Cincinnati Bengals DT Tank Johnson reiterated what teammate RB Cedric Benson said a few weeks ago: If QB Carson Palmer doesn't want to be in Cincinnati, then send him on his way. Palmer of course has threatened to retire if the Bengals don't trade him and all signs point to the Bengals staying true to their word and allowing him to retire without trading him.
Benson said a few weeks ago that it may not be healthy for Palmer to come back since he clearly doesn't want to be in Cincinnati. Johnson told Sirius XM NFL Radio that, if Palmer doesn't want to come back, he shouldn't.
"In terms of what (Benson) said about Carson, I mean, he's absolutely right. There's no way that you can bring that kind of energy into the locker room. I mean, if a guy doesn't want to be there, let him go."
I think they make a good point. Ideally though, as team owner Mike Brown pointed out last week, Palmer would be around to groom QB Andy Dalton, who the Bengals selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft.
As for whether Palmer would really retire if he's not traded, Johnson says he thinks he's serious.
"I don't think Carson's a guy who likes to come out in the media and put himself kind of on the stage if he's not serious," Johnson said. "I've known Carson all the way since we played in the Pac-10 together" -- Palmer at USC, Johnson at Washington -- "and I haven't known him to be much of a jokester, so I'm thinking he's pretty serious."
With the NFL lockout potentially compromising part of the season, Palmer should have plenty of time to make his decision.
Check out the latest podcast at SB Nation's Cincy Jungle where there's plenty of Carson Palmer talk.
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