Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

I know…I know. One player is no more responsible for a team’s failure than he is for its success. And I’m fully aware Carson Palmer entered a football house of pain when he was traded to the Oakland Raiders. No matter what things were going to end this way with CP3.

And I’m also aware that Palmer didn’t negotiate the hideous trade Hue Jackson orchestrated out of desperation. So I’m not laying all the blame for the Raiders’ woes during the Palmer era on Carson.

That said it is very revealing that Palmer’s record as a starter in Oakland is 8-16 whereas JaMarcus Russell notched a 7-18 mark during his tumultuous tenure.

It’s also undeniable that Palmer was as horrible in the clutch as Jerry Sandusky’s lawyer was in court. Some losing causes just aren’t worth fighting for. And that’s pretty much how Palmer played when the game was on the line.

Cue the typical Palmer apologist comments now…

He threw for 4,000 yards with no receivers.

Yeah, but most of those yards were between the 20s, not inside of them where QBs earn their paychecks. The red zone isn’t just a bonus level on Metal Gear.

But Carson was a hard worker.

So is Tim Tebow. For once can we just all agree that the overwhelming majority of men that make a career out of playing pro ball work hard? To quote Chris Rock “whatcha want a cookie?”

Palmer had to play in that hideous Greg Knapp offense.

Touché…

All things considered Palmer was an absolute failure in Oakland. The team regressed on his watch and no matter whose fault that was is irrelevant. Dude was supposed to be a franchise QB. Franchise QBs find ways to win when the game is on the line. They don’t massage the rock during a two minute drill. They don’t throw pick sixes in the clutch. They don’t rack up pointless stats when the outcome is no longer in doubt. And they certainly don’t refuse a pay cut from one bad team just to take one for another bad team.

Most of all they don’t get traded for a 7^th round pick.

Thanks for nothing, Carson Palmer.

I’m not taking the high road just because he did. My best friends are good guys too. But if they stunk it up on Sundays in Silver and Black I’d say the same thing. Have we forgotten the Raider motto?

Just…what, baby?

Dec 30, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (left) sits on the bench near Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Leinart (right foreground) during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

As of April 1, 2013 Carson Palmer is still an Oakland Raider. Of course that wont be true for long. Palmer’s high opinion of himself combined with Reggie McKenzie’s infatuation for former Green Bay Packers has landed Matt Flynn in Oakland. On paper the Raider’s 2012 quarterback didn’t seem too shabby. Palmer certainly proved a valuable commodity to acquire in a fantasy football league throwing over 4000 yards. However, the former Heisman trophy winner choked in the clutch like he was trying out for the Dallas Cowboys.

In comes Matt Flynn. A six year vet with just two starts under his belt. Albeit impressive starts, but even the aged egotistical Carson Palmer had more then two good games. Hell, Kerry Collins, Aaron Brooks, and Daunte Culpepper had more then two good games. Flynn is currently coming off a year in which he lost a starting job to a rookie quarterback out of Wisconsin. Not exactly franchise quarterback material. With Matt Leinart left on the depth chart as a sad and cruel joke it leaves only one other option at quarterback.

The fan favorite Terrell Pryor is viewed by most NFL experts as being at best a mediocre starter who is not yet ready to be given the reigns. In my mind it seems like if a quarterback is not ready after three years of riding the pine then he will never be ready. Yet there are still those who believe Pryor can be the next RG3 or Cam Newton. With the Flynn gamble in full effect the Pryor experiment is sure to get a chance. Bottom line, Dennis Allen will have more then just defensive concerns by the time the season rolls around.

As another NFL draft quickly approaches it seems as if the Raiders are still hunting for the successor of Rich Gannon, and the answer to the question that is the playoffs. It is my hope that the ever faithful Raider Nation wont have to suffer through another season of misery and defeat. Honestly the signing of Matt Flynn makes this Raider loyalist about as nervous as Mel Gibson at Temple. Although, the hope that Al Davis had something special planned for Terrell Pryor reminds me that anything is possible in the NFL.

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Carson Palmer doesn’t want to be an Oakland Raider. That is beyond obvious. He’s unwilling to take a pay cut even though said cut is reported to still keep him in the eight figure club. He’s also said to be more interested in being a backup for a contender instead of a starter for a non-playoff team.

Whatever the situation Palmer’s time in Oakland is over. Reggie McKenzie should just sever ties and move on.

To be sure cutting Palmer still keeps the Raiders in a lurch as his departure will count for more than $9-million in dead money. But if this is about rebuilding then you can’t have a foundation filled with quicksand and one could argue even if Palmer were playing for Oakland next season his salary is dead money anyway.

Since arriving in Oakland the Raiders have gotten worse under Palmer. His record as a starter for the Silver and Black is just 8-16. Not entirely his fault but not at all worth the heavy price paid.

And for those of you quick to throw out his stats from last season let me remind you of Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Cleveland to name a few instances in which CP3 wet the bed in the clutch. Hardly the stuff franchise QBs are made of.

Palmer whined his way out of Cincinnati and now’s pouting to push out of Oakland. We should have seen this coming and McKenzie might as well do the deed now. The Raiders are going nowhere with Palmer so holding onto him makes about as much sense as trading for Matt Flynn…