Carson Palmer Likely Out for Season

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is likely out for the rest of the 2008 season while he decides whether to have surgery to repair a “frayed” ligament in his right throwing elbow. Tommy John surgery would repair the problem but doctors have agreed that Carson’s conservative approach to that kind of an operation is ok because the damage is more limited than what Carolina Panthers QB Jake Delhomme suffered a year ago when he had the surgery (successfully I might add). But if Carson continues to throw with that bad elbow this season — it doesn’t make any sense for a franchise quarterback to do it under the conditions.

The conditions. Let’s face it. This season is over for the Bengals. At 0-7, they’re already thinking about next year’s #1 Draft pick. You can talk about pride and all that — and the players that are in Cincinnati right now will certainly work hard in the second half of the season. At least most of them will. I know that. But I don’t think it makes much sense for Carson to rush himself back into such a grim situation. He’ll evaluate the possibilities and hopefully get himself ready to perform at 100% next year. Playing again this season isn’t a sensible option.

Source: Bengals.com, Photo: Newscom