UPDATE: The Steelers signed a punter, Adam Bates. Not worth its own post, sorry.
This is Carson Palmer. He is impossible to dislike right now.
Back in January, Palmer went to the Bengals front office and requested a trade. He cited the lack of success for either him or his team during the last few years and he felt both sides would benefit by going in different directions. Having made several million dollars since being the 1st overall pick in 2003, he said that he will retire if his trade request is not honored. He just does not want to play for the Bengals at all.
How is that working out for him? Come in and find out.
Palmer has spent his entire career being amicable in an environment where being a loudmouth showboat is the only perceived option, and this summer has been no different. From dealing with the on-field personalities of Chad Eightfive, Cedric Benson, and Terrell Owens, to dealing with a Matt-Millen-level idiot in his front office, Palmer never goes to the media and complains about people. He didn’t complain when the TOcho show was undoubtedly bickering for the ball in practice. He didn’t complain when Pacman Jones punched a cop or killed another stripper. He didn’t complain when Cedric Benson was arrested for any one of multiple incidents. And he’s not complaining now that a 6 year old kid in an old man’s body is plugging his ears and singing “I can’t hear you, I can’t hear you!” while he’s trying to be an adult about the whole thing.
Paul Brown is arguably the greatest football mind ever involved with the NFL. He was the first coach to sign a black player. He invented the draw play. His coaching tree includes Chuck Noll, Don Shula, Sid Gillman, and Bill Walsh. But as it turns out, Paul Brown had a mentally disabled son named Michael, who is now the owner and GM of the Bengals.
Mike Brown has long been known for being stubborn, making bad personnel decisions, and signing criminals. Tired of the sideshow that is the Bengals, a team for which he was underperforming, Carson Palmer asked this man to trade or release him so that both parties could start off fresh. Brown responded by drafting a quarterback in Andy Dalton and exploring the free agent market for a veteran backup/short term starter. Oh, and he’d rather force Palmer into retirement than get something for him in a trade.
Said Brown, “Carson signed a contract, he made a commitment…. He gave us his word. We relied on his word and his commitment. We expected him to perform here. If he is going to walk away from his commitment we aren’t going to reward him for doing it.”
Is he high? I think he’s actually high. How do you feel when you cut a guy after training camp? You gave him a contract. In fact, after the first round of cuts this summer, I sincerely hope at least 2 or 3 of the guys walk into his office and say, “You gave me a contract, you made a commitment. You gave us your word. I relied on your word and your commitment.” They won’t, but oh god that would be the best episode of Hard Knocks in history.
He goes on to confirm that he believes Carson Palmer is, in fact, retired. Ask any other GM on any team in any sport on any planet if they would trade a retired player for a first round pick or a prospect. Even Garth Snow would take that deal. Not Brown though! He’s so mad that Palmer doesn’t want to play for him that he would rather force him into retirement than improve his own team. It’s petty revenge. The worst part about petty revenge? Palmer has still been quiet in the media, choosing not to cause a stir. He just wants to move on with his career.
This might be a bluff from both sides. If it is, Palmer has the upper hand. Brown’s only available moves are to trade or release Palmer. Palmer’s available moves are to retire, come back and play for the Bengals, or just never bother showing up to training camp, practices, or any games. If he never officially retires, he’s still under contract. Which means he’s still getting paid. Brown’s refusal to terminate Palmer’s contract will cost him $50 million through 2014. After all, Mike, you signed that contract. You’re expected to honor it. If you don’t want to, looks like you’d have to get rid of it somehow.
Knowing Brown, he’lk try to find some loophole that would keep Palmer on the roster but somehow not have to pay him. Knowing Palmer, he’ll retire and not make a mess of things for the Bengals, as much as we all want him to.
Mike Brown does understand one thing, though. Getting traded from Cincinnati is a reward. He said so himself. To get rid of a player would be giving him what he wants. But Brown will never realize that’s a bad thing. He’ll just keep ruining the Bengals until he’s dead, because he has no idea how to run a franchise. For the great mind that Paul Brown was, his son was probably adopted.
The Bengals are a laughing stock and a sideshow. Mike Brown is the main reason why.
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