NFL Trade Rumors: Ranking the Potential Outcomes of Carson Palmer's Trade Demand
Carson Palmer has told the world he will never step foot in Paul Brown Stadium again. He has cited the ridiculous $80M in his bank account to let the Bengals know he doesn’t care about the money.
So what will owner Mike Brown do?
There are three different ways this increasingly sticky situation pans out:
1.) The Bengals honor Palmer’s request and trade him to the highest bidder
2.) The Bengals call his bluff and Palmer plays another begrudged and mediocre season in Bengals stripes
3.) Both sides don’t budge and Palmer refuses to play football in 2011
Let’s look at the potential outcomes of this situation from least likely to most likely.
10. Traded to Tennessee Titans
1 of 10
The Titans are a veteran team that is a decent QB away from making noise in the AFC South.
Vince Young is going to be traded and Kerry Collins is much too old to still be an effective starter.
The Titans hold the eighth overall pick in the draft, but odds are they would hand the Bengals the 39th overall pick for Palmer’s services.
It remains to be seen how much Palmer is worth—but an early second round pick is a solid trade to get rid of a guy that doesn’t want to play for you.
9. Palmer Sticks With Bengals and Plays Surprisingly Well
2 of 10
As July rolls around and Palmer realizes his wish will not be granted, he decides to put on his professional face and fulfill his contractual obligations and play for the Bengals.
The team picks up where it left off at the end of last season and shock the world as a contender in the AFC North.
Without the headaches of Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, Palmer is able to loosen up and work with his young core of receivers.
New receiver A.J. Green instantly strikes a bond with Palmer and the duo becomes one of the better QB-WR tandems in the league.
8. Palmer Works as ESPN Analyst
3 of 10
He is well spoken and very professional in front of cameras. If the Bengals want to play hard ball, how bad would he be sticking it to the Bengals if they had to see his face on T.V. criticizing their most recent loss?
He knows today’s NFL much better than Steve Young or even Trent Dilfer and could cite plenty of his own experiences when talking about current players.
It would take zero toll on his body, and he could be around his kids much more often than if he were to play.
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7. Shipped to Seattle
4 of 10
The Seahawks have proven they are not afraid to make moves in Pete Carroll’s first year at the helm. Trading draft picks or an aging Matt Hasselbeck is certainly in the realm of possibilities for Seattle.
Palmer won a Heisman Trophy under the watch of Carroll and has always supported his former Trojan coach. Carroll knows the strengths of Palmer as well as anybody not named Marvin Lewis, and he could find players that fit his style.
Reuniting the duo would be extremely interesting and would keep Seattle afloat in the NFC West.
6. Palmer Sits Out Half the Season
5 of 10
The tough luck approach executed by the Bengals forces Palmer into “retirement” and the Bengals are forced to find a new QB in free agency.
After two months of watching a journeymen QB stumble and bumble to another disappointing season, Palmer decides to try and be the savior.
After a few weeks of working out the kinks, Palmer rejoins the 3-5 Bengals in an attempt to rip off a few wins and compete for the playoffs.
Not quite.
The issues with Palmer’s arm continue, and he regrets his decision to return as the home fans boo him mercifully.
5. Palmer Becomes Spokesman for Stay At Home Dads
6 of 10
One of the big reasons Palmer wants out of “Da ‘Nati” is because of unruly Bengal fans littering his Cincinnati home with burning trash in recent months.
He fears for the safety of his family.
Palmer and his wife just had their third child to go along with the twins they already have.
Palmer is a family man, and if he decides to retire, he would be one of the most famous stay at home dads in the country. What sort of sponsorships could Palmer score from that?
4. Absolutely Nothing Happens
7 of 10
How is this possible?
It’s fun to debate all of these different scenarios…but we are assuming there is a 2011 season. If the owners and players can’t agree on a new CBA, then all of this will be a mute point.
The Bengals don’t have to make any sort of move—and they don’t have to pay Palmer. This is a dream scenario for the legendary frugal owner Mike Brown.
It’s really sad and depressing to say, but Brown is an owner that would love for the season to be cancelled.
He is all about the bottom line, and last time I checked, he will still be cashing his T.V. shared revenue check with or without a season.
Greed is an ugly animal.
3. Traded to the Arizona Cardinals
8 of 10
The Cards are in desperate need of a guy that can actually play the QB position, and Palmer certainly fills that need.
Fans will have plenty of patience with Palmer, considering they were just forced to watch their team trot out Derek Anderson, Max Hall and John Skelton in 2010.
Palmer could relax a bit and would have the best weapon in his career with WR Larry Fitzgerald.
The 2009 Super Bowl wasn’t that far away, and solidifying the QB position could quickly being the Cards back to relevancy.
2. Bengals Keep Palmer…Finished 7-9
9 of 10
The 4-12 debacle of a year ago was a huge surprise. The Bengals are usually pretty good at staying frisky when teams write them off.
Palmer caves on his demands before training camp begins, and it’s business as usual for the team.
Players forgive Palmer and are grudge free. The chemistry between Palmer and Jerome Simpson, Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham continues to improve as the offense takes a big jump up from last season.
A three-win improvement is a solid accomplishment, but the Bengals still have to deal with the Steelers and Ravens. The season doesn’t answer any of the Palmer questions, and the trade demands heat up again next offseason.
1. Palmer Goes Home…Traded to the 49ers
10 of 10
This is a match made in heaven.
Palmer is from Fresno and has never been shy about his affection for his home state. Raising his young children in California is something Palmer would be thrilled to do.
The 49ers have been stuck with a couple of awful Smiths at QB. Both Alex and Troy showed little promise in 2010 and are clearly not capable of getting the 49ers in the playoffs, let alone a Super Bowl.
The talent of Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis and Michael Crabtree show that this team isn’t far from competing in the worst division in the league.
The '9ers have the seventh overall pick and the 39th selection—two assets that could entice the Bengals to make the move.
If the bidding war for Palmer continues to rise, the 49ers are in a position to offer a very enticing package to the Bengals.
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