Cincinnati refused to take any chances with its big-name players Thursday night. The Indianapolis Colts took an even safer approach, benching all of its starters. In a ho-hum preseason finale, the Bengals scored touchdowns on their first two series and handed the Colts' replacements a 27-7 loss. "It was one of those fifth preseason games that wasn't artistic and probably the fans didn't appreciate a...

About the only negative confronting the Bengals when they reported to Georgetown College in Kentucky for training camp July 27 was that rookie first-round linebacker Keith Rivers was unsigned. And he wouldn't sign until 10 days later.

Quarterback Carson Palmer will skip Cincinnati's last preseason game, resting his broken nose while running back Rudi Johnson makes his first -- and what he thinks could be his last -- appearance in a Bengals uniform. Palmer didn't participate in practice again Tuesday, watching while the rest of the team got ready for its game Thursday night in Indianapolis.