NFL Fans Not Impressed With Arizona Cardinals Acquisition of Carson Palmer
By Scott Allen
Dec 6, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos at the O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
As an Arizona Cardinals fan, I have to say, trading for Carson Palmer is definitely an upgrade from last season, wouldn’t you say? Forget what Palmer did or didn’t do in Oakland the last two seasons. Let’s all think what John Skelton, Kevin Kolb, and Ryan Lindley didn’t do for the Cards. Yeah, I’m not all gushy over Palmer but I sure as heck know who the Cards starting quarterback will be come September. We couldn’t say that last year. So, as an NFL fan, I get the negativity, but come live in a Cards fan’s shoes for a Sunday and you’ll understand why the Cards like Palmer so much.
I read a column in profootballtalk.com today about the Cards believing that Palmer is still in his prime and how impressed Cards general manager Steve Keim is with him. I’m impressed with the Cards confidence. Whether Palmer works out or not, that remains to be seen. However I like how the Cards have a plan. They aren’t messing around. They may not have the best talent in the league but they may have some of the highest confidence in their current personnel, at least publicly. You never got that vote of public confidence, at least from any of the quarterbacks standpoint, prior to the start of last season.
I’d say almost all the comments were complaining what a joke the organization is and has been in the past. What a joke they still are even with all the changes they’ve made personnel and staff wise this off-season. That’s fine, they can complain and make fun all they want. I agree with the Cards assessment. Obviously they have seen something that gives them confidence in Palmer.
I read several comments that refer to the fear of drafting and developing a quarterback. Well, you find me someone worth drafting early with the position the Cards are in with this years draft. You can’t. Sure, maybe they draft a guy like Matt Barkley, but he wouldn’t be drafted in the first round and he wouldn’t be drafted to play this season and most likely next. There is no quarterback in this draft that you can say he is ready to start now. Not even Geno Smith.
So why not Carson Palmer? I said this the other day, stop-gap or not, he’s better than what the Cards had. Screw the rest of the NFL fans outside of Arizona. Let them mock. They mocked when the Cards got Kurt Warner. Sure, Palmer is no Warner, but he’s no John Skelton either. No one will be 100 percent happy with their quarterback unless his name ends with Brady, Manning, or Rodgers.