Hey, here's something we haven't talked about in a while: Carson Palmer! Apparently, contrary to popular belief, the Bengals have taken, and are taking, Palmer's trade me or else demand very seriously.
Andrew Whitworth, who's working at the NFL Scouting Combine, believes that the only way to take Palmer's demand is very seriously and that his team is doing just that.
"I think they're taking him seriously," he said. "He's not the kind of guy who's going to come out and voice something like that without thinking it through. You don't know the answers, but I don't think anybody thinks Carson Palmer is an irrational guy. You have to take a guy like that seriously. I don't know how it will play out."
According to Geoff Hobson, the Bengals are taking the threat seriously enough that they are planning to look at quarterbacks, as well as all other positions, at the combine this week. The Bengals are "kicking the tires" on different options and scenarios, but they are still hopeful that the relationship between the team and it's franchise quarterback can be repaired.
According to a report by ProFootballTalk.com, both Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert, among others, are planning on working out in this week's combine.
They are: Cam Newton (Auburn), Blaine Gabbert (Missouri), Colin Kaepernick (Nevada), Jake Locker (Washington), Ryan Mallett (Arkansas), Andy Dalton (TCU), Christian Ponder (Florida State), and Ricky Stanzi (Iowa).
However, not all of the above quarterbacks are planning on throwing at the combine. Gabbert and Ponder are not expected to throw but Newton, Kaepernick, Locker, Mallett, Dalton and Stanzi are.
If the Bengals are taking Palmer's demand as seriously as Whitworth says they are, and with a lockout in which free agency wouldn't be an option looming, is it possible that the Bengals decide that one of the quarterbacks they watch at this week's combine is worth their No. 4 overall pick?
If so, which one?