Washington Redskins: Carson Palmer's Potential Resurrection in D.C.

According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, quarterback Carson Palmer has informed the Cincinnati Bengals that he would like to be traded before the 2011 season. And while some of this stuff can be considered hearsay with all expectations swept under the rug over the offseason, this rumor appears to be pretty serious. Palmer, according to unnamed sources, has made it clear that he will retire from the game of football before playing another down for the Bengals.

With the Washington Redskins in desperate need of a quarterback, rumors have resurfaced that head coach Mike Shanahan may take the 31 year old signal caller into consideration.

The plus-side to a possible Palmer sighting in Ashburn is the fact that he knows the West Coast offense and he has the type of skill set needed to succeed in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The downside to a possible Palmer sighting in Ashburn is the fact that he has never been able to limit his turnovers and that his consistency was lost following his injury in 2005.

After having great back-to-back seasons in 2005 and 2006, which he earned quarterback ratings of 101 and 94 respectively, Palmer went on to throw 57 interceptions in his next 52 games. Compared to the Redskins current quarterback debacle, Rex Grossman, Palmer doesn’t appear to be that much of an improvement.

Shanahan may find a little more confidence in a Palmer-brand band aid than a Grossman one, but it’s undoubtedly nothing more than a temporary fix. In fact, I wouldn't take the Redskins out of consideration for selecting a quarterback in April's draft, although it likely wouldn't be in the first round. 

The Redskins will not be the only team inquiring about Palmer as the offseason quickly approaches. The Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks may also take a long hard look at Palmer.

Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt is familiar with Palmer after his days with the division-rival Steelers, the Vikings appear to be just a quarterback away from contention and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has obvious ties from his days at USC where he recruited and coached Palmer.

The Miami Dolphins will also consider Palmer and the Carolina Panthers may look for a veteran to try and show sophomore Jimmy Clausen the ropes. I also wouldn’t count out the San Francisco 49ers with the idea of a temporary fix and the Tennessee Titans that could host a quarterback competition for the elderly.