Carson Palmer is officially a member of the Oakland Raiders today. Here is the photographic evidence.
Signing on the dotted line concludes a strange year for Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati Bengals. Threatening to retire rather than return to the Bengals, Palmer has been sitting out since the NFL went back to work after the lockout.
The Bengals appeared content to let Palmer go gracefully into the sunset rather than be pressured into a deal. Enter the Oakland Raiders.
Oakland jumped out to a 4-2 start to the season, beating the New York Jets and the Houston Texans with a capable game manager, Jason Campbell, under center. Campbell broke his collar bone against the Browns this week, and will miss the rest of the season. The thought of giving the San Diego Chargers a run for the AFC West title with Kyle Boller at the helm seemed more than a little far-fetched.
Oakland traded a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and a conditional second-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, that could turn into a first-round pick if the Raiders win a playoff game.
Photo via the Oakland Raiders' official Twitter feed.
For more on Palmer’s fit in Oakland, head over to Silver and Black Pride. For the Cincinnati side of the trade, check out Cincy Jungle.