Arizona Cardinals: Carson Palmer back to win ring

Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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After briefly contemplating retirement Carson Palmer has returned to win a Super Bowl championship with the Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have heard the criticisms leveled at Carson Palmer. They also know that if their starting quarterback since 2013 had decided to retire, this upcoming season’s title hopes would’ve faded away.

But now, with their signal-caller back in the fold, those Super Bowl dreams are alive. Those so-called experts can say all they want about Palmer. As far as Arizona’s front office is concerned, the 37-year old gives them their best chance to win.

Palmer did not decide to return for the money. He has made more coin in his career than he and his family will ever be able to spend. No, his reason for coming back is a much more noble one.

One look into Palmer’s eyes on game days will tell you all you need to know about the man. He has a determined, competitive look that only the best at his position have. The one thing that has eluded him throughout his professional career is the one thing that keeps him going.

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A Super Bowl title would be an awesome exclamation point on a 15-year NFL journey. He’s thrown for an outstanding 44,629 yards and 285 touchdown passes with three different organizations (Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders being the other two). But post-season success, for the most part, has eluded him.

Even with some key free agent departures (Calais Campbell, Tony Jefferson, D.J. Swearinger), his supporting cast in the desert is still good. The offense still boasts David Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Iupati, Jermaine Gresham, John Brown, Jared Veldheer and J.J.Nelson. On defense there’s Patrick Peterson, Chandler Jones, Tyrann Mathieu and Markus Golden, so the Cards certainly have top-notch personnel.

A dedicated, hard-working individual deserves to be rewarded eventually. 2017 will likely be Palmer’s swan-song campaign with the Cardinals. Perhaps a storybook ending will be in the cards.