National Football League

Bengals players to work out this week

Published Jun. 5, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Bengals offensive and defensive players will work out at separate locations in Cincinnati this week, the first time they've gotten together as units during the NFL's lockout.

Tackle Andrew Whitworth said the whole offense, including rookie quarterback Andy Dalton, has been invited to workouts starting Monday on the University of Cincinnati's practice fields. Whitworth, the team's union representative, helped organize the get-together.

''I've invited the entire offense,'' Whitworth said, in a phone interview while he sat behind home plate watching a Dodgers-Reds game Sunday at Great American Ball Park. ''We'll see tomorrow what guys are here. I know all the quarterbacks will be there, excluding Carson (Palmer).''

Palmer plans to retire if the Bengals refuse to trade him. So far, owner Mike Brown has said he has no intention of trading the franchise quarterback, who led the Bengals to their two winning seasons in the last 20 years.

The Bengals picked Dalton in the second round to replace Palmer. They made receiver A.J. Green their top pick, giving themselves a replacement for Chad Ochocinco, who could be released once the labor dispute is settled.

Quarterback Jordan Palmer - Carson's younger brother - hosted a week of workouts for receivers, running backs and tight ends near his home in California before the draft in April.

The defense plans to work out for the next two weeks at a conditioning facility north of the city. Lineman Domata Peko helped organize the workouts, which will be similar to offseason sessions at Paul Brown Stadium under the old collective bargaining agreement. Coaches aren't allowed to have contact with players during the lockout, which the players are challenging in court.

''This is a two-week minicamp ... designed to build chemistry, cohesiveness, review the defensive playbook and to work on our strength and conditioning as a unit,'' Peko said in an e-mail.

The defense plans to open the last hour of its workout on Tuesday to media coverage. The end of the offense's workout on Wednesday will be open.

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