Carson Palmer is an Oakland Raiders quarterback as of today. And the man who was the long-time (2003) Cincinnati Bengals signal caller who went to USC, gets to stay out in the West Coast and play for Hue Jackson. (In fact, Palmer will be officially reunited with Jackson at a press conference set at Raiders Headquaters for 7 PM EST today.)
The trade with the Bengals closes a relationship between Palmer and the Tiger Helmets that turned ugly. Palmer was sick and tired of always coming up short in Ohio, and demanded to be traded or he would retire. To that end, Carson encouraged Cincinnati to draft a new quarterback in the 2011 NFL Draft. The Bengals’ Head Coach Marvin Lewis did just that, selecting TCU’s Andy Dalton in the second round.
Indeed, according to NFL Network, it was Dalton’s performance in building the Bengals 4 win, 2 loss record that was a major factor in the deal. That, and, according to Fox Sports Jay Glazer (who broke the story), Jackson’s relationship with both Bengals Owner Mike Brown and with Carson Palmer.
It was Jackson who not only recruited Palmer out of high school, but coached him as offensive coordinator at USC, and then later as wide receivers coach with the Bengals. If the trade works, and there’s little reason to think it can’t, it will be because Palmer’s able to work with Jackson and quickly pick up the Raiders offense, especially its nomenclature (another word for terminology).
Also, as NFL Draft and Zennie62.com football expert Bill Chachkes says, the deal “Shows who’s calling the shots now.” As it has Hue Jackson’s mark all over it, but it’s also one I think the late Raiders Owner Al Davis would have made. It’s not two 1st round draft picks, but a 1st and then a 2nd, unless the Raiders go to the playoffs, in which case the 2013 pick turns into a 1st rounder.
Would I have made the trade? No. I happen to think current Raiders Quarterback Kyle Boller is more than capable of leading the organization, and was 8 of 14 passing against Cleveland on Sunday, and already knows the offense.
But this seems more a situation of Jackson being able to work with someone he’s wanted to be able to coach in the NFL, and that’s Palmer. I don’t think it’s a minus for Boller or for Jason Campbell, but a plus all around and makes for a more competitive playing environment in 2012.
And regarding Jason Campbell, the Number 8 that Palmer’s Number 9 will replace due to Campbell’s broken collar bone, it’s an unfortunate happening, as his contract is up in 2012. The Raiders may not keep him on the squad depending on how Palmer does.
But that’s in the future. I do think one problem Jason has is to what degree he wants to not just start, but win games. That interception he threw to a wide open Patriots defender (tongue in cheek) two weeks ago still sticks in the craw of this blogger and makes me wonder if Jason fears success.
Stay tuned.