The high-tech, hinged knee brace hangs from a hook in Carson Palmer's locker, a symbol of how far the quarterback has come from his career-threatening injury. A year and a half later, he doesn't even need a brace. Palmer is back to full health and playing at full speed during the Bengals' weekend minicamp, a tantalizing sign for an underachieving team that failed to make the playoffs last season. This year, there are no excuses.