guys that compete day in and day out, when we're out there on the field, running, conditioning and in the weight room lifting. They're guys that want to take over for those two spots. They look every bit capable of doing what we're going to ask them to do." Palmer added that he doesn't know what to expect from Ochocinco this season. "Well, I really don't know. I haven't talked to him. I haven't talked to anybody that has talked to him. He wasn't here last year so I'm expecting him not to be here at all this year. Last year I think he was here for the mandatory camp but didn't participate in it. So I'm planning on him not being here just because he hasn't been here yet."

Chad Johnson will be allowed to wear his new name on the back of his uniform this season. But it will be spelled 'Ochocinco' instead of 'Ocho Cinco', according to a report from the AP. "It's his legal name," AFC information manager Corry Rush said Thursday.

Even though the Bengals won't have any 2009 games televised nationally, they will be the subject of HBO's 'Hard Knocks'. HBO announced on Thursday during a press conference at Paul Brown Stadium that the Bengals will be this year's team for the five-week ?Hard Knocks: Training Camp? series. The first episode will air Aug. 12.

There were published reports on Tuesday that Bengals rookie tackle Andre Smith was changing agents for the second time this spring, but nothing has been confirmed. SI.com's Jim Trotter reported that Andre Smith had terminated his contract with Priority Sports and Rick Smith. Soon after, Steve Wyche of NFL.com said Smith was going back to his original agent, Alvin Keels. A termination letter has not been sent to Priority Sports and Keels told the Cincinnati Enquirer he has not been rehired. "We have kept in contact since my termination and have maintained a good relationship," Keels said. " ... if I am re-hired I would be excited to go to work for Andre and negotiate a good deal with Cincy (sic). However, reports are premature and I have not yet been retained. Guess we all just have to wait and see."

The Bengals have acquired Rams fullback Brian Leonard for defensive tackle Orien Harris. Leonard was a second-round pick of St. Louis in 2007, and is expected to be an option in the passing game for Cincinnati as a reserve. Harris was a fourth-round choice of the Steelers in 2006.