Oakland Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer may choose to accept a backup role with a Super Bowl contender rather than return as the Raiders' starting QB in 2013, according to Yahoo! Sports' Mike Silver.
Carson Palmer’s future may be as a backup for contender, according to report
The veteran quarterback would like a shot at a Super Bowl title before his career ends, and that may lead him elsewhere.
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Silver and Black Pride: Time to let Palmer walk
The Raiders have asked Palmer to take a pay cut that would trim his base salary to $10 million, which is probably more than he could earn anywhere else, but according to Silver’s sources, Palmer’s mentality is geared more toward winning than money:
“Carson isn’t 28, and he doesn’t know how much time he has left,” one source close to Palmer said Wednesday. “Does he want to be with a team that is clearly rebuilding and looks like it’s a long way away from contending, where he doesn’t have a whole lot around him?”
Palmer, who is 33 years old, played seven seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals prior to joining the Raiders. During his time with the Bengals, the team reached the playoffs just twice and did not advance beyond the first round in either case. He spent the last two seasons with Oakland, and the team missed the postseason both years. If he doesn't work out a compromise with the Raiders, he may end up being released.
Should he hit the free agent market, the Arizona Cardinals could become one of the primary suitors for his services, as they are in need of a suitable starting quarterback. But the Cardinals are not in much better shape than Oakland to compete for the NFL title in 2013, which could lead to Palmer deciding instead to take a backup role with a contender.
Palmer threw for 4,018 yards, 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 2012.
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