The Bengals are kicking off this week, back into their regular season routine. On Monday, they conducted a practice with defensive tackle Geno Atkins, cornerback Brandon Ghee and running back Brian Leonard sitting out. Cincinnati will take Tuesday off, then it's off to practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with walkthroughs on Saturday and game day on Sunday. How very exciting, as we draw closer to the regular season, seeing all of our patience and hard work pay off. Well, the players and coaches probably worked harder than we did. But c'mon. We're fans. There is no reward for our hard work other than echoes inside bars that shout, WHO DEY!

+ Jordan Palmer's rise from an unlikely third-string quarterback into the Bengals immediate backup quarterback took some work, in large part thanks to quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese.

+ The Bengals will head into the regular season without true a fullback this year.

+ Daniel Coats has been rotating his practices with the tight end group one day, the fullback group the next.

+ Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens are getting their own television show on Verses called "The T.Ocho Show" that will talk the NFL -- and other things.

+ Chick Ludwig thinks that this roster is a better roster than a year ago.

+ After signing wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh to the league minimum, the Ravens traded Mark Clayton to the Rams.

+ San Francisco 49ers Tight End Vernon Davis called out wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who didn't play in the preseason.

+ Cleveland Browns running back Montario Hardesty tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season.

+ With Ben Roethlisberger suspended and Bryan Leftwich injured, the Steelers announced on Monday that Dennis Dixon will start Pittsburgh's season opener.