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The Bengals' playoff loss Sunday to Pittsburgh was only the beginning of a really bad week for the team, which has hardly had a chance to enjoy the afterglow of its most successful season in 15 years.

And after a week of swirling rumor, raging speculation and official silence, head coach Marvin Lewis called Cincinnati Enquirer Bengals beat writer Mark Curnutte Saturday and wanted to talk about the events of the past week and also look ahead.

For those who haven't been paying attention, it all started when the team lost Carson Palmer to a knee injury that his surgeon initially called "devastating" -- before backtracking -- and might jeopardize Palmer's ability to return in time for the start of next season.

But there was more.

Profootballtalk.com editor Mike Florio first reported that gifted wide receiver Chad Johnson allegedly got into a halftime altercation with two coaches. Although Johnson called a news conference to deny anything happened, the report has gained increasing degrees of credibility with each passing day.

In Saturday's conversation with Curnutte, Lewis discussed the alleged altercation involving Johnson, the apparent conflicting comments by Palmer's surgeon on the condition of the quarterback's knee and Lewis' own comments about Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

We'll take them in that order. ...

Former Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason, currently a CBS studio analyst, has said that if the story involving Johnson is true -- and Esiason said he believes it is -- Lewis has lost a measure of control of his team and needs to regain it.

Esiason, during an appearance on a morning radio show this week in Pittsburgh, said Lewis needed to worry more about his team and less about the Steelers.

"Marvin Lewis has his own problems," Esiason said. "They had a huge fight in that locker room at halftime. It's the truth, flat out. Chad Johnson got into it with their wide receivers coach, Hue Jackson. T. J. Houshmandzadeh and Marvin came over to break it up, and Chad was uncontrollable."

Curnutte added that in a news conference, not sanctioned by the Bengals, Tuesday night, Johnson denied that any altercation took place and said the Profootballtalk.com report was false.

Esiason, however, confirms that Johnson was upset that he was not getting the ball thrown in his direction enough in the first half. Johnson ended up with four catches in six attempts.

"He wanted the ball more, screaming and yelling," Esiason said of Johnson. "Guys are trying to tell him, calm down: 'We're all in this together; your quarterback's hurt.' I mean, show a little professionalism, for crying out loud."

During the week, Bengals radio analyst Dave Lapham said some players who were in the locker room at halftime told him that Florio's initial report was essentially true.

The Bengals' initial response was that they "don't comment on rumors."

That changed Saturday, however, when Lewis addressed the issue with Curnutte.

"Chad's a very integral part of what we do," the said. "There was no physical altercation. Chad was upset. He wanted to help us win the football game. He was frustrated. It happens all the time.

"When you lose a good player (such as Palmer), we needed people to step up and make plays. Chad wanted to do that. But Chad's not going to get in a fight with somebody. There are not two sets of rules. If Chad had hit somebody, he wouldn't have played in the second half."

Okay. ... If nothing else Lewis seems to be admitting that something happened. It's a start. And hopefully, the team will be able to move forward -- despite persistent reports that some players in Cincinnati do indeed believe there are two sets of rules.

ESPN reporter John Clayton, who was on hand for the game, anticipates that Lewis will use it as a teachable moment.

"What Chad did at halftime is just a sign of immaturity that Marvin has to help Johnson get through," Clayton explained. "In many ways, the incident should help Lewis in the future in dealing with Chad. ... Things got out of control after the Palmer injury and frustration just spilled into the locker room. ..."

Which seems like a kind assessment -- but no more so than the team's.

"No question it has been a challenging week," Bengals public relations director Jack Brennan said Friday. "But it's a reminder to us all that life in the NFL doesn't get quieter when you have some success."

Apparently not. ...

Lewis also addressed comments by Dr. Lonnie Paulos, who initially said Palmer's injury was more severe than originally thought.

"In talking with Carson's family and representation, what [Paulos] said was somewhat taken out of context," Lewis told Curnutte. "Every indication he's given to us, the analysis of the injury, yes, it's a bad injury. But he's going to be fine. It's a shame he suffered the injury. But we know he will work very hard to come back.

"I found out in the second quarter he wasn't coming back. He was not going to come out on a white horse. At that point, it's up to everybody to step up. But it's the luck of the draw. Carson's well-being and health are very important to us.

"His contract will help us in the future. He sets the direction for us."

Ahhh. ... The contract.

The Bengals announced Dec. 29 that they had signed Palmer to an extension through 2014. The new deal, which replaced the final three years of Palmer's rookie contract and added six more years, is worth $118.75 million.

And per Curnutte, even if he does not play another down of football, Palmer will be paid $24 million.

Part of the quarterback's contract called for a $15 million bonus if he were on the roster Dec. 31. He started and played two series Jan. 1 at Kansas City. The bonus will be paid Feb. 16.

Palmer is due a guaranteed option bonus of $9 million to be paid no later than Jan. 1, 2007.

As it stands, the Bengals can pro-rate the $15 million roster bonus on their salary cap at a rate of $3 million a year for the next five years. After 2006, Palmer's contract reduces to base salaries ranging from $7.25 million in 2007 to $11.5 million in 2012 with no additional bonuses.

For now, Palmer is rehabilitating in Los Angeles.

"He's through the shock and sort of sadness," his agent, David Dunn, told Curnutte on Friday. "He's not focused on anything but throwing his next pass. ..."

Moving on to the final issue. ...

After last week's game, Lewis was asked several questions about the injury to Palmer and about the hit by Steelers defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen that caused the injury. Lewis said he was not going to "baby and cry" like Roethlisberger did following the Bengals-Steelers game Dec. 4.

"I shouldn't have said anything I said that night," Lewis said. "I shouldn't have said what I did about Ben. Ben has been outstanding.

"Kimo is not a dirty player. (Steelers coach) Bill [Cowher] would never tell a player to try to injure somebody. What I said I said out of frustration."

There was undoubtedly plenty to be frustrated about. ..

One last note here. ... Rookie receiver Chris Henry's court case has been pushed back by two weeks.

Henry was originally due in court Friday in northern Kentucky on two counts of marijuana possession. Prosecutors are still investigating the case.

If it is his first such offense, Henry most likely will be sent to a diversion program.

Henry was stopped by police in northern Kentucky early on Dec. 15 and charged with traffic violations and marijuana possession.