1:40 p.m.
BY GEOFF HOBSON
STOCKING STUFFERS: Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer didn't practice Friday and has been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday's game against the Giants. With head coach Marvin Lewis saying Palmer would only play if he practiced, write in Jon Kitna since Palmer hasn't worked since suffering a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in New England Dec. 12.
After Friday's practice, Lewis didn't rule him out. He did say he thought left end Duane Clemons, who also missed last week with a knee injury and has been downgraded to doubtful, would miss his second straight game. Carl Powell, who had his first two sacks last week, would start again. Lewis also said he expects Deltha O'Neal to play for the first time in three weeks, but is waiting to make a call on him or rookie Keiwan Ratliff starting ...
As they came off the field Friday, players said the surface is in fine shape after they practiced Wednesday and Thursday indoors while the FieldTurf at Paul Brown Stadium was covered by a tarp. "It feels the same," said kicker Shayne Graham ...
Casey Bramlet, the rookie quarterback from Wyoming who was elevated to backup last week, hasn't blnked an eye in the weather: "It's like this (back home) starting in October and November all the way until March," said Bramlet, who said his coldest game ever was about 15 below.
