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For the second time in less than two years Carson Palmer will be packing his bags and moving to another team. The Oakland Raiders are going to trade Palmer and a 7th round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a 6th round pick this year and a conditional 7th round pick in 2014. Palmer must play in at least 13 games this season in order for the Raiders to get the 7th round pick. When the Bengals use the 37th overall pick in the upcoming draft it will be a reminder for the Raiders of what a colossal flub of a deal this was from them. The story first began way back in January 2011:
Jan 24, 2011
The Super Bowl has just ended and reports have been leaked out that Palmer wants out of Cincinnati. Gee, I wonder who leaked those rumors. Palmer has told the Bengals they have to trade him or he'll retire. The Bengals incensed tell him, "Fine, retire. After all, we still have Jordan Palmer." In his final season as a Bengal Palmer threw for 3,970 yards, 26 TDs, and 20 interceptions.
April 28-29, 2011
With the football player formally known as "Ochocinco" off to the Patriots and Palmer retired, the Bengals selected WR A.J. Green in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft and traded up to the top of the second round to get QB Andy Dalton. Meanwhile Palmer is spending his free time scouting players he wants to draft for his fantasy football team.
Aug 27, 2011
The Bengals make one last attempt to talk Palmer out of retirement and even promise they'll keep his brother on the team but Palmer refuses to budge from his position. The Bengals cut Jordan Palmer.
Sep 11, 2011
In the first game of the post-Palmer era Andy Dalton looks good but has to leave the game after taking a helmet to the arm. Bruce Gradkowski comes on in relief and the Bengals beat the Browns 27-17. Palmer is livid, not because the Bengals won but because he had Dalton on his fantasy team.
Oct 16, 2011
While scrambling out of the pocket Jason Campbell takes a hit from Scott Fujita ending his season and making Kyle Boller the starter. After the game the Raiders are so desperate they even consider bringing David Garrard out of retirement.
Oct 18, 2011
Despite vowing not to trade Palmer, the Bengals early success with Dalton has them reconsidering. When the Raiders come along and offer a 1st round pick in 2012 and a 2nd round pick in 2013 (that could move up to a 1st round pick if the Raiders make the AFC Championship game) the Bengals finally give in to Palmer's demands. When asked about Palmer's mediocre numbers in his final year in Cincinnati head coach Hue Jackson says, "This isn't about numbers, this is about the person." Strangely prophetic words. Meanwhile Jordan now needs someone else to play catch with so he calls up Ty and Coy Detmer.
Jan 1, 2012
After the Broncos lost earlier in the day the Raiders go into their final game knowing all they need to do is beat the Chargers at home and they'll be in the playoffs. Instead, Phillip Rivers throws 3 TDs and the Raiders are thumped 38-26. "To find out it worked out the way you needed it to and to lose this one," Carson Palmer said. "It's going to be a long offseason." Longer than you realize.
Nov 25, 2012
Palmer plays in his old stadium for the first time since "retiring" from the Bengals. The Bengals easily win the game 34-10. "I got so used to losing here as a player," Palmer said, "that it just felt like old times."
Dec 30, 2012
The Raiders lose their final game of the year 24-21 to the Chargers and finish the season with only 4 wins. Palmer played in 15 of those games throwing for 4,018 yards, 22 TDs, and 14 interceptions. What those numbers don't tell you is that most of them came in garbage time when teams with huge leads switched to a prevent defense. Sitting by his locker a battered Palmer simply says, "Well that sucked."
March 29, 2013
Unwilling to take a pay cut from $13 million to $10 million the Raiders trade for Matt Flynn and officially begin shopping Palmer who says he'd be willing to play a backup role if it's with a contending team like the 49ers. The 49ers say thanks but no thanks. We can find a much cheaper and younger clipboard holder somewhere else. Now where did I put the Browns number?
April 2, 2013
Palmer is traded to the Cardinals after he agrees to restructure his deal to a two year $16 million contract with $10 million guaranteed and an additional $4 million in incentives. In Palmer's defense the Raiders offensive line was horrible and their run game was largely missing at times. Now he gets to play for a team with a horrible offensive line and nonexistent run game but his jersey will be red so it will hide the blood better. Larry Fitzgerald is reportedly excited about the trade but that's just because almost anyone is an improvement over John Skelton, Max Hall, Kevin Kolb, Derek Anderson, and Ryan Lindley. Am I missing someone? Oh yeah, Brian Hoyer.
Would it be too early to rank the Carson Palmer to the Raiders trade up there with the Herschel Walker to the Vikings trade as one of the worst trades of all time?