NFL Speculation: 10 Players Who Should Pull a Carson Palmer, Demand a Trade
If the NFL were anything like the NBA, we'd see a horrible gap between successful teams and not-so-successful teams. Fortunately, the NFL consists of players who don't go around, flaunting themselves as "available" in order to hurt their team, both in terms of bargaining leverage and psyche.
However, sometimes a demand trade is warranted, like, for instance, that of Carson Palmer's trade demand. Sure, he's a great talent and the Bengals have tried to keep him happy, but it's obvious the team isn't goin' anywhere, and the dude can't stick around mediocrity his entire career.
So, I've compiled this list of players who should make a little 'Melo magic and get their asses out of their current situation and head elsewhere, where they're better off.
Enjoy.
10. Tim Tebow: Denver Broncos
1 of 10
It's unknown what this kid's ceiling is. All we know is that he's the most polarizing athlete in Denver right now, and he's also one of the most popular in the NFL. And while he should demand a trade, it's not because he deserves better. Rather, his chances of making it in the league, where everyone is a devout doubter/lover of his, is pretty slim in Denver.
Josh McDaniels seemed to be the only coach who thought Tebow would save his franchise. Since McDaniels' firing, Tebow's future has looked kind of bleak. Kyle Orton had a pretty awesome year last year, and John Fox is adamant about keeping Orton as his starter.
All that work ethic could amount to nothing, and Tebow won't get the reps necessary to explore his own potential.
Oh, and also, we don't have to hear the ridiculously annoying cries of "ORTON SUCKS! START TEBOW!" anymore. Win-win, you guys.
9. Andre Johnson: Houston Texans
2 of 10
Andre Johnson is a friggin' beast.
His team? Crap.
OK, so sure, the Texans have upgraded the coaching staff recently, with the hire of Wade Philips as their defensive coordinator. And sure, Matt Schaub is a solid starting quarterback in the league. And sure, Arian Foster is looking like a pretty good complement to a freaking amazing offense.
But everything else? It's pretty bleak. The Texans have horrible talent on the defensive end, collectively, and the late-season collapses are getting really old. Though the Texans started off as a team everyone had pegged to be a playoff contender, the team faltered, missing the postseason for the ninth straight year.
Andre Johnson's a little too amazing to deal with heartbreak after heartbreak. He's a humble dude, so I don't expect him to put himself on the trade market. Just a thought.
8. Darren McFadden: Oakland Raiders
3 of 10
The Raiders had their first non-losing season last year for the first time since 2002. The team was one of the best defensively and had swept the entire AFC West during its 8-8 campaign, and McFadden was a huge part of it.
But let's be honest: This team is going nowhere.
You can blame Al Davis (duh) for that. Now that Tom Cable—the coach responsible for instilling discipline and a strong offensive line—was fired by Big Al, the team is stuck with having to learn an entirely new system, just because Al Davis gets sleepy when he watches hard running and defense, despite the fact that it's the best way to win games.
Hue Jackson will be the new Raiders coach, and the Raiders will need time to adjust—again.
Don't expect the team to start building off the core they already have, because Al Davis didn't follow the rule: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
So get out while you can, Darren McFadden. Because while you'll probably be a beast in Oakland, your team won't be producing the wins they should be.
7. Jacoby Ford: Oakland Raiders
4 of 10
Jacoby Ford proved to be a breakout receiver last season, making everyone in Oakland forget about Darrius Heyward-Bey.
However, if you read the last slide, you'd realize that the Oakland Raiders probably won't be too awesome next season, thanks to the fact that the young guns will have to learn a whole new system, both offensively and defensively.
I hate the Raiders because I'm a Chargers fan. (NOTE: Had to get the biases out of the way; y'all were about to catch me on it, anyway.) But it's sad, knowing this team had a fine coach, and Al Davis didn't like the style of play he implemented, so he trashed him.
You, too, Jacoby Ford. Get out while you can.
6. Frank Gore: San Francisco 49ers
5 of 10
Ugh, the Niners. Is it me, or is this team pegged to be a Super Bowl team every freaking year?
To Niners fans, it seems so, because the team has constantly under-achieved. And though the 49ers did just get their hands on the heavily-coveted Jim Harbaugh as their head coach, the team is still far away from contending, while solid running back Frank Gore is already 27.
Sure, Gore can wait to see if the team develops. But even if it does within two years, Gore will already be 29, which is damn old for a running back. Just ask Edgerrin James, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Clinton Portis just how productive they were at that age.
Gore needs to be on a team that's ready to win now. The Niners aren't that team, and it's in his best interest to head to a place that could use another great player to push him over the top.
5. Ryan Grant: Green Bay Packers
6 of 10
It's really hard for anyone to say "thanks, but no thanks" to a team fresh off a Super Bowl win. It's even harder to do so when that team are, to some, favorites to win the next two Super Bowls.
The problem is, Grant won't be a huge part of them.
In case you forgot, Ryan Grant was hurt at the beginning of last season. And though the ground game suffered tremendously, rookie James Starks picked up his slack in the playoffs when it mattered most.
The Packers would be totally cool with keeping Grant, but his role will be decreasing to the point where he gets to the devastating age of 28, and he can't pick up anymore large contracts.
Ryan Grant is a fine running back, and the Packers are a fine, young team. But sometimes, business-wise, it's not always a good idea to stay loyal.
4. Chris Johnson: Tennessee Titans
7 of 10
Best running back in the league? Chris Johnson. Hands down. Easy.
Best team in the league? It sure as hell isn't the Titans.
That's the simplest way to put it. With the explosiveness of Chris Johnson, any team should be able to feed off that and make the playoffs. The Titans were right there, until a little Jeff Fisher-Vince Young spat screwed everything up.
Now both are gone, and the team looks like it could head into re-building mode with Chris Johnson as the cornerstone.
The problem? Chris Johnson is turning 26 soon. And while that seems young, you have to understand that the shelf life of a running back is horrifically low, and CJ2K is no exception.
Right now, the team doesn't have enough talent and experience in place to get this team ready for a long playoff-haul. And when you're in your late 20s as a running back, that's never, ever a good sign.
That won't happen though, and we all know it. Good luck, Chris Johnson.
3. Ndamukong Suh
8 of 10
I'm conflicted.
I'm conflicted because Ndamukong Suh just finished his rookie season, and I'm ready to call him a "beast." I'm conflicted because the Lions looked so damn good last season, even with their losing record. I'm conflicted because the team has some freaking potential, building a team the right way through the draft.
But I'm also conflicted because it's the Detroit Lions.
I hate to sound like a contrarian, because I know every NFL fan loves to see teams built through the draft, rather than the money-hoarding annual time period that is free agency. Thus, everyone wants this thing with the Lions to work.
But Ndamukong Suh needs to ask for his way out.
Because he's a Detroit Lion, and the Lions have never had the organization famous for building great teams around their star players. And while this organization may be different, you can't help but go into extreme skepticism about the choices they'll make three years down the line, in order to increase revenue and cut costs.
For now, though, I'm keeping him on this list, because history tends to repeat itself. Right, Barry Sanders?
2. Larry Fitzgerald: Arizona Cardinals
9 of 10
Larry Fitzgerald is freaking lovable. The dude is highly intelligent, very humble, and is freakishly talented.
But the Cardinals are sinking, and they're sinking fast. What you saw last season was just the beginning. The team has nothing to build off of except Fitzgerald. The team's defense was sketchy, at best, vomit-inducing at worst. The quarterback situation reminds me of a toilet at your house after twelve hours of hard partying. (Remember? Um, OK, it never happened.)
The team's going awry, and the lone silver lining includes Larry Fitzgerald.
Granted, Larry Fitz is a free agent after next season, so I guess if he really wanted to leave respectfully, he can just wait until that time comes. But he's only getting older, and wasting another year with a mediocre team may just be out of the question.
1. Philip Rivers: San Diego Chargers
10 of 10
I guess you didn't see this one coming, did you?
Of course you didn't. Because this team—aside from the 2010 season—is winning. The Chargers are perennial favorites to be the last team standing, and the talent that's around him is ridiculous, because the general manager of the team—A.J. Smith—is a freaking genius in finding talent.
But here's the problem: That same general manager has a problem keeping talent around.
A.J. Smith is a nightmare. He doesn't work with players, and he doesn't take the liberty to work with coaches, especially when it comes to power struggles and contract negotiations. A.J. Smith will low-ball your ass, and he doesn't care if you're LeBron Freaking James.
That's why Philip Rivers needs to leave. Because the talent that's around him could be gone in an instant, all thanks to A.J. Smith. Rivers is easily an elite quarterback, but his talent is also hindered by his coach's lack of instilled discipline, despite Norv Turner's brilliant offensive mind.
That's how this team has been since Rivers became the starter. Not once were the Chargers the hungry, disciplined team they should have been to get to a Super Bowl. Blame that on the coach.
And any future problems regarding talent around Rivers? Blame that on A.J. Smith.
Sometimes, these things just make sense.
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