Bengals May Trade Carson Palmer After All | IXGAMES
Last month when quarterback Carson Palmer told the Cincinnati Bengals that he wanted to be traded, team president Mike Brown said the team wasn’t going to deal its franchise player. Palmer had threatened to retire and walk away from the remaining four years and some $50 million on his contract if he wasn’t dealt, and it now appears that the Bengals might believe him. Cincinnati has the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft and has been meeting with the top quarterbacks at the NFL Scouting Combine. Cincy should have its choice of QBs that high, likely either Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert or Heisman winner Cam Newton of Auburn should the team decide to go that route. Coach Marvin Lewis said late last week that the team was proceeding this offseason as if Palmer won’t play. “You want a guy in the fourth spot that is going to be a game changer next year, a guy you can build a franchise around. We can go in a lot of different directions. I know on offense we can,” new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden said of the team’s first pick. Cincinnati would prefer, no doubt, to have Palmer play next season as a rookie QB sits and learns and then trade Palmer after the 2011 season. But SI.com’s Peter King reported Monday that a team official said the Bengals will listen to offers for Palmer once the new collective bargaining agreement is finalized – whenever that is. Certainly Palmer would draw some offers, with teams like the Vikings, 49ers, Cardinals and Seahawks expected to be interested in Palmer. Absent a new CBA, no current players may be traded. Bet on Bengals futures now at Bodog Sportsbook