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Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer that quarterback Carson Palmer will be held out at least two more games due to his shoulder injury.

"It hasn't changed with Carson. We're going to let him rest this week and probably next week, and go from there."

The Bengals signed Jeff Rowe to the practice squad, which fueled rumors that Palmer could be out for a significant amount of time. Rowe was the Bengals' third string QB last season but was beaten out this preseason by Palmer's younger brother, Jordan.

Lewis shot down those rumors with the quote above, but it still doesn't bring hope to fans. Palmer will miss his third game of the season when the Pittsburgh Steelers come calling today, and it seems as if he'll miss at least one more.

You would think that they would seriously consider sitting him another week since the Bengals' bye comes in Week 10. That would give Palmer five weeks to get his elbow rested and may make him available for the rest of the season.

Ryan Fitzpatrick will start in Palmer's place.

Ross Tucker is a former NFL player who's turned out to be an even better writer. He's just like this guy, but different. Anyway, Tucker now has a weekly column on SI.com and his latest effort highlights why it makes sense for players to have an agent. Yes, this seems obvious, but Daunte Culpepper started representing himself a few years ago, and it probably cost him a job earlier this offseason.

MDS pointed out that Culpepper got the bright idea to turn down $1 million offer from the Packers because he wants to be a starter. Fine. Anthony Wright and Jordan Palmer have similar aspirations but they (on the advice of their agents, presumably) chose to go about it a little differently. Tucker adds some context.

...[S]ometimes -- who am I kidding? often -- players have an overly inflated opinion of themselves and their market value. An agent can work as a buffer to relay the reality of the situation to a player who might otherwise be unaware. Though Culpepper says he is speaking with several teams and does not seem concerned about his job status, it's hard to imagine another team that would be a better situation for him.

If he had signed with Green Bay before the draft, he would have had the chance to back up an inexperienced, unproven player on a team with legitimate Super Bowl talent everywhere else on the roster. Should Rodgers badly falter or get injured, Culpepper could have been waiting in the wings.

Four short years ago, Mike Price had coached the Washington State Cougars to the Rose Bowl and handed Heisman Trophy Winner Carson Palmer and the mighty USC Trojans a loss that conceivably kept them out of the National Championship picture (though the Trojans *did* win one of 16 NCAA-recognized titles that year). After a brief stay in Tuscaloosa, Price now finds himself in West Texas at the University of Texas - El Paso, pinning his hopes on the Heisman prospects of another Palmer: Carson's little brother Jordan.

Had Jordan Palmer chosen to follow in his brother's footsteps and attend Southern Cal, he'd be gunning for an unprecedented third stiff-arm trophy in a row for the Trojans. Instead, he chose the UTEP Miners and his name appears on trophy watch lists which had largely ignored his brother going into Carson's senior year...even if it is only in small print.

Palmer and the Miners open up thier 2006 campaign and bid for a third straight bowl appearance at San Diego State, whose expectations for 2006 are almost as high as UTEP's, followed by a home game against Texas Tech and games against the two new Mexico schools before opening conference play in October.

That sound you hear (suspend disbelief for a moment, please)---it's the 2006 college football season quickly approaching. We are now a mere six days and a few hours from Aug. 31, the new season's genesis. The slate of games' for that Thursday hold only modest promise, but as a true college football nut I'll find a way to delight in them just the same.

Looking over that day's schedule, a few games stand out.

Northwestern at Miami (Ohio)---Emotions will run high at this one as Northwestern plays its first game since the death of coach Randy Walker. Adding further to the mood, Walker was an Ohio-born coach who led a revival of sorts as Miami's coach before taking over at Northwestern.

Minnesota at Kent State---The running backs are dropping like flies for the run-happy Golden Gophers, which may spell early-season doom. Or maybe not, as Kent State is coming off a 1-10 season. Either way this has the potential to be another interesting Big Ten/MAC battle.

South Carolina at Mississippi State---I'm surprised this game is this early in the year, as most conference matchups do not begin until several weeks into the season. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier's back, and it's just not college football without the Ol' Ball Coach throwing visors around.

Toledo at Iowa State---Coach Tom Amstutz runs an offensive power in the MAC, but will be without departed senior Bruce Gradkowski at quarterback. Iowa State should have an incredible offense as well, returning Bret Meyer at quarterback, Stevie Hicks at tailback and the dynamic duo of Austin Flynn and Todd Blythe at receiver. This is the third matchup of the day between a MAC team and a midlevel BCS conference foe.

Northern Arizona at Arizona State---This won't be much of a game, but we'll get our first look at the suddenly shaky Arizona State Sun Devils.

UTEP at San Diego State---This is the final hurrah for UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer. The program is now in its third year under coach Mike Price and should be set for a pretty big season. The Aztecs begin their first campaign under new coach Chuck Long, formerly the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.