According to Geoff Hobson, former Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said that Carson Palmer told him that he wasn't the reason he asked Mike Brown for a trade.

One of those people that reached out to him was quarterback Carson Palmer and he assured Bratkowski that he wasn't a reason he asked Brown for a trade two weeks ago. Brown and David Dunn, Palmer's agent, told Bratkowski the same thing.

"So that's three pretty good sources.  I don't know who else there could be," Bratkowski said. "It was very nice of Carson to pick up the phone and make that call. He's still got a great future in this league. He's frustrated right now."

Bratkowski went on to say that he was disappointed in the timing of his firing because they're aren't many jobs left but he "can't say anything in the NFL surprises him anymore."

Bratkowski also touched on fan abuse over the past couple seasons saying that fans have the right to be angry but they don't have the right to be cruel. He said that the past couple years have been tough on his family.

Two wide receivers that spent a considerable amount of time under Bratkowski, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Ochocinco, texted Bratkowski and wished him their best.

"There were pushes and pulls at times, but the bottom line is Chad and T.J. have been great players down though the years," Bratkowski said. "They both said some very nice things to me and it's very much appreciated."

The Bengals are currently in the search for a new offensive coordinator and the news of a hire could come as soon as Wednesday.