In 2007, Jordan Palmer, a rookie quarterback coming out of UTEP, did not want to come to Cincinnati, where he'd work in the shadows of big brother quarterback, Carson.

By January 2008, after getting bounced by Washington, which had drafted him in the sixth round, and spending a season trying out for NFL teams, Jordan Palmer signed with the Bengals.

Now he and Carson are cool with Jordan on the squad -- and living in Carson's basement.

"He looked pretty good," said Carson, the Bengals' four-year starter, who's 28, of Jordan after watching him on the field this spring. Jordan is 25.

"It's great. It's been so much fun. Just somebody else to hang out with," Carson said. "We never had the chance to be on the same team because of our age difference."

Jordan looked sharp in the spring. He threw particularly sharp out patterns with zip.

"He is competing for a job on this team," head coach Marvin Lewis said of Jordan Palmer, who threw 88 touchdown passes in college. "He's his own man. He wants to make his own name. He has the work ethic his brother does."

The Palmers are two of the four quarterbacks on the roster. The others are backup Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jeff Rowe, a rookie last season.

Jordan's hair is lighter than his brother's. But, at the same height, 6 feet, 5 inches, and roughly the same weight -- in the mid-230s -- he looks exactly like Carson through the eyes and face when his helmet is on. He and Carson refer to each other as each other's best friend.

"I think at any point in brothers' lives, whether it's football or whatever, you'd love to work together," Jordan said. "At the same time, I'm out here focusing on myself, trying to get better and trying to make the team. I think it would be a great fit, but before any of that can happen I have to get a lot better and learn this offense."

CAMP CALENDAR: The Bengals will next get on a field for two practices July 28 for training camp at Georgetown (Ky.) College near Lexington. Reporting day is July 27, a Sunday. The preseason opener is Monday night, Aug. 11, at Green Bay. The intra-squad scrimmage is Aug. 1, and the annual mock game Aug. 2.

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