How attached did you get to Carson this year?

[derekshank]

When we drafted Palmer, I went out and bought a #9 jersey, and was excited to see how he would do, because I'm a Bengals fan. However, I'm sure that if we had drafted David Carr the year before I probably would have done something somewhat similar.

However, after seeing him play this year, I don't like him just because he's a Bengal. I don't mean that I would like him if he played for another team... but that he played so well that he transcended being a "Bengal" to me, and became hero-like.

Watching him get hurt did much more to me than just watching the Bengals season go down the drain. I had to watch the Bengal's savior lay there with his career in jeopardy. So here's my question...

How important is it to you to get Palmer back to 100%? Do you want Palmer back, or would you be okay with any productive QB back there? For me, I wouldn't care if Peyton Manning agreed to play for the Bengals for free. I would let him know that he can only play until Palmer is back and ready to play.

This might not be entirely rational... but watching the Bengals go out and trade for David Carr or something like that to prepare for the idea that Palmer might not make it back will take me a long LONG time to recover from. It probably is because I convinced myself that the Bengals wouldn't be bad again for 10 years because we had locked up the 2nd coming of John Elway, but anything short of a 100% recovery will do serious damage to my health as a Bengals fan.

[BengalsOwn]

My wife and I decided that if we decide to have a baby and it was a boy it would be named Carson.

Seriously.

[Stripes]

My wife and I decided that if we decide to have a baby and it was a boy it would be named Carson.

Seriously.

Now there's a fan! Maybe I'll name my first kid Tauroj (T.J.) Kaesviharn Wimsatt (me).

[WhoDey93285]

Don't laugh, but I became very attatched to Carson this year. It actually brought a tear to my high seeing him lay on the ground in pain like that (it might of been because i couldn't handle going from such an emotional high after the catch to thel owest i've probbly ever been in a matter of 2 seconds). And I named my dog that my girlfriend got me for christmas Carson.

[HairOnFire]

How important is it to you to get Palmer back to 100%? Do you want Palmer back, or would you be okay with any productive QB back there? For me, I wouldn't care if Peyton Manning agreed to play for the Bengals for free. I would let him know that he can only play until Palmer is back and ready to play.

Dealing with player injury is an all too familiar part of being a fan. In fact, if you call yourself one for any length of time and you'll soon become familiar with the ten steps associated with loss and healing....three of which I believe have something to do with bucking up, muddling through, and stiffening your upper lip in unquivering manly fashion.

The sad truth in this example is that I don't know if it's even possible that Palmer return to complete health. He may never be as mobile as he once was, and as a result may be a far less effective QB. Worse, he may never get the chance to prove even that much if his rehab goes poorly. However, what I do know for certain is that Palmer has earned my respect to such a high degree that I don't want to see any other QB in stripes as long as Palmer can attempt playing. He's earned the right to be given every chance to regain his previous position, and if he ultimately fails I hope he'll never be treated to the scorn that was heaped upon Greg Cook when that player was guilty only of continuing to try long past the point that fans were interested in.

I don't say these things simply because Palmer has one of the strongest and most accurate arms in the NFL. I say it because I sincerely like the guy. As I've said several times, and long before he was injured, Palmer had already impressed me as much by how he handled adversity in college as he eventually did when everything fell into place. In my eyes he's proven himself to be far more than just a physically gifted person. He's the type of man you feel privledged to cheer for, and I look forward to the day that I can.

So buck up, lads. Stiff upper lip.

[Kazkal]

Derek I feel the same way I want carson back he's a bengal he's our QB and will remain it

[bengalsLB]

carson made me feel safe no matter who we faced or what we were down by i always felt that we would because of Carson. i also must agree that i don't want anybody but carson even if they could run like Vick and pass like manning, he is my Favorite QB ever, i feel that the bengals are a family and i feel very close to him (i no it sounds gay)but i know he will b eback better then beofre and lead us to the promise land

[turningpoint]

If carson doesn't come back there's been thoughts of just giving up being a fan of football altogether.

seriously just tossing everything away.

[oldschooler]

I`ve become so attached that I don`t want to see him miss

even one play between now and 2014 !

[Spain]

Wow you guys are mushy, when I saw the hit I just flipped. Palmer is a spesial QB. However he is a pocket passer always has been. Get used to more braces and less mobility. However he will still be able to move in the pocket. I cant see him running much however did he really ever.

[ArmyBengal]

Carson has that personality you just don't see everyday in a football player. He's always calm, level headed, willing to heap praise, and willing to take responsibility even if it isn't his fault, just to take heat off some of the other players. On top of all of that, he is one of the best (not to mention smartest) QBs in the game. He couldv'e just as easily pulled a little B*TCH boy Eli and said he wasn't ever going to play for the Bengals, but he accepted his role, took a back seat for a year, lit it up when given the chance, and did it all with class. He is mostly responsible for the turn around of not only the play of the team, but the way the team is viewed in a media standpoint. People like him don't come around that often and if for some reason he can't come back from this injury, it will be a very cold day for all Cincinnati fans. Carson is an excellent QB and more importantly a standup person worthy of role model status for all young football players everywhere. Get well soon Carson !!!

WHODEY !!!

[CBin2k7]

Carson just looks like he belongs with the Bengals. It goes together, when you think Bengals football, you will now think Carson, Chad and Coach Lewis. Truly amazing what Carson has done in two years. It sucks that his first two seasons have ended in injury and I hope it is not a curse. But as long as Carson is heatlhy the Bengals have a chance, and I hold my Palmer jersey in my hand every game day.

[cincy9275]

Carson has brought respect back to this team and to your city he means a lot to me after the injury i was so worried could barely sleep. and it is very unlikely he will do anything to embarrass this team .like some have

[andybren]

I've always been drawn to consistent performers.

One thing that seems to get overlooked when talking about Carson's great plays or great drives or great games is how well he has done overall, over the course of the season. You could say he had maybe 2 bad games this year, and even then it just means he wasn't able to put the team on his back and slamdunk the W.

He didn't single-handedly lose a game, which, for a Bengal quarterback, is notable. And for this I am eternally grateful.

[jbengals1]

HAAAAAAA beat ya all my son who turns 1 on jan 22nd name is CARSON PARKER

[BengalsOwn]

Wow you guys are mushy, when I saw the hit I just flipped. Palmer is a spesial QB. However he is a pocket passer always has been. Get used to more braces and less mobility. However he will still be able to move in the pocket. I cant see him running much however did he really ever.

I hope he doesn't turn into a drew bledsoe...

[NJ29]

He will never be Drew Bledsoe, because he will never need to be with the line we have.

[BengalsOwn]

He will never be Drew Bledsoe, because he will never need to be with the line we have.

Who's to say we'll have the same line in 2009? 2011? 2014?

[Bgal]

Let's be honest here:

Palmer is the Bengals.

I've been a Bengal fan for as long as I've known football existed and have never respected a player as much as I respect Palmer. When ML drafted Palmer he knew his own success depended on Palmer, and so far both have been saviors to this team. When the Bengals gave Carson his new contract, I was grateful to know that the Bengals would be contenders for the next 10 years. That I would never have to watch Carson go on to another team, that he would always be a Bengals.

Well...

This injury shocked the hell out of me. I can barely remember the playoff game because I was so worried about Carson. There isn't a day that has gone by that I don't at least think about him and hope he is doing fine. Carson seems to be a good person and overwelmingly talented. If able, he will be the best QB the world has seen. There is no other QB I want to see starting for us other than Carson. Even if he isn't completely the same when he returns. They could bring in a god-like QB with a perfect rating every game and I would still want him benched when Carson is ready to return.

Perhaps I am a little too attached?

[Jet23]

Championship teams are still built on defense and a solid running game. IMO Marvin is well on his way to building a championship defense. Given Carson's poise, at WORST he would be a good caretaker of a defensive oriented team. Carson at 80% is still better than 80% of the qbs out there.

[NJ29]

Championship teams are still built on defense and a solid running game. IMO Marvin is well on his way to building a championship defense. Given Carson's poise, at WORST he would be a good caretaker of a defensive oriented team. Carson at 80% is still better than 80% of the qbs out there.

I agree, that championship teams are built around defense.

Honestly, I can't say that I'm to attached to Palmer. I have always liked mobile quarterbacks, and that obviously isn't Palmer. I like Palmer because he is a Bengal.

[derekshank]

Palmer is a lot more mobile that people are giving him credit for... it's just not something he likes to do. He has more confidence in his arm, and his players to get those extra yards than he does to try to scramble for 4 or 5 yards. People just assume that he can't run like Elway did... but I think he can. He just chooses not to... at least not to try to run for yardage.

I think this knee injury is more difficult than most people think it will be though... because although he is a pocket passer, and doesn't run a lot... he does use his mobility a lot. He is one of the most accurate passers while on a dead run that I have ever seen, and made a ton of great plays this year buying more time with his legs.

On the other hand... watching players like Steve Smith and Willis McGahee come back and play very well... in some cases even better than before... at positions that require a lot more strenuous activity on a knee is certainly a good thing.

I don't see any reason to expect this injury to keep him from ever being what he was well on his way to being, especially since the severely bad aspect of the injury was the MCL... much less worrisome than the ACL. But we may have to deal with him not being quite up to his MVP status until well into the middle are later part of next season.

As long as he does come back, and doesn't ruin his career by doing too much too fast, I think I'll be content. I've waited 15 years for Boomer's successor... I don't wan't to see the man who could have become the greatest Bengal ever end his career early because a bunch of us need instant gratification.

[Ripper]

I honestly thought that he was going to be a bust. This year has been unreal for me. Being a Bengal fan my whole life and for once having that QB that is tops in the league has always been a dream. No Gus Ferrotte, Kitnas, or Akillis but the best damn QB in the leaugue. To see him hurt I got a tear in my eye also got a tear in my eye when I heard his injury report and all the stuff that they said afterwards. I pray that Carson will get better and that he will come back as good if not better. He is an amazing QB and I think that he is a true leader and a great member of the community. After years, and years of malcontent players hating this city it is so f'n nice to have high class guys that like it here like Chad J and Carson. This 2005 team will always be my favorite team as this has honestly been one of the most fun times i've had in my 24 years of life. Whooooooooo Dey and get well Carson ! After all he has to drive the bandwagon.

[NJ29]

No Gus Ferrotte

I guess it's a plus that he throws with his right hand.

[pedroza29]

I was at PBS for the playoff game, and I have never heard the stadium that quiet when we all saw #9 lying on the field. Everyone was positive Carson would come back at halftime, but he never stepped onto the field. I didn't learn until after the game on the way home that the injury could be career threatening. When I heard that, I'll admit, it killed me inside. It took everthing thing I had to not go and find Kimo or to cry. I love Carson Palmer not only because he is a Bengal, but because he gave hope to fans that were in the dumps for ages in a first class way. I pray to God that he gets 100% by the start of next season.