The NFL is not known for its mega-trades at the deadline but it seems as though the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders are working on a deal that will send Carson Palmer out west in exchange for a first-round draft pick in 2012 and a conditional first-rounder in 2013.
Palmer has been in a state of quasi-retirement for the season. He told Bengals owner Mike Brown that he would not play another down for the Bengals because they were unable to produce a team capable of going to the playoffs. He demanded that he be traded or he was going to retire. Brown felt that Palmer was not honoring the contract extension that Palmer signed in 2005 so he decided to force him into retirement.
The Raiders are in desperate need of a quarterback with Jason Campbell forced to sit out indefinitely with a broken collarbone. The injury left the Raiders with Kyle Boller or Terrelle Pryor off the bench and after a solid start they would rather go with a more proven player. They made an attempt at signing David Garrard until he revealed he needed back surgery and would not be ready to play.
Palmer should fit with the Raiders. Head coach Hue Jackson was the receivers coach in Cincinnati for two years between 2004-2006 so Palmer is familiar with his personality. This would be one of the highest profile deals in the NFL since the Detroit Lions sent Roy Williams to the Dallas Cowboys in 2008.
