The Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday did what they said they wouldn't do -- trade Carson Palmer. The QB was sent to the Oakland Raiders in exchange for a 2012 first round pick and a conditional first round pick in 2013.
Carson Palmer On Trade Demand: ‘I Knew It Was A Selfish Decision’
I find it fascinating that the trade finally went down because hardly anyone thought the Bengals would actually trade Palmer. Team owner Mike Brown is known for holding his ground in situations like this and publicly indicated that he wouldn't let Palmer leave because he signed a contract and needs to stick to it.
Palmer says he understands Brown’s stance -- to a point.
“I know it was a selfish decision, but I thought it could work for both and I guess they didn’t think so until now,” Palmer said. “The hardest thing was being a distraction after fighting that kind of stuff for eight years. I love those guys in that locker room and that made it extremely tough.”
Remember, Palmer never publicly talked about this. There were reports quoting people close to Palmer, or people claiming Palmer said something, but nothing directly from Palmer, so this is really the first time we’ve heard his side of the story.
In the end, the trade benefits everyone. Palmer gets his fresh start, the Raiders get their quarterback and the Bengals get more than fair compensation for a player they weren’t even using.
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