Much has been made this off-season about the fact that four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson wants out of Cincinnati. The uncertainity of Johnson is going to loom over the Bengals all summer long. However, head coach Marvin Lewis has made it clear that the team is not going to trade the star wideout, meaning he'll either play for the Bengals or not at all. Last year was another statistical success for Johnson as his 1440 receiving yards broke his own team season record (1432 in '05), and he became the franchise's all-time leader in receptions (559) and receiving yards (8365). 

With or without Johnson, the Bengals still have the luxury of having one of the league's best quarterbacks in Carson Palmer. The fifth-year pro played every offensive snap and re-set his own club records with 373 completions and 4131 passing yards.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh is coming off his first Pro Bowl season as he topped Carl Pickens' Bengals record of 100 catches, set in 1996, by grabbing 112 balls and tying the Patriots' Wes Welker for the league lead in receptions.  Houshmandzadeh is physical receiver who no doubt has benefited playing opposite of his college teammate Johnson. It remains to be seen that if he could handle to being a legitimate #1 wideout, but the former seventh-round pick has emerged as top 15 wideout in the league.

Aside from Johnson's antics, Palmer's targets are changing as the team begins to turn the page.

The team finally said enough is enough and cut Chris Henry. Despite flashes of brilliance and amazing raw athletic ability, Henry could not stay out of trouble with the law. Henry was a clear cut No. 3 and his departure leads to one of this summer's most interesting position battles.

The front-runner for the job entering camp will be the team's second round pick Jerome Simpson. The Bengals surprised many by going after the Coastal Carolina star as early as they did, but at 6-foot-2 Simpson possesses the size and athleticism to make an immediate impact. 

Simpson will battle fellow rookie Andre Caldwell and veterans Glenn Holt, Antonio Chatman, and Marcus Maxwell, the third-year pro who's emergnce  allowed the team to part ways with Doug Gabriel, who signed this off-season as a free agent after not playing most of 2007. 

The biggest off-season improvement in the passing game came with the free agent signing of tight end Ben Utecht, formerly of the Colts. Utecht is a true "receiving tight end" and gives the Bengals a much needed over-the-middle option. He played in 14 games with 13 starts during the 2007 regular season for Indianapolis, finishing with 31 catches for 364 yards and one TD. Utecht joins Reggie Kelly, primarily a blocking tight end, to give Cincinnati nice balance at the position.

Fantasy Football, NFL bengals, carson palmer, chad johnson, tj houshmandzadeh, chris henry, jerome simpson, andre caldwell, antonio chatman, glenn holt, doug gabriel, ben utecht, reggie kelly