CINCINNATI - The No. 1 pick in last year's draft could only watch from the sidelines and wait for his opportunity as Jon Kitna took every snap for the Cincinnati Bengals last season.

Now, the wait is over for Carson Palmer. He began his transition into the role of starter when the Bengals opened their rookie minicamp on Friday.

''I still feel like a rookie,'' Palmer said. ''Last year went by so fast.''

Palmer said that since his first minicamp, the game ''has definitely slowed down,'' meaning he sees the field better and reacts quicker. It will take the new players a while to get that feeling.

''I know what it's like to be in their shoes and be in here for the first time,'' Palmer said. ''I definitely feel like I'm a lot further along than they are, but I still consider myself a rookie just because I don't have any (regular season) snaps.''

Coach Marvin Lewis called the first day's work ''a good indoctrination'' for Palmer and the newcomers. He expects Palmer to easily slide into the role of team leader.

''Leadership comes with that position,'' Lewis said of his new, strong-armed quarterback. ''But you can't go in and talk about it. You've got to lead.''

''He doesn't have anything to prove. He just has to play his position and do his part, and he will be (the acknowledged leader).''

Lewis hoped to ease Palmer's transition by announcing on March 1 that Palmer would be his starter this fall, even though Kitna had a career season and was the NFL comeback player of the year.

Kitna will be Palmer's backup now, and could take over if Palmer struggles. Although he was demoted, Kitna received a vote of confidence, of sorts, by being offered a contract extension for an additional season to remain with the Bengals through 2005.

Palmer may be hard-pressed to match Kitna's 2003 numbers in his first season. Kitna had career highs in pass completions (324), passing yards (3,591), touchdown passes (26) and completion percentage (62 percent).

He was the only NFL quarterback to play every offensive snap.

But from the moment they made the Heisman Trophy winner the top overall pick in the 2003 draft and signed him to a contract with $14 million in bonuses, it was just a matter of time before the Bengals would be Palmer's team.

Lewis said the time was right for the Bengals to make the switch now.

''He's got the most skill and ability of anybody we've got in this building,'' Lewis said.

Palmer said he was ready to step up, but he doesn't have to shoulder the responsibility alone.

''We've got a lot of veteran guys here … guys who know how to play this game and guys that are natural leaders also,'' Palmer said.