NFL Trade Rumors: Carson Palmer and 5 Stars Staying Put

The NFL is back—although if you have watched ESPN for even two seconds in the last three months you would never know that it went away because of how much they talked about it—and as a result, business can finally get underway.

Trades, free agency and rookie signings are likely to come fast and furious over the course of the next week. One of the biggest names on the trade block, or at least who would like to be put on the trade block, is Carson Palmer.

The Bengals quarterback has wanted out of Cincinnati since the end of last season, but the lockout made it impossible for the team to move him—not that the team gave any indication that they would move him.

Now, with the lockout over, the team is still intent on keeping Palmer regardless of his retirement threats.

According to ESPN.com, owner Mike Brown said on Tuesday that he won't satisfy the quarterback's request for a trade. Brown says that a trade would reward Palmer for failing to play out the rest of his contract. Instead, they'll let him go ahead with his plan to retire rather than play for the Bengals.

It's baffling how the Bengals can be so unwilling to even entertain offers for Palmer, because this team isn't going to win this year and they need a lot of help if they hope to get close to contending any time soon, but this is why the Bengals are the Bengals and they only have two playoff appearances in the last 20 years.

Palmer is just one of the many players that has been rumored to be on the move but will end up staying with their current franchise.

Here are five players, Carson Palmer included, who will be sticking with their current team for at least one more season.

Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos

Reports came out early Tuesday that the Denver Broncos have placed quarterback Kyle Orton on the trading block. While the team will surely listen to offers for the 28-year-old, it would be a mistake to move him at this time.

Tim Tebow only started three games last year, and one of them was against Houston, which had the worst defense in football last year. He may turn into a star, but he has a long way to go to prove himself.

Orton is a perfect insurance policy for this team for the 2011 season. If Tebow should get injured, the Broncos need someone capable of handling the position, and no, Brady Quinn is not that guy.

Plus, it's not like Orton was chopped liver last year. He threw for over 3,600 yards with 20 touchdowns despite not playing in the last three games of the season. He is not a star, but he is better suited for the position right now than Tebow.

John Fox will have a lot of decisions to make if he hopes to get the Broncos back into contention soon, but trading Orton right now would be a mistake he can't afford to make.

Albert Haynesworth, Washington Redskins

Albert Haynesworth has had a very interesting career in Washington, to say the least. He signed a massive $100 million contract three years ago but has played like a backup at best, if he made it onto the field at all.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan and Haynesworth don't like each other, which is the understatement of the year, and the two have struggled to forge any kind of professional relationship.

There were rumors that the team was looking to get rid of him last season, but nothing ever became of it. He remains a member of the team as this year gets underway.

With his trade value being so low and his cap number too high for the team to just release him, Haynesworth will remain a member of the team for at least one more season before they cut bait with him one way or another.

Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have refused to trade Carson Palmer, so why would Chad Ochocinco be any different?

Sure, his performance has fallen off in the last two years, but he is still capable of being a good receiver in this league.

There was a lot of speculation about Ochocinco's future in Cincinnati after the end of the 2010 season, but ever since then, there has been almost nothing about him. There is no urgency on his part or the team's to make a move.

Ochocinco could threaten to retire if he really wants to get out of Cincinnati and take his talents to MLS, where he had a tryout a few months ago.

Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are in the process of rebuilding. The team drafted the quarterback of the future in Cam Newton and they need to make a lot of decisions about their veteran players.

One of the biggest names on the team is Steve Smith.

Smith, when healthy, is one of the better receivers in football. He didn't have good numbers last year, but that was probably more a reflection of the quarterback situation than anything that he did. He wants to be traded to a contending team, and a team like New England would make a lot of sense, but the Panthers will not find a match that they like.

The Panthers need to get maximum value for the receiver, but with Smith being 32, it will be hard for a team to justify giving up a high draft pick for him.

Look for him to stay a Panther for at least one more season.

Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals

Carson Palmer is tired of Cincinnati—not the city, but the football team. He wants a new beginning somewhere else, preferably on the west coast, because that's where he lives.

Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown is a stubborn man who doesn't want to be told what to do, even if it's in the best interest of his own football team. He is not going to trade Palmer because he feels that would be rewarding him for failing to play out his contract with the team.

The thing that Brown fails to realize is that with a player like Palmer, who does have trade value even if he isn't the quarterback he once was, by trading him, he can add pieces to help improve the team next year and for years to come.

It would be in the best interest of both parties if a trade happened, but all indications are that nothing will get done and Palmer will have to retire if he wants to avoid playing for the Cincinnati Bengals organization ever again.

Brown gets what he wants, just like he always does, and the Bengals organization is in worse shape because of it.