Peter King: "It's Not Over For Carson Palmer in Cincinnati"

by Jason Garrison on Feb 16, 2011 2:01 PM EST

There are two things that you know even if you live under a rock in Cincinnati: one is that you know you can save 15 percent, or more, with Geico car insurance, and two is that Carson Palmer no longer wants to be a Bengal.

It all started back before the Bengals coached in the Senior Bowl. Carson Palmer's agent, David Dunn, released a statement that said Palmer requested a trade from Bengals owner Mike Brown and that if he wasn't traded, he would consider retirement. Then, Brown said that the Bengals would not be trading Palmer. After that, Palmer put his Cincinnati house on the market. Then, just to really hammer it home, Palmer's agent, Dunn, said that he'd be really surprised if Palmer returned to play in Cincinnati.

However, NFL writer Peter King thinks the exact opposite. He wouldn't be surprised if Palmer sticks around in Cincinnati at all.

I think it's not over for Carson Palmer in Cincinnati. Jay Gruden's going to convince him he can be great in Gruden's West Coast offense, and I believe Marvin Lewis will do Palmer a favor and make sure neither Chad Ochocinco or Terrell Owens will be on the roster opening day -- whenever that is.

Gruden has said that he would do everything in his power to make everything right for Palmer. Gruden works within the west coast offense which uses short horizontal passes in an effort to stretch the defense to allow the running game and long passing game to open up.

Palmer told Bratkowski that he wasn't the reason that he requested a trade. If that wasn't the problem than what was?... You know.. other than the losing all the time thing. Could the biggest problem be Chad Ochocinco and, to a lesser extent, Terrell Owens? It's not hard to see that Palmer and Ochocinco (soon to be known, again, as Johnson?) have not been on the same page. Actually, as they have spent more time together in the huddle, it seems that the pages they're on are so far apart that they might actually be in two separate books.

When TOcho didn't play against the Chargers at the end of the 2010 season, Palmer looked re-energized and, for the first time in a while, looked happy to be on the field. He had the best game of his career that week, throwing to Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell, Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham, and none of them have more than three seasons experience. Could the combination of moving to a youth movement in the wide receivers corps and a new offensive coordinator with a west-coast offense theory be what it takes to keep Palmer in stripes in 2011?

With the quarterback stock in the current NFL draft class falling and the current lack of a CBA, the Bengals could find themselves in a terrible situation if Carson Palmer decides that he'd rather retire early than finish his career in Cincinnati. The terrible situation that I speak of is a situation in which Jordan Palmer is the most experienced quarterback on the roster and he's backed up by Dan LeFevour and a possible rookie quarterback. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we don't really want that.

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See this is what is going to make the offseason so much fun

Peter King has nothing useful to say and he gets a headline! The flaw in his story is of course Palmers trade demands came AFTER playing two games with the kids, Simpson and Caldwell and Shipley. So they could not possible be the reason he sticks around.
Doesn’t stop King from airing out a hot air story though.

If you want a good analysis of the situation today, you’ll find it with Solomon Willcotts.

by BENGALS69 on Feb 16, 2011 2:24 PM EST reply actions

Cbyers has some info

but won’t release it. He’s saying the opposite. He could make the front page too if he comes out with it.
Cbyers, you’ll be known as the one who proved Peter King wrong. You’ll be a celeb….

by WHYUS!! on Feb 16, 2011 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

Unless King is right

And Palmer wants Chad traded and can’t say that, after all you can’t come out and say “trade him or I will retire”, but you can say “trade me or I retire” to get your way and get someone off the team.

When Kobe demanded a trade in 2007, he didn’t get traded, the Lakers brought in Pau Gasol. Sometimes you say on thing to get another.

It must be inordinately taxing to be such a boob. ~ The Brain

by jim0ijk on Feb 16, 2011 2:29 PM EST up reply actions

exactly

Spot on..

by WHYUS!! on Feb 16, 2011 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

I'd like to think this Kobe theory was right, but I'm dubious.

I think Carson is at the point where he’s saying, “You do what you want with the Bengals. I’m out of here.”

by no kidding on Feb 16, 2011 4:27 PM EST up reply actions

You have to give Carson credit

His PR machine is doing everything in their power to make people forget that he actually just had a pretty crappy season…and hasn’t really had a good one for years. If he had kept his mouth shut I think there would be a very vocal majority of Bengals fans insisting we at least draft someone to eventually take his place this year. Instead he’s got the whole fanbase BEGGING him to stay and the organization bent over a barrel trying to make HIM happy. How about you focus on not throwing so many pick sixes, remembering how to read a defense, mixing up your audible calling, overall decision-making, and how to be an actual vocal leader for a team. Then we can talk about all the ways we can stroke your sensitive ego and make sure everything’s JUST RIGHT for you to come back.

by eric nyc on Feb 16, 2011 2:41 PM EST reply actions

Not the whole fan base begging

I think, he has a nice long service record of not being a crybaby, and it’s serving him well right now. he’s got people outside of Cincinnati – most importantly other QBs like Tom Brady – that say he’s a great QB. He’s also got the entire NFL behind him regarding what every Bengal has to go through with Mike Brown running the business.

So, when it appeared that everything was going to be pretty much the EXACT same old, same old as before, Carson said enough is enough. He asked his agent for help. Agent responds with some statements about Carson wants a trade or else, cause that’s what agents are supposed to do.

Carson wants to win, I believe that. He MIGHT be persuaded to return here for another season, but Mike Brown and Marvin are going to have to do some fancy footwork to make it happen. I don’t think it’s just one thing, I think it’s EVERYTHING he deals with every season. Crappy food. No sense of family from the organization. No practice facility. It all added up to him wanting out.

I don’t blame him. I think Carson is pressuring Mike Brown more than all of the fans combined cannot do. Maybe even more than Marvin. Marvin should have held out longer I think as well.

If he stays, great. One less issue for next year (not long term). If he goes, then I think we start a new era and hopefully there’s enough fabric to pull off a decent season. Maybe!

Sure. Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson

by UpStateMike on Feb 16, 2011 2:57 PM EST up reply actions

I'm just saying he had a really bad year

And thanks to this whole drama, NO ONE is talking about it. The discussion should center around who the future franchise QB for this team is going to be based on his play for the last 3 years. Instead, he’s got everyone panicked about who’s going to be the starter NEXT YEAR. A few months ago everyone was saying he wasn’t worth the money he’s due to be paid next year. Now I wouldn’t be all that surprised if he actually managed to get a raise.

by eric nyc on Feb 16, 2011 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

His terrible play was a result of the organization

Terrible play calling + Bad O-line + Diva WRs + the worst owner in professional sports history =failure. He’s been set up for failure because the organization cares about money and not winning. Now his PR machine is set up to expose the Bengals for the mom and pop shop franchise which is the laughing stock of the league. If Carson goes, the organization’s reputation is permanently damaged. No one talks about his bad play because it is overshadowed by piss poor organizational performance.

by DonMegga on Feb 16, 2011 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

The organization didn’t stare down receivers on every throw. The organization didn’t force balls into triple coverage just for the sake of putting it in TO’s hands. The organization didn’t forget how to go through progressions to the tune of throwing pick sixes when other receivers were wide open on the other side of the field. The organization didn’t panic every time a pass rusher got a finger on them.

I understand Palmer’s gripes, and I understand the shortcomings in the organization that contributed to all the losing, but to say that his play the last 3 years has not been at all his fault is just being a Carson apologist.

by eric nyc on Feb 16, 2011 4:15 PM EST up reply actions

Being a Carson basher

only makes you blind on the real issues that caused failure with the team itself….

by WHYUS!! on Feb 16, 2011 4:34 PM EST up reply actions

What part of "I understand Palmer's gripes" didn't you get?

The team is a disaster. I wouldn’t want to play for that team if I was Carson. But he has also shown diminishing personal skills over the past few years that are independent of all the shortcomings of the organization…such as the entire list I just wrote above. His play doesn’t warrant the contract he has now, and it certainly doesn’t warrant making FURTHER concessions based solely on appeasing him. Now if his demands are along the lines of “Hire a GM” or “Sell the team to someone who knows what they’re doing” then I’m all for it. But this feels a lot more like “Hey, I’m an elite QB and I deserve to be treated like one” and the fact of the matter is he’s an average QB at best right now.

by eric nyc on Feb 16, 2011 4:42 PM EST up reply actions

I don't take it as you see it

I think Carson want to change things. Rmember the post when they retracted the statement of retirement. He said, that he wanted some changes and if those changes are done then he wants traded not that he would retire. “Retire” was never said. That was posted on twitter by Mort from ESPN.
I don’t think he’s being conceded at all just wants to win and is tired of losing. I think he’s an average QB right now b/c of 4 things, his inability to be an outspoken leader in the past, Brats inability to adjust in games with his play calling, Oline and the way the franchise is ran by the front office.
This is Carsons chance to be an outspoken leader and change things the way great QBs do.

by WHYUS!! on Feb 16, 2011 5:01 PM EST up reply actions

Palmer didn't write up the plays that had to be executed to pinpoint perfection on every play

Palmer didn’t sign the five guys in front of him to contracts and didn’t coach them to be as terrible as they were outside of Whitworth.
Palmer advocated for T.O. but he didn’t change the entire playbook and fuck over an entire offseason of work because of one guy brought in at the last minte.
Palmer didn’t fumble the ball seven times this season (though he had a few) and averaged under 4 ypc.

by Doc Scratch on Feb 16, 2011 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

Didn't Carson supposedly

Lobby to get TO here last offseason once Bryant couldn’t go?

by Anthony Cosenza on Feb 16, 2011 2:49 PM EST reply actions

Yes. But pass and catch in the California sun is a lot difference than precise route running on game day.

by Cry on Feb 16, 2011 3:04 PM EST up reply actions

The combo of the two is worse than TO. In fact, Chad proved he is not as talented as the aging TO.

Chad misran routes, dropped many cachable balls, and had a really hard time getting rid of defenders. PLUS, he whined and yapped all year long and caused all sorts of distractions. TO I thought may have given up on some throws, and dropped his fair share, but his numbers were by far more impressive.

Chad leaving would be a step towards retaining Carson, but regardless it would be the best thing for the team even without him.

Sure. Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson

by UpStateMike on Feb 16, 2011 4:11 PM EST up reply actions

When Benson is not re-signed and Carson returns nothing will need to be said.

Think about it the only player to throw Carson under the bus was Benson. He said we need to go back to running more. Which means passing more becuase Carson can’t do it.
Owens and Ocho never once to this day said a bad word about Carson, only about the coaching.

The worst running team in the NFL wants to run more ? meh

by bengals life on Feb 16, 2011 2:53 PM EST reply actions

* Passing less - correction

The worst running team in the NFL wants to run more ? meh

by bengals life on Feb 16, 2011 2:53 PM EST up reply actions

I don't think there is any one reason why Carson wants out...

…at least not one that can be personified (other than by Mike Brown). He’s frustrated by the fact that he has spent his prime years on a team that isn’t set up to win and publicly defended that organization until he was blue in the face and he’s tired of it. That isn’t about Chad, TO, Benson, or Brat. It’s about the organization.

I hope and believe that we will be back, but it isn’t going to happen because of team personnel changes.

by goffchile on Feb 16, 2011 2:57 PM EST reply actions