First Carson Palmer Comments Reveal True Feelings About Bengals Trade Saga

Carson Palmer addressed the media for the first time today since becoming a member of the Oakland Raiders.

Palmer is obviously very excited to be a member of the Raiders and finally playing football again after spending the offseason and first six weeks of the NFL season in a pseudo-retirement state.

He also understands the enormous amount of pressure that is now on him because of the high price the Raiders paid to acquire his services.

When asked if he feels responsible to live up to expectations, Carson said he feels a “tremendous burden.”

Palmer also alleviated fears that he would not be ready to contribute right away.

"

“My mind has been in football. It’s been a difficult six weeks. Football is what I know; it’s all I know. It’s what I’ve been doing since I was five, six, seven, eight years old and I’ve followed the game, I’ve worked out, I’ve continued to stay focused on football and keep my mind in football. So, I haven’t been away from the game. I haven’t been playing it for six weeks, comparatively speaking the guys that are on teams, but my mind’s been in it.”

"

Palmer said he trained hard in the offseason as he would any other time, but did eventually admit he thought his career would be over and that he would have to move on to the next act in his life.

The newly acquired QB also admitted he wasn’t in football shape quite yet but explained why.

"

 “It’s going to take some time. I think the only way you can get in football shape is by playing football. You can run wind sprints, lift weights, and do all those things but calling a play in the huddle when you’re tired after you just ran, you get the wind knocked out of you, you getting up off the ground and you get ready to just talk in the huddle; things like that, catching your breath, that’s football shape”

"

Palmer was classy when a reporter asked about why he would rather retire than ever play for the Bengals again.

"

“It was time to move on, simply put. It was time for them to move on, it was time for me to move on, and I’m just happy and thankful the Bengals organization made that decision also and ended up getting this trade done.”

"

This was just an overall well done job by Carson to address his new hometown's and national media. Obviously his talk means nothing until he backs it up on the football field but that could happen as soon as this coming Sunday.

Raiders fans are hoping that their QB they received in a trade coach Hue Jackson called ‘the greatest in football’ pans out for them.

You can watch the whole press conference here.