Bengals add Jackson to staff

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Former Oakland Raiders coach Hue Jackson has been hired as an assistant with the Cincinnati Bengals.

On the staff with Cincinnati from 2004-06, Jackson will help with the secondary and special teams, and work closely with the position coaches for both slots, Mark Carrier and Darrin Simmons, respectively.

A native of Los Angeles, Jackson played quarterback at the University of the Pacific and began his coaching career there in 1987. He coached in the NCAA through 2000, when he was offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach at Southern California. He entered the NFL with the Washington Redskins in 2001.

Jackson was fired after the Raiders missed the AFC playoffs with an 8-8 record last season.

"I relied on Hue greatly when he was with us, and his success overall in the NFL, including being selected for a head coaching position, is well documented," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "He has expertise in all aspects of the game, and we are fortunate to have obtained his services."

As the coach with Oakland, Jackson agreed to the deal that sent former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer to the Raiders during the season. Upset with Cincinnati management, Palmer was prepared to retire, or simply sit out of the NFL until the Bengals found a suitor.

Eventually, Oakland, which lost quarterback Jason Campbell to injury, stepped up.

Palmer could not save the Raiders, however, from losing the AFC West title on a tiebreaker to the Denver Broncos. Palmer threw for 2,753 and 13 touchdowns for Oakland, but was also picked off 16 times. He was dealt on Oct. 18 for draft picks.

Incidentally, Cincinnati, without Palmer for the entire season, made the post-season as a wild card. The Raiders, meanwhile, haven't been to the playoffs since losing the 2003 Super Bowl.