Carson Palmer Wants Out
Carson Palmer wants out of Cincinnati. Can you blame him?
ESPN is reporting that Carson is demanding the Bengals for a trade before next season or he will consider retirement. When I first heard this I was shocked, but after you think about it, it's really not that surprising. Since Palmer was drafted number one overall in the 2003 NFL Draft, the Bengals have had only two winning seasons and they lost both of their playoff games. The organization looks like it is headed no where and I can't fault the guy for wanting to leave.
Carson's numbers have been in decline ever since that fatal day against the Steelers. Since Palmer had his knee shattered in the 2005 playoffs, by Pittsburgh Steeler defensive tackle, Kimo von Oelhoffen, on one of the dirtiest plays in NFL history in my view, he has not been the same. The tackle was ruled unintentional and there was no flag. What a load of crap. But since then, Carson Palmer and the Bengals have been on a downward spiral.
In 2005, Palmer's best season a a pro, he threw for 3,836 yds, 32 TD, 12 Int, completion percentage of 67.8%, had a career best 101.1 QB Rating, was named tot he Pro Bowl where he was game MVP. After 2005, Palmer's highest QB Rating was 93.9 in 2006, he has thrown more than 13 interceptions every season, including 20 in '07 and '10. Except for 2008 when he played in only four games, Palmer's numbers have been nothing to get excited about. Carson went from being a guy that in 2005, was considered to be one of the top 5 quarterbacks in the NFL, to a mere mediocre quarterback on a horrible team. A career that looked so promising, has ended up in disappointment.
But Carson's poor numbers and sometimes poor play are not all his fault. I know that there are a lot of fans that can't wait for him to leave and have been calling for his head for years, but I think you can't put all the blame on Carson. There are three other people that Bengals fans need to put the blame on.
Finally, the worst owner of any professional sports organization on the planet and the person who deserves the most blame for Palmer wanting to leave, Mike Brown. Mike Brown, Mike Brown, Mike Brown...Mike Brown. He has been the owner of the Cincinnati Bengals since 1991 and after almost 20 years, still hasn't figured it out. His career record of 115-206-1 (.359 winning percentage) is evidence of that. Mike Brown is concerned about one thing, money, and nothing else. Carson Palmer has extraordinary talent and players like him, don't come around very often and Mike Brown found a way to screw it up.
Carson Palmer carried the 2005 team and it's no secret that he needed a better supporting case to compete in the AFC North for the coming year, but Mike Brown failed to deliver. One player can't win his team the Super Bowl, it just doesn't work like that. All the great teams in the history of the NFL have had not only great quarterbacks, but a solid coaching staff and a good supporting case of teammates. The Bengals have a very good quarterback, but the coaching staff and supporting case is sub par and has been for years. From poor coaches, cough, cough, Bob Bratkowski, poor front office management, poor scouting, poor evaluation of talent, poor drafting, to a poor supporting case like the offensive line that has nearly gotten Palmer killed.
Bottom line, if you really look at it, Carson Palmer never really had a chance to win in Cincinnati. The Bengals somehow found a way to win in 2005 and 2009 , but as long as Mike Brown is running the show, no one, not even Joe Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway, Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Johnny Unitas, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or Drew Brees could win a Super Bowl as a Cincinnati Bengal.
I feel for the poor sap that becomes the next quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, because it's not going to be pretty. Wherever Carson Palmer ends up, I will still be a fan and I wish him nothing, but the best.
ESPN is reporting that Carson is demanding the Bengals for a trade before next season or he will consider retirement. When I first heard this I was shocked, but after you think about it, it's really not that surprising. Since Palmer was drafted number one overall in the 2003 NFL Draft, the Bengals have had only two winning seasons and they lost both of their playoff games. The organization looks like it is headed no where and I can't fault the guy for wanting to leave.Carson's numbers have been in decline ever since that fatal day against the Steelers. Since Palmer had his knee shattered in the 2005 playoffs, by Pittsburgh Steeler defensive tackle, Kimo von Oelhoffen, on one of the dirtiest plays in NFL history in my view, he has not been the same. The tackle was ruled unintentional and there was no flag. What a load of crap. But since then, Carson Palmer and the Bengals have been on a downward spiral.
In 2005, Palmer's best season a a pro, he threw for 3,836 yds, 32 TD, 12 Int, completion percentage of 67.8%, had a career best 101.1 QB Rating, was named tot he Pro Bowl where he was game MVP. After 2005, Palmer's highest QB Rating was 93.9 in 2006, he has thrown more than 13 interceptions every season, including 20 in '07 and '10. Except for 2008 when he played in only four games, Palmer's numbers have been nothing to get excited about. Carson went from being a guy that in 2005, was considered to be one of the top 5 quarterbacks in the NFL, to a mere mediocre quarterback on a horrible team. A career that looked so promising, has ended up in disappointment.
But Carson's poor numbers and sometimes poor play are not all his fault. I know that there are a lot of fans that can't wait for him to leave and have been calling for his head for years, but I think you can't put all the blame on Carson. There are three other people that Bengals fans need to put the blame on.
First, "Axe Murderer" Kimo von Oelhoffen. The former Bengal, sealed the fate for the next five years for not only Carson Palmer, but the Cincinnati Bengals. In that 2005 playoff game against the Steelers, Palmer threw a 66-yard bullet to the late Chris Henry on the first offensive play and the rest is history. Palmer was hit in the knee by von Oelhoffen and was then carted off the field and the Bengals lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champs. Had Carson not gotten hurt in that game, there is no doubt in my mind that the Bengals would have won that football game. The Steelers would never have won Super Bowl XL and who knows how things might have turned out for Carson and the Bengals. The Bengals might have won a Super Bowl by now and Carson would never even dream of leaving, but we will never know. Just another reason to hate the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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| Carson Palmer has probably had enough of offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski |
Second, offensive coordinator, Bob Bratkowski. Playing for Mike Brown is bad enough, but having to listen to Bratkowski call your plays for eight years has to be frustrating. Bob Bratkowski makes a strong case for worst offensive coordinator in the NFL and should have been fired years ago. The guy has the creativity and playing calling capabilities of a fifth grader and he offense's year in and year out, under perform. When watching the Bengals offensive attack, most fans know when they are going to pass, when they are going to run, who is going to get the ball and so on. It is so predictable and if you know what the Bengals are going to do sitting on your couch at home, you sure as hell know the defense knows what's coming. Why Mike Brown hasn't fired him by now is unknown, but not surprising.
Finally, the worst owner of any professional sports organization on the planet and the person who deserves the most blame for Palmer wanting to leave, Mike Brown. Mike Brown, Mike Brown, Mike Brown...Mike Brown. He has been the owner of the Cincinnati Bengals since 1991 and after almost 20 years, still hasn't figured it out. His career record of 115-206-1 (.359 winning percentage) is evidence of that. Mike Brown is concerned about one thing, money, and nothing else. Carson Palmer has extraordinary talent and players like him, don't come around very often and Mike Brown found a way to screw it up.
Carson Palmer carried the 2005 team and it's no secret that he needed a better supporting case to compete in the AFC North for the coming year, but Mike Brown failed to deliver. One player can't win his team the Super Bowl, it just doesn't work like that. All the great teams in the history of the NFL have had not only great quarterbacks, but a solid coaching staff and a good supporting case of teammates. The Bengals have a very good quarterback, but the coaching staff and supporting case is sub par and has been for years. From poor coaches, cough, cough, Bob Bratkowski, poor front office management, poor scouting, poor evaluation of talent, poor drafting, to a poor supporting case like the offensive line that has nearly gotten Palmer killed.
Bottom line, if you really look at it, Carson Palmer never really had a chance to win in Cincinnati. The Bengals somehow found a way to win in 2005 and 2009 , but as long as Mike Brown is running the show, no one, not even Joe Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway, Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Johnny Unitas, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or Drew Brees could win a Super Bowl as a Cincinnati Bengal.
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| The play that forever changed Carson Palmer's career. Dirty play? You be the judge. |
So, be mad at Carson Palmer all you want, but I never will be. Yes, Carson could have played better, or maybe been a better leader or found a better way to deal with Mike Brown or Chad Ochocinco, but it's not all his fault. Bengals fans should not be mad at Carson, but at Bob Bratkowski, Kimo von Oelhoffen and the Steelers, Marvin Lewis, but most of all Mike Brown. Carson Palmer is a very talented player and if you put him on the Patriots or Steelers, he has at least one Super Bowl ring, maybe even more. Palmer is still a good player and when his career is all over, he will be seen as a good player that ended up in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the worst owner in the history of the NFL. Mike Brown needs to sell the team or move somewhere else, because Cincinnati has had enough. If you thought 2010 was bad, imagine how bad the Bengals will be without Palmer. It's going to be a nightmare. Once again thanks for everything Mike Brown.
I feel for the poor sap that becomes the next quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, because it's not going to be pretty. Wherever Carson Palmer ends up, I will still be a fan and I wish him nothing, but the best.
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