Next Sunday, Tavaris Jackson makes his first regular season start for the Seahawks. Boy does that sentence bring up a lot of hard hitting questions. Questions like: What the hell?! Why did we get rid of Hasselbeck again? And what happens if Tavaris blows (which is a very, very, very real possibillity)?
Luckily I'm a professional when it comes to speculation, so I'll answer all three at once: I don't know. I don't know what management is thinking with replacing Hasselbeck with T Jack, and it's not like Chaz Whitehurst (aka Charlie Whitehurst, aka our 2nd string QB) is any less of a headache. And to be honest, I'm forcing myself to not think about the potential devistation at the QB position. It's too depressing. So for the last couple days, I've found something else to focus my brain waves on.
Lately, I have thinking about Carson Palmer.
Why am I thinking about a partially retired, former Trojan, who despite his apperences on a number of all pro teams, never quite lived up to his potential?
Simple. Carson Palmer is better then Tavaris or Chaz. And the rest of the Seahawks team looks like it could be good.
Why do I think he could be a Seahawk? Well, because Carson Palmer has yet to report to the Bengals. After last season, he told Bengals management they could trade him, cut him, or he'll retire. The Bengals Mike Brown responded and has said time, and time again that they will not be parting ways with Carson, and his only way out IS retirement. Ironically, by taking a hard edge, 'fuck you' stance with their former franchise QB, the Bengals have potentially once again sat their franchise on a broom handle.
The Bengals prepared for L.A.C (Life After Carson) by drafting Andy Dalton to replace him. They have since made him the Week 1 starting Quarterback. They are officially all in on the Andy Dalton era in Cincinnatti. Which seems find and dandy, except when all Carson Palmer has to do is report to the team and sodomizes the immediate future of the franchise. By just showing up, Carson Palmer puts the Bengals on the hook for 11 million dollars(and thats GUARANTEED).
If Palmer does this, he has pinned Brown in an awkward situation. Brown obviously would like to stand firm, like he did a few seasons ago with OchoCinco, when he tried to force his way out. OchoCinco demanded a trade, Mike Brown told him, 'no,' and Ocho eventually came to camp to collect his check and play for the Bengals.
But by the Bengals being proactive in replacing Palmer, if he shows up, you can't just tell Dalton, "oh, Carsons the starter now." You don't want to begin a relationship with your franchise Quarterback by benching him before he gets a chance to screw up. On the other hand, you don't want to pay a back up quarterback 11 million dollars (GUARENTEED!).
Mike Brown would have to give in and cut or trade the former Heisman winner(of course this is all speculation of how a NORMAL team would think, and I am not taking account for how people within the Bengals organization might screw this up).
If/When Palmer becomes availible, name me another team that would be more desperate to get him then Seattle?
5 months ago, my brother texted me and said, "Seattle's getting Carson Palmer," to which I responded, "if they do I will slit my wrists." I was violently opposed to Carson Palmer reuniting with his college coach. I just kept flashing back to a week 1 ass beating at the hands of the Patriots, where despite the high yard total he put up, he looked awful. The only thing he did consistently in that game was throw balls at Terrell Owens and OchoCinco's feet.
After three weeks of trying to talk myself into the Tavaris Jackson Experience with lines like, "he's thrown more career touchdowns then picks," and "he's familiar with Sidney Rice," or my favorite, "he'll be better when the o-line gells together." I would like to retard the intensity of my anti Carson Palmer sentiments.
Carson Palmer finished with a rather confusing season. Whenever the Bengals were on tv,I remember thinking, 'damn, he looks terrible' like I did during the Patriots game. However Palmer, who is a 2 time pro-bowler, finished 2010 with 26 TD's and 3900 yards. His completion percentage was at 61.8 percent (his career completion percentage is 62)and he threw the ball more then he has in his entire career. So the stats tell a different story (except he did throw 20 picks, so that crappy part was true).
So while I was once adamantly against Palmer wearing blue, I find myself asking questions like, "was it just the stink of the Bengals bringing him down?" "maybe a change of scenery would do him good." I don't know. I don't know these answers. All I'm saying is it could be worth exploring.
Because the one thing I DO KNOW, is that according to this preseason, T-Jack and Chaz aren't the answers to anyones questions.
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