Carson Palmer uncertain about his future with the Raiders
Although the Oakland Raiders limped to a 4-12 finish in 2012 with defeats in five of their last six games, Carson Palmer enjoyed one of the finest seasons of his nine-year career.
Palmer, 33, threw for 4,018 yards, the second-highest single-season total in Raiders' franchise history, and just 14 interceptions in 15 games. By comparison, the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback threw 16 in only 10 games in his first season with the Raiders in 2011.
But with a cap hit that exceeds $15 million for 2013, Palmer will be the highest-paid player on the Raiders' roster for next season. Palmer, for one, is unsure of his future with the team.
"(I'm) not sure what's going to happen," Palmer said in an email, via CSNBayArea. "Would love to be back in Oakland and compete."
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last week that the Raiders could ask Palmer to take a pay cut similar to the one Michael Vick took with the Eagles. Vick signed an incentive-laden one-year, $7.0 million contract with the potential to earn up to $5.5 million in bonuses after the Eagles restructured a six-year, $100 million contract he signed in 2011. In Palmer's current deal, he is set to earn a base salary of $15 million in 2014.
At last month's NFL Scouting Combine, Raiders coach Dennis Allen indicated that Palmer would remain the team's starting quarterback, but added that he wants to create competition at the position. Terrelle Pryor, a third-round pick in the 2011 NFL Supplemental Draft, started in place of an injured Palmer in the Raiders' Week 17 loss to the Chargers. Pryor went 13 of 28 for 150 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception in the 24-21 loss.
“I thought he showed some things not just from an athletic standpoint, but from a control standpoint, from a leadership standpoint on the field that was something for us to build on going forward,” said Allen of Pryor. “I'm looking forward to watching him. I'm looking forward to watching Carson. I'm looking forward to get(ting) out there with all our players.”
Palmer suffered cracked ribs and a bruised lung in Week 16 against Carolina when he was hit on his left side by Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy in the first quarter of a 17-6 loss. Allen said the Raiders will not enter training camp with two quarterbacks on their roster. Reserve quarterback Matt Leinart is an unrestricted free agent.
The Raiders could pursue a quarterback with a mid-round pick. Five quarterbacks in CBSSports.com's latest NFL Draft projections are forecasted to be selected between Rounds 2 and 3.
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