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Chad Johnson held a press conference Tuesday night to deny an Internet story that claimed he was involved in an altercation with Bengals coaches Sunday.

Calling the story "ridiculous," Johnson said he had nothing but respect for the fans, the media, and especially his coaches.

"There's never been a confrontation, ever, and especially with a coach," Johnson said.

Referring to injured quarterback Carson Palmer, Johnson said: "Carson's out. Now somebody's trying to put Chad out. It's not fair."

As Cincinnati Enquirer staffer Mark Curnutte reported this morning, the press conference was the result of a story that was posted on the web site Profootballtalk.com. The story claimed Johnson was involved in a locker-room altercation with receivers coach Hue Jackson and head coach Marvin Lewis during halftime of Sunday's Bengals-Steelers game.

The initial report by Profootballtalk.com read as follows: "Per the source, the last few minutes of intermission were ticking away, when the players were startled by the sight and sound of a helmet slamming against the glass pane of the training room door. Inside, Johnson and Jackson were engaged in an altercation. At one point, Johnson was seen holding Jackson in a headlock.

"Lewis entered the training room to intervene, and Johnson (per the source) took a swing at him.

"Eventually, receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh broke up the skirmish, within a minute or so of the team exiting the locker room for the second half. ..."

Earlier Tuesday, on Lance McAlister's sports talk radio show on WSAI-AM, Bengals radio analyst Dave Lapham said a player on the Bengals' offense confirmed that a confrontation did occur at halftime between Johnson and members of the coaching staff. Lapham also said on the radio that more than one defensive player told him that they heard a disturbance.

Lapham said the players, who did not want to be identified, told him, "Just basically that. ... Definitely (something) went down."

"'We're telling you, this is not B.S.,'" Lapham said players told him.

Curnutte added that Jackson did not return a message left on his office phone at Paul Brown Stadium. Nor did Lewis return a message left on his phone.

Johnson's news conference, held in a stadium hallway between the team's locker room and tunnel to the field, had what Curnutte characterized as a "surreal feel." Television light shined bright into Johnson's face. One local television station carried the news conference live.

"It's false," Johnson said. "None of this is true. I've never had problems on or off the field, in five years (with the Bengals)."

Mike Florio, editor of Profootballtalk.com, told Curnutte that the site is sticking by its story.

"We greatly respect Chad Johnson's abilities and passion for the game, and we realize that it is not in his interests to admit publicly to the behavior that multiple other people witnessed," Florio said Tuesday night in response to Johnson's denial. "We stand by our report. Some of his teammates are concerned that the incident cost the Bengals a chance to advance in the playoffs, and they are talking about the matter privately because they do not want to experience a similar situation in the postseason next year."

Curnutte further noted that the news conference was held in the hallway, not the normal interview room, because it was not an official Bengals event.

"We don't comment on rumors," Bengals public relations director Jack Brennan said. "Marvin respected Chad's desire to have his say."

Johnson also said Tuesday that after his in-game and postgame outbursts at Jacksonville Oct. 9 that he could improve his game by learning how not to get so emotional.

Neither Lewis nor Jackson attended.

Earlier Tuesday, Johnson told the Enquirer: "(The story) sounds like drama. At halftime, I was getting an IV. Nothing happened. Why don't you talk to the coaches, they're all down there today."

The Bengals led 17-14 at halftime of Sunday's game but lost 31-17 in the wild-card game.

Florio initially reported that Johnson was unhappy about the lack of passes thrown to him -- three, with two completions in the first half. Johnson caught two of the three attempts in his direction in the second half to finish with four receptions for 59 yards.

In postgame interviews Sunday, defensive tackle John Thornton was among the handful of players who talked in general about the lack of cohesion and that the team concept was lost and must be regained.

Thornton, reached Tuesday morning, told Curnutte, "I can't confirm or deny anything that happened in the locker room."

Thornton did say Sunday that the issue did not involve rookie players.

Meanwhile, Florio offered further corroboration of his initial story this morning -- in the form of an "unsolicited (but second hand)" e-mail from one of the "many agents we've gotten to know over the past four-plus years."

According to Florio, the source claimed: "I spoke to a player that I am very close to on the Bengals today and he confirmed the incident you have been reporting. He said that there was a 'swing' taken in Marvin's direction and that Marvin did nothing about it.

"My source also said that he felt like 'kicking Chad's [butt]' and that Marvin never stands up to Chad. He said that they allow him to act like a 12-year-old and that it definitely affected their play in the second half."

CBS analyst Boomer Esiason, during a Wednesday appearance on ESPN's "Jim Rome Is Burning," told viewers that team insiders confirmed the story to him an hour after Sunday's game.

And as Curnutte suggested, in his postgame comments Sunday, Lewis alluded, generally, to a problem, saying, "We came in here as a football team and we need to leave out of here as a football team and understand that it's about working through the tough times. You work through the critical points in the game and do you job."

At this point it appears the team isn't interested in taking any immediate action against Johnson even though it sounds like some of his teammates wish they would.

As Florio advised readers Monday: "Some players, we're told, don't want to see Johnson back next year, and there's a belief that the team will be less inclined to give in to Johnson's request for a hefty restructuring of a contract that expires after the 2009 season.

"Some players, we're told, don't want to see Johnson back next year, and there's a belief that the team will be less inclined to give in to Johnson's request for a hefty restructuring of a contract that expires after the 2009 season. ..."

Stay tuned. ... I'll bring you more on this story if/when developments warrant. ...

Meanwhile, ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli reported this morning that just two days after being carted off the field early in Sunday's loss, Palmer underwent surgery to repair two torn ligaments in his left knee.

The surgery was performed Tuesday night by Dr. Lonnie Paulos of Houston, who repaired the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. Palmer's father, Bill Palmer, told the Enquirer Tuesday night that there also was no tear in the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), which provides stability in keeping the lower leg from going backward.

There were also no cartilage tears.

"It went very well," Bill Palmer said.

All that said, Palmer now faces a lengthy rehabilitation.

While some surgeons prefer to wait a week or two to perform such procedures -- to allow swelling in the knee to subside -- Palmer and the Bengals agreed to arrange the surgery for this week so he could quickly move into his rehabilitation. The situation became somewhat complex because renowned orthopedics specialist Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala., who was the first choice to perform the surgery, suffered a heart attack late Sunday.

Paulos is on the faculty at the Methodist Sports Medicine Institute in Houston and also is highly regarded.

Pasquarelli went on to remind readers that time was of the essence for Palmer and the Bengals because the rehabilitation for such surgery take eight to nine months, which would mean the Cincinnati star might miss the start of training camp, and perhaps even the season.

It is believed that Palmer will do the initial phase of rehabilitation in Los Angeles, then return to Cincinnati to continue working on his recovery under the supervision of team trainers.

The top overall choice in the 2003 draft, Palmer vowed Monday that he will be ready for the beginning of camp.

"I'll be back," Palmer said. "I'm not sure of the timeline, but I'm not going to miss anything at training camp and I'll be ready roll."

As Pasquarelli suggested, given that the Bengals have a huge investment in Palmer, however, the franchise clearly will err on the side of caution. Cincinnati recently signed Palmer to a six-year extension, and the add-on created a nine-year contract worth $118 million. Even Palmer acknowledged that he can't afford to rush back too soon from the injury.

"I realize I've made a commitment to this organization for the future, and I need to think about that, too," the former Southern California star and 2002 Heisman Trophy winner conceded. "I need to keep that in the back of my mind."

Complicating the situation for the Bengals is that backup Jon Kitna, a nine-year veteran and former starter, is eligible for unrestricted free agency this spring. Several teams will pursue Kitna, who relieved Palmer on Sunday, with the intent of allowing him to compete for the starting job. ...

In fact, Baltimore Sun staffer Jamison Hensley reported this morning, the Ravens have openly talked about their need to add a veteran to compete with Kyle Boller or back him up.

The Bengals last talked with Kitna's agent about two months ago.

"Eight weeks ago, it would have been a lot easier to sign here," Kitna told the Enquirer. "Now that the season is done, I want to see what is out there. I feel like God is leading me in this direction. I have to believe I am in the top 32 quarterbacks in this league."

Kitna threw for more than 3,000 yards each season from 2001 to 2003 before accepting a backup role the past two seasons. He wouldn't rule out re-signing with the Bengals, especially given Palmer's injury.

"I like it here. I like working with Carson and the coaching staff," Kitna said. "It would have to be a really great deal for us to give up free agency."

Hensley went on to suggest that the quarterback market could be significantly improved if Kerry Collins, Aaron Brooks and Steve McNair are cut for salary cap reasons. Of the three, Brooks status with the Saints seems the most tenuous -- but none of the three are locks to return.