NFL Trade Rumors: Why Cincinnati Bengals Need to Ship Carson Palmer to Seattle

The Cincinnati Bengals and owner/general manager Mike Brown have patently refused to trade quarterback Carson Palmer. Instead, they seem content to let their former franchise quarterback rot in semi-retirement to prove a point.

Earlier today, Brown reiterated that there is virtually no chance Palmer will be dealt before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.

Still, speculation has been floating around that the Seattle Seahawks would welcome a trade for Palmer, who would surely upgrade the team's quarterback situation.

The Seahawks are led by Pete Carroll, who coached Palmer at USC during his Heisman Trophy season in 2002. I'm fairly sure Carroll would welcome his former signal-caller to Seattle.

Frankly, if the Seahawks offered a third-round pick and possibly a mid-roster player, the Bengals would be wise to take the deal. This isn't a situation that will be resolved any time soon, as Brown and Palmer won't ever see eye-to-eye.

Both sides of this argument have a point. Palmer was tired of playing behind a horrible offensive line that was causing him to get banged up constantly. In the quarterback's eyes, Brown continually refused to invest in offensive linemen and instead spent money in other areas.

Brown feels, if he trades Palmer, he will be giving in to a player's demands and will appear weak. It could also set a precedent where players could force him to make moves if they are unhappy.

However, to be honest, Brown has made his point. The franchise has moved on by drafting and starting Andy Dalton at quarterback and Palmer is no longer a part of the team's plans. At this point, moving the 31-year-old quarterback—while the team can still get something of value in return—would be the best possible resolution to this situation.

The Bengals should be happy to send Palmer packing if the Seahawks offer a fair deal.