The Facts:
Following up on the
ongoing story. ... When the Raiders asked Palmer to take a $3 million pay cut earlier this month, his decision seemed like a no-brainer. By proposing that the 33-year-old QB take a relatively modest reduction from his $13 million base salary, rather than a drastic cut, the Raiders were essentially affirming their faith in Palmer's abilities. And given that it's highly unlikely Palmer could command anywhere close to $10 million annually on the open market, staying seemed like the obvious play. Yet Palmer, Yahoo! Sports has learned and other media outlets have reported, balked at the Raiders' request, a move that could lead to his outright release. The QB's decision, according to three sources familiar with Palmer's mindset, is based on a sense that Oakland's prospects for success in 2013 are so bleak that money is no longer the predominant factor in his thought process.
Reported by Yahoo! Sports
Fantasy Football Diehards Line:
The fact that GM Reggie McKenzie told Sirius/XM NFL radio in January that third-year backup Terrelle Pryor would have a chance to compete for the starting job in 2013 likely didn't increase Palmer's enthusiasm for accepting a pay cut. Whereas Palmer's return to the Raiders seemed like a given just a few weeks ago, Yahoo's Michael Silver reports there's an increasing sense both inside the organization and in Palmer's camp that a divorce is imminent. Palmer's rejection of the Raiders' proposal could lead him to the Cardinals, who are in the market for a starting QB, or possibly put him on the path to becoming a backup for a contending team (perhaps Pete Carroll and the Seahawks would be interested). Unless Palmer has a change of heart, the Raiders will have to decide whether to pay him the $13 million or move on without him. But they have plenty of time to decide. As Profootballtalk.com notes, with no seven-figure trigger in Palmer’s deal, the $13 million doesn’t become fully guaranteed until Week 1, which means the Raiders can cut him much later in the offseason, if they draft a quarterback early — or if they eventually decide Pryor can get the job done. ... Stay tuned.
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