Carson Palmer Thread

[ArmyBengal]

Yet another report today on ESPN that said Carson's agent has spoken with the local TV station here in Cincinnati stating Carson will never step foot in Paul Brown Stadium again. Again mentioned having money in the bank and will simply step away if not traded. By all accounts, the team is taking this VERY seriously and are preparing to move on.

Hell, Marvin had all the analysts changing their mocks on the spot after appearing in an interview at the combine. They went from AJ Green to Newton or Gabbert in the blink of an eye. Now reports surface they will listen to offers after a new CBA comes to pass, which it will.

Bottomline for me is, I want Carson to come back, but I don't think there's a chance in hell it happens. With that being the case, I don't think the Bengals should give him away either. If they don't get proper compensation, force his retirement. If they can get something reasonable, take it and move on.

With the moving on option, I don't think there are many here that are dead set on ANY of the QB's in this draft coming in to start. With that being the case and the unknowns with FA at the current time, we are forced to see who we can get to run the WCO and is a good fit with our team. Ponder comes to mind due to him being one of the few that took snaps under center and could possibly be had in the 2nd.

It's not that I love the guy or think he's franchise material, but sadly, he may be our best option in the draft.

For what it's worth, if Carson doesn't get Mikey a 1st round pick either this draft or next, I think Carson will be forced to retire.

I'm ok with that.

[cincy9275]

all the comments about carson have been in the media for some time now. since carson has not publicly disputed them you have to take them for what they are worth. i would see what teams had to offer. if i don't like what they offer let him retire. move on as marvin says they are doing. even if we draft a qb with the cba negotiations likely to wipe out off season workouts. teams that are rebuilding and don't have a set system are going to behind everyone else. so no better time than next season to build for the future and cut ties with the past ..... chad.

[walzav29]

The embarrassments just never end, and it will never change. It's toooooooooooooooooooooorture rooting for this team.

[ben]

Palmer is going to go somewhere and revive his career just like Corey Dillon did, so you clowns keep taking your childish shots at him. It may not happen this year since the season is in major jeopardy but it will happen.

I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man.

That was a dumb comment . Someone will give up their number one for him. This past year was the only bad year he's ever had. Some of you guys want him out because you don't think he is a leader or whatever, so what that doesn't mean a thing.

[HairOnFire]

1. Mike Brown himself admitted Palmer asked him for a trade - so I don't know why people are doubting he is.

Nobody doubts Palmer asked for a trade. In fact, I purposely wrote exactly that. What I continue to doubt is all of the secondary bulls**t now attributed to Palmer by proxies. Stuff about retirement. Stuff about Palmer willingly ending his own career simply because he's earned enough money to live comfortably for the rest of three lifetimes. Or silly statements about never setting foot in PBS again. None of this stuff sounds like something Palmer would actually say even if it were something he might actually feel. Rather, it all feels like something an agent might be responsible for precisely because Palmer won't say what's required to actually talk his way off of the roster. Something an agent might put into motion after telling his client..."Don't worry about this stuff. I'll handle it. There's no reason for you to get your hands dirty. That's what gardeners, real estate agents, and anonymous family friends are for."

2. The other attributed comments may or may not be true, but, where there's smoke, there's fire, and there's plenty of smoke.

Yeah, and there's trash on the yard as well. So when you write the story let's not forget the part about how Palmer hates the locals, can't stand hinterland weather, thinks plaid shirts are ugly, and privately hates all things related to the game of cornhole.

That's right, Cincy, he's just not that into you anymore.

3. I don't blame him a bit and he's the 3rd or 4th franchise player dating back to Pickens who wanted out of this miserable franchise, along with coaches, so it's not hard to believe

Some of it is easy to believe. Some of it isn't. But mostly it's something worthy of doubt simply because Palmer hasn't bothered saying anything openly. Furthermore, his threat to not play football again isn't worth verbally responding to until actual football is close to being played.

[HairOnFire]

all the comments about carson have been in the media for some time now. since carson has not publicly disputed them you have to take them for what they are worth.

Well, what are they worth? For example, the latest blurb claims Carson Palmer is crowing about having 80 million dollars in the bank, right? So do you believe it? And if you do then how would you react if I told you Chris Mortenson now claims Palmer is worth a mere 33 million?

Either way it's alot of cheese and doesn't impact Palmer's ability to live well for the rest of his life without ever having to work again. But by the same token it is a difference of 47 million bucks, and if Mort's report is correct then Palmer is very unlikely to have said what anonymous sources are claiming he said.

Frankly, most of this stuff has the strong scent of bulls**t about it and the fact that Palmer hasn't responded to the stories in any way, neither confirming or denying anything, isn't proof of anything.

[HairOnFire]

Palmer is going to go somewhere and revive his career just like Corey Dillon did, so you clowns keep taking your childish shots at him. It may not happen this year since the season is in major jeopardy but it will happen.

I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man.

That was a dumb comment Fill your hand you son of a bitch! .

Fixed it for ya.

[derekshank]

Something an agent might put into motion after telling his client..."Don't worry about this stuff. I'll handle it. There's no reason for you to get your hands dirty. That's what gardeners, real estate agents, and anonymous family friends are for."

I almost posted a point this morning about nearly every comment that has been attributed to Palmer actually comes from the mouths of people who have something to gain from the situation. So I wholeheartedly concur with the above comment.

That's not to say there is no truth to it, but rather... nearly everything we hear attributed to Palmer should be seasoned heavily with salt.

The most recent comments about Palmer claiming he has $80 mil in the bank (aside from being untrue, as you pointed out), simply doesn't add up for a myriad of reasons and I call BS. But I will say that it's the first statement attributed to Palmer that I take serious issue with... and if there is the slightest bit of truth to it, I'll say Palmer is done with football for good.

[cincy9275]

all the comments about carson have been in the media for some time now. since carson has not publicly disputed them you have to take them for what they are worth.

Well, what are they worth? For example, the latest blurb claims Carson Palmer is crowing about having 80 million dollars in the bank, right? So do you believe it? And if you do then how would you react if I told you Chris Mortenson now claims Palmer is worth a mere 33 million?

Either way it's alot of cheese and doesn't impact Palmer's ability to live well for the rest of his life without ever having to work again. But by the same token it is a difference of 47 million bucks, and if Mort's report is correct then Palmer is very unlikely to have said what anonymous sources are claiming he said.

Frankly, most of this stuff has the strong scent of bulls**t about it and the fact that Palmer hasn't responded to the stories in any way, neither confirming or denying anything, isn't proof of anything.

so the absences of evidence is not the evidence of absence? lol. what it's worth is nothing you know as well as i. 99% of rumors in the media are bulls**t. i don't believe or care what the talking heads have to say. that why i said take it for what it's worth. meaning not worth a lot. i just think carson should put a end to the hear say. by not some might see it as something that could be true. not the whole 80 million dollar bs. more of he will never play for the bengals again statements.

[HairOnFire]

so the absences of evidence is not the evidence of absence? lol.

Why muddy the water needlessly? Why not assume the abscence of evidence is proof of nothing, and Palmer's failure to comment on the validity of the things being said doesn't amount to a gob of warm spit?

i just think carson should put a end to the hear say. by not some might see it as something that could be true.

I agree it's time for Palmer to speak up, but he's yet to do so. Knowing that to be true, why should Palmer's refusal to comment on the leaks be seen as proof of anything? After all, he's not saying much about anything to anyone, right? In fact, not talking is about all he's doing right now. So why do people expect him to break his silence immediately after his gardener and real estate agent hold a joint press conference?

[HoosierCat]

I agree it's time for Palmer to speak up,

I don't think there would be any point, other to satisfy the morbid curiosities of guys like us. It's over. The rapid evolution of the Bengals' position from downplaying reports at the Senior Bowl to actively scouting QBs at the combine says that louder than any announcement anyone involved in this mess could make. Did Palmer ever threaten to retire? If so, was he serious? Moot points now. The Bengals are (correctly, IMO) playing it as if he did and he was, and a separation is now inevitable. Exactly when and on what terms remain to be seen, but I think the post-Palmer era begins no later than the 35 pick in the April draft.

It's a damn shame, too.

[HairOnFire]

Some interesting comments from Mike Lombardi...

On how seriously the Bengals need to take Palmer's threat and how much of a power play he'll be able to force upon the Bengals?

"Desperation only comes into play when you're the GM and you don't own the team. Mike Brown owns the team, so a 3-13 season with a rookie QB will NOT deter him at all. He's not at all worried by that. He's thinking long term. The thing he doesn't want to have happen is another player walk in and say..."I want you to trade me, Mike Brown. I want out. I'm going to retire." It set's bad precedent, and Mike Brown is all about the precedent."

On what he's hearing from the Bengals?

"When talking to Bengal officials at the combine they said..."We wish Carson Palmer well in retirement." They're prepared to move on, and that's the way Mike Brown has always operated his franchise."

On where he sees it ending?

"I don't think he's going to play. And I KNOW this, Mike Brown ain't moving."

[HairOnFire]

I agree it's time for Palmer to speak up,

I don't think there would be any point, other to satisfy the morbid curiosities of guys like us. It's over.

If it's over he needs to have the balls to say so.

Point blank, if Carson Palmer want's to have an NFL career, here or elsewhere, he'll need to drop the Garbo trappings and explain why he's demanding a trade after failing to voice a single serious complaint about the franchise in eight years. He'll have to explain what, who, and why. And he'll have to address his own performance. He'll have to explain why another team would want a starting QB willing to walk away from his team with 4 years left on his contract. He'll have to explain his rather odd decision to make a trade demand exactly during the extremely rare and precise moment when no trades are possible. And he'll have to address the rumors that his trade demands are based in part upon his wifes poor opinion of the entire tri-state area and the oddly pear-shaped people who call it home.

But mostly Carson Palmer will have to explain why he isn't the quitter he threatens to be.

[HoosierCat]

Point blank, if Carson Palmer want's to have an NFL career, here or elsewhere, he'll need to drop the Garbo trappings and explain why he's demanding a trade after failing to voice a single serious complaint about the franchise in eight years.

Oh, bulls**t. A team might ask him behind closed doors but he doesn't have to say thing one to us. Sorry your Prometheus let you down but you are starting to sound like a spurned girlfriend.

[membengal]

Frankly, I still kinda hope Mike Brown digs in and forces Palmer into retirement. And makes him pay back some bonus money.

[HoosierCat]

Frankly, I still kinda hope Mike Brown digs in and forces Palmer into retirement. And makes him pay back some bonus money.

From what I've read the Bengals FO, in its zeal to be good cap managers, has already amortized all of Palmer's signing bonus $$$ against years already played, so he won't have to cut Mikey any checks.

[membengal]

I would say, "rats", but I am guessing if Brown is pissed enough, he might still try to get some thousands back, even amortized thousands. If only to make sure to underscore the point being proven.

[HoosierCat]

I would say, "rats", but I am guessing if Brown is pissed enough, he might still try to get some thousands back, even amortized thousands. If only to make sure to underscore the point being proven.

I doubt it but I wouldn't be surprised if he was mulling some kind of "Carson Palmer Clause" he could try to sneak into the new CBA that would, oh, I dunno, prevent players who retire from returning to the league as player for a period of 10 years or something like that. Mikey likes Clauses. They're one of his themes.

[HairOnFire]

Oh, bulls**t. A team might ask him behind closed doors but he doesn't have to say thing one to us. Sorry your Prometheus let you down but you are starting to sound like a spurned girlfriend.

And as usual you sound like a queef slowly escaping from an overly puffy vagina.

[HairOnFire]

Frankly, I still kinda hope Mike Brown digs in and forces Palmer into retirement. And makes him pay back some bonus money.

I don't care about the money, and I still like Carson Palmer. But I admit there's a part of me that's looking forward to a 1,500 day holdout.

[ArmyBengal]

I agree with the thought that Carson owes an explanation, but don't think for a minute he owes it to anyone outside of whatever teams closed doors. No matter how much I want to hear it, I'm not owed that and he can adequately explain his issues with the Bengals or any other team interested in their meeting room.

Palmer doesn't have to pay back any money and he won't have to even with a new CBA. That's already been determined.

If you want to see the ultimate "F*CKED" situation. Watch the Bengals draft a QB within the first two rounds, Mike Brown stuck to not trading Carson, and then Carson changing his mind and reports to camp. I think that would piss Mike Brown off real good. I don't think it will happen, but it would be interesting.

I also agree that Carson not responding is not a good sign. It doesn't ultimately equate a d*mn thing, but it's something that he and his agent should have let out there if it wasn't the case.

[HairOnFire]

I agree with the thought that Carson owes an explanation, but don't think for a minute he owes it to anyone outside of whatever teams closed doors. No matter how much I want to hear it, I'm not owed that and he can adequately explain his issues with the Bengals or any other team interested in their meeting room.

Obviously I'm not talking about Palmer being forced to testify in court. Nor am I suggesting he give a tell all interview with Oprah or Kirk. But there are plenty of questions surrounding Carson Palmer right now, from his health to playing skills to leadership qualities, and if he expects to resume his career with another NFL team he'll both need and want to address what happened here.

He's simply not the golden boy anymore. His resume is not clean. He's the starting QB on a team that lost 10 games in a row with him starting. He's a QB who has never won a playoff game. He's a QB whose bland personality is mentioned whenever the Bengals circus-like culture is debated. And his most recent actions now call into question his leadership skills, which I'm reminded were already under scrutiny before he demanded a trade. So any team interested in Palmer will not only have to be satisfied with the answers he gives them behind closed doors, but also the answers he'd give to a new fanbase and local media that will quite rightly look at his threat to retire as proof of a lack of leadership and passion. And for that to happen he'll have to defend himself. Garbo will have to speak.

Conversely, if Palmer really is comfortable with the thought of early retirement then I agree he doesn't have to say anything at all. He can simply follow the footsteps of Jake Plummer by walking away from the game and tens of millions of dollars into a quiet lifestyle filled with golf in the afternoon and long weekends with the wife and kids.

[cincyhokie]

Frankly, I still kinda hope Mike Brown digs in and forces Palmer into retirement. And makes him pay back some bonus money.

From a business standpoint I support Palmer COMPLETELY. There are limited things that may change the way things are operated in Bengal-land. This might be one of them. I'm not saying that Palmer is 100% clean in this matter but from a leverage standpoint as a fan, I'm on Palmer's side.

Mike Brown is not an effective owner. More consistent winning may happen when: Mike Brown changes, Katie takes over, or Mike Brown dies and Katie takes over.

Palmer is a side issue. QB's come and go. He doesn't want to be here? Fine. I'm already considering him gone. I'm looking at the organization.

[TJJackson]

mostly Carson Palmer will have to explain why he isn't the quitter he threatens to be.

to clarify - yes

but

he does not have to do so publicly

he'd only have to do so to his prospective new employers

we fans all (most of us?) want it to be publicly declared, but at this point, I doubt that will occur.

Oh, bulls**t. A team might ask him behind closed doors but he doesn't have to say thing one to us.

Sorry Hoosier, I didn't know you had covered this ground already

[cincyhokie]

What does it matter what Palmer does or doesn't do? He is no longer a Bengal. Until he comes out and says he's playing for the Bengals, I don't care what he does.

What I care about is if the Bengals are going to improve the team with some sort of compensation. I will be pissed if they don't trade him.