Palmer to the Cards

Adam Schefter Reports. Carson Palmer is a member of the Arizona Cardinals.

In a deal that amounts to a bag of footballs and an empty Gatorade bottle, the Raiders have traded Carson Palmer the the Arizona Cardinals.

The price? Reportedly a conditional seventh round in 2014. If Palmer does not play 13 games the Raiders get nothing.

I still think it's a good deal. Let's face it, the Raiders were going to cut Palmer anyway at some point. He is not in GM Reggie McKenzie's plans going forward for several reasons.

• His 13 million paycheck for this season is untenable for a rebuilding team.
• He is in his 30's
• He is on the downward side of his skills.
• Reports say he rather be a backup on a contender than start in Oakland.
• His unwillingness to take a pay cut.

So, a seventh is more than they would have gotten if they cut him. At least the Raiders let him go early enough for Palmer to get the off season program underway. With no ticking clock, Reggie could have held on to Palmer until after the draft or longer.

I don't think there is any acrimony (maybe a little). It's a case of two groups going in separate directions. Thus ends the "Greatest trade in the history of the NFL" *

The next question is: Who starts? The WCO QB that Reggie loves (Flynn) or the Athlete with questionable skills (Pryor)


* - According to Hue Jackson

***UPDATE****
According to NFL.com the deal is a 6th this year and conditional 7th next year. Ever better than I thought before.