FanHouse MarvinWhite

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is a month off, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: If there is one constant on this team, it is Carson Palmer. Sure, Palmer didn't have his best season a year ago, but his off seasons are better than many QBs best years. In reality, other things factored into his poor season (injuries to the line, injury to Rudi Johnson, receivers pouting). The only issue here is what happens in Cincinnati if Palmer gets hurt. They have no one groomed to come in. Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jeff Rowe are in their second seasons with the team and Carson's brother, Jordan, is fighting for a spot. Heat Index: 8

Running backs: Injuries have hurt this unit in the past couple of years. Workhorse Rudi Johnson finally hit a wall; Kenny Irons blew out his knee in his first preseason game; Chris Perry has never been able to stay on the field. Well, Rudi and Perry are healthy again, with 2007 surprises Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey around to give the offense a different dynamic. Cincy needs this unit to get back to form to allow the entire offense to explode. Heat Index: 4

Receivers: Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are one of the best receiving combos in the NFL. T.J. tied for the lead in receptions; Chad was third in receiving yards. However, this could be the last season either is in Cincinnati. Johnson's issues with the team are well documented. T.J. is in his final contracted season. Chris Henry is finally gone and there are several guys trying to step into that #3 spot. Rookie Jerome Simpson will get a strong look, as will Andre Caldwell and Antonio Chatman. Chatman is the only one with experience and could get the nod. Heat Index: 8

The Minnesota Vikings and safety Madieu Williams have come to a contract agreement.

The four-year veteran safety has agreed on parameters on a six-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings and is on a plane now headed to Minneapolis, agent Kenny Zuckerman said late this morning.

The contract with worth a total of $33 million.

The Vikings current defensive coordinator is Leslie Frazer. Frazer was the defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals ... the team Williams has played for since his rookie season of 2004 ... in 2003-2004. Madieu respects Frazer as a coach and gave the team an advantage in signing him.

As for the Bengals, they kinda/sorta wanted Madieu back because of his experience. Cincy has their starting secondary in place (Marvin White, Chinedum Ndukwe), but both just completed their first NFL seasons. What could be interesting is what happens to veteran safety Dexter Jackson, who was though to become a salary cap casulty.

According to the Bengals official website, Odell Thurman plans to appeal his denial for reinstatement:

The process starts early next week with attorney John Michels sending a letter to the NFLPA requesting that it argue the grievance and it then has 30 days to decide if it will take the case. "It's a difficult appeal," said Michels Friday night. "The first tier is to convince the NFLPA and then it would go to the commissioner and he made the original decision." Michels plans to draw up a letter this weekend, have Thurman read it Monday, and then send it to the union.

Some other notes of interest after the first day of camp:

• WR Antonio Chatman tweaked his hammy while running a route in practice. Chatman is in the competition for the third receiver job while Chris Henry sits out eight games due to his own NFL suspension.
• Also, fourth round pick Marvin White signed to a four-year deal. That means that Leon Hall, Cincy's top draft pick, is the lone holdout.
• Here is linebacker Landon Johnson's website. Hat tip to Lance McAllister.
• The Bengals have agreed with Fox Sports Ohio to become the cable home for the Bengals. This will allow the network to exclusively house "encores of all available preseason games, a weekly Bengals Spotlight show, and live coverage of head coach Marvin Lewis' regular Monday news conferences during the regular season. "