Stalemate!

If you're following the news, you know that we are in the midst of a stalemate. The two sides have spent years trying to make it work and, yes, there have been some good times but it has now become clear that something really has to change. We can't go on with the status quo because no one is happy.

I am, of course, talking about the Cincinnati Bengals and Carson Palmer.

Palmer has indicated he has played his last down with Bengals. He would rather retire than continue to play with the perennially dysfunctional Bengals.

Yesterday on Jim Rome is Burning, the topic was discussed as to what the Bengals should do about his trade request. Jim Rome said this:

And one more thing, you're not rewarding the guy, you're doing what's best for the franchise. The guy's not going to play. You better get something for him... something is still more than nothing. It's not a reward, it's doing what's right for the team.

Is he right? I can definitively say "maybe".

Here in the Detroit-area, one hears this story and one immediate thinks back to the surprise early retirement of Barry Sanders in 1999. Would Barry Sanders have played for another team if the Lions had been willing to trade him? I don't know for sure. I just think it was, more or less, out of the question. I actually was not living in Michigan at the time so I am not the best source for what the local community was thinking, but I am guessing most were not in favor of trading the very much still elite-level running back. Keep him and hope he's bluffing. That would have been my thought. (Of course, it turned out he was not. It's likely the only reason why Emmitt Smith is the NFL's all-time leading rusher.)

Now, let's be clear, Carson Palmer is no Barry Sanders. So maybe, if I were a Bengal fan, I could support trading him. Honestly, I would want to know what kind of return you could get for him before deciding whether it was worth trading him. It has been reported today that Donovan McNabb is being traded from the Redskins to the Vikings for two future 6th round picks. If that is the value of McNabb, what is the trade value of Carson Palmer?

Palmer, without question, is still a solid starting quarterback. But is he worth the value he is owed on his contract? He is owed $11.5 million for the upcoming season. I'm not saying he is not, I am just saying that contracts mean a lot when it comes to determining trade value; just because he threw 26 TD passes last season, it doesn't necessarily follow that the Bengals would be getting a great haul of future picks for the disgruntled quarterback.

So, to conclude, as a completely impartial observer, I would say if you can get meaningful value for him (say at the very least one 3rd round pick), I'd want the Bengals to trade him. If he was only worth a 4th round pick (which, you may recall, was what the Oakland Raiders got for Randy Moss), I'd let him sit.

ICBS - Troy Aikman Edition

Troy Aikman is generally considered a very milquetoast NFL analyst. He is not prone to hyperbole. He does not match the quality standard of Cris Collinsworth, but he certainly does not plunge to the depths of Joe Theisman either. Hence, it was surprising when he let furl with this statement during yesterday's Dallas-Minnesota game:

I think he's one of the top two receivers in football... if he's not the best. The only guy who I think comes close to him is Andre Johnson.

Now, I know what you're probably saying: Hey Furriners... didn't you just say that Randy Moss was the second best receiver of all time? Therefore, it's not THAT stupid.

First of all, don't interrupt me. Secondly, Troy was not talking about Randy Moss. He was talking about Miles Austin! Seriously. I am not kidding.

Okay. If he wants to argue that Miles Austin is the second best receiver in the game. Whatever. That is subjective and I can not disprove him. I think he's wrong. You likely think he's wrong (unless you're related to Miles Austin or Kim Kardashian). But to say that Larry Fitzgerald or Calvin Johnson or Reggie Wayne or (insert your own pick here) is NOT CLOSE to Miles Austin?!?! That is indefensible.

Congrats, Troy. You are this weeks bullshitter of the week(end).

Bringing The Stupid - Jemelle Hill Edition

Okay, all our loyal readers know how this works by now.

This comes from yesterday's Jim Rome Is Burning where the discussion concerned Randy Moss's departure from New England.

Jemelle Hill was essentially defending Randy Moss's right to not try since he wasn't given a contract extension by the Patriots. That is pretty stupid but not what this is about. She went on to say:

Tom Brady wasn't in the conversation to be the greatest ever. People were still weren't sold about... they thought he was a system QB... he gets that guy (Moss) - all of a sudden people are like 'Top 5' instantly. So, of course, he brings a level of legitimacy to the table.

Honestly, I am fine with Randy Moss. Ironically enough, earlier this week I was telling my Justin Bieber-loving colleague how I thought Randy Moss was the second best receiver of all time. Hands down. So I am not a hater.

But let's not be stupid about this. The legacy of Tom Brady is built upon his three Super Bowl rings (twice being the game MVP). Just so we're clear: Randy Moss was not on any of those three teams! Moss was on the 16-0 team that lost in the Super Bowl to the N.Y. Giants.

Was Brady in the conversation as the best ever before Moss arrived? Perhaps not... but he had played six years in the league! I know stats and milestones mean a lot more in baseball than football but you have to at least some longevity. That is why most people think Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, and Jim Brown as the best running backs ever and not Earl Campbell (or Bo Jackson).

To continue, did Moss' arrival somehow provide a "level of legitimacy" that Brady previously lacked? Of course not! That is obnoxiously stupid! What is true is that Randy Moss (and his 23 touchdowns) greatly contributed to the perfect 2007 regular season in which Tom Brady set the single season TD pass record with 50.

To conclude:

Randy Moss? Great player. Will be just fine without Tom Brady.
Tom Brady? Great player. Will be just fine without Randy Moss.