Former Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is the only person on planet Earth that earned a higher prestige in the villains club of American than Mike Brown, Sauron and Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg combined. Palmer has access to the Executive Villain's club restroom, if you will, with servants drying hands using the puppies from the touching Sarah McLachlan Animal Cruelty commercial.

Ultimately it doesn't matter.

Palmer quit on the Bengals and was eventually traded to Oakland, giving Cincinnati a second first round draft pick this year that's currently slotted at 17th overall. With a chance to win on Sunday, the Raiders and Carson Palmer could have claimed the AFC West and a playoff berth. Instead they lost to the San Diego Chargers, heading home for the postseason.

When told after the game that the Bengals made the playoffs, Palmer said:

"Are you serious?" Palmer said. "At what, 9 and 7? And they play at Houston? Cincy will beat Houston, watch."

Though fans might sigh with a whatever in Palmer's response, there has to be a hint of genuine prognostication from Palmer, who we're sure still has friends in Cincinnati's clubhouse, despite the fact he largely quit on the team.

So we're sure that Palmer will take a keen interest in the Cincinnati Bengals this Saturday. After all he's watching the team that he abandoned several months ago, once again, from the comfort of his California home.