Carson Palmer will return for Cardinals in 2017

Despite going 7-8-1 last season, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer will return for the 2017 season, the team confirmed Thursday. It will be the veteran signal caller’s 15th season in the NFL.

There were reports going around saying the three-time Pro Bowler took his kids out of school and sold his home in Arizona. Palmer quickly denied those reports, saying his house in Arizona “is not on the market.”

"And every year we have taken off for offseason family adventures, so there's nothing to read into there either,” the 37-year-old mentioned. Palmer said in December that he planned to return for another season in 2017.

The former first overall pick experienced a lot of success in Arizona. He arrived in 2013 and led the team to two consecutive playoff berths in 2014 and 2015. However, last season was not a good one for Palmer.

While Palmer threw for 4,233 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions, opposing defenses were harassing him in the pocket. Defenses sacked him 40 times, and there were moments where he looked uncomfortable in games.

Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said Palmer “got the hell beat out of him this year in a lot of different ways. But that's my job -- to make sure I protect him more if and when he comes back."

The Cardinals must try to find talent to bolster that offensive line. Palmer is not mobile like he once was, so protecting him more effectively should be a priority for this team heading into free agency and the NFL draft.

This team has the talent to make it to a Super Bowl. Palmer has achieved a lot in his career, but he never hoisted a Lombardi Trophy.

He’ll have another opportunity to do so in 2017.