Coleman ruins debut of Palmer
Carson Palmer’s delayed debut as an NFL quarterback was almost everything he could have hoped for.
Until the end, that is, when he proved he’s not quite John Elway, yet.
What could have been a game-tying drive in Cincinnati’s 31-24 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., ended when rookie safety Erik Coleman picked off a pass at the Jets 34-yard line just after the 2-minute warning to end the Bengals’ final drive.
Coleman is a graduate of Lewis and Clark High School and Washington State University.
“My fault, my fault,” said the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner and first overall pick in the 2003 draft. “I didn’t see the safety coming over. I should have continued to check down.”
Still, it was an impressive debut for Palmer, who didn’t take a snap last season as a rookie while Jon Kitna led Cincinnati to an 8-8 season, a great year for a downtrodden franchise.
Palmer finished 18 of 27 for 248 yards with two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 105.2, which in most seasons is good enough to win the NFL passing title.
“I was confident we were going to tie the game and then win in overtime,” Palmer said.
Whoops.
Feeley to start for Dolphins
Quarterback A.J. Feeley will remain in the Miami Dolphins’ lineup — at least for now.
Feeley played well enough coming off the bench in the Dolphins’ season-opening loss to earn a start this week at Cincinnati, coach Dave Wannstedt said.
That means a demotion for Jay Fiedler after four seasons as the starter.
Feeley threw for a touchdown, but had an interception returned for a score in the Dolphins’ 17-7 loss Saturday to Tennessee.
Lions lose Rogers, Bly
Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers broke his collarbone for a second straight year Sunday in Chicago and might miss most of the season.
Rogers, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2003 draft, played only the first five games a year ago because of a broken collarbone.
He was injured going for a pass in the first quarter. X-rays revealed a fracture near the one he got last year during a bye week practice.
“Same collarbone, different spot,” Lions coach Steve Mariucci said. “So it’s going to be long term.”
The Lions also lost Pro Bowl defensive back Dre’ Bly, who sprained a ligament in his knee. Bly will undergo an MRI on Tuesday.