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?

Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Reggie McKenzie continues to tweak the Oakland roster, today making a move to help replace the loss of Michael Bush. PFT confirms that the Raiders have traded Bruce Campbell to the Carolina Panthers for reserve running back Mike Goodson.

In the grand schemed this is a very minor move. However it could prove vital should Darren McFadden suffer though yet another injury plagued season.

Nothing indicates Goodson will be anything close to being as productive as Bush was. A former fourth round pick out of Texas A&M, Goodson was buried on Carolina’s depth chart behind DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. His only real chance to contribute came on special teams where he did occasionally shine as a kick returner.

In 2010 Goodson got a chance to show what he could do as a runner. Injuries to both Williams and Stewart allowed Goodson to take on an expanded role including making a three starts as the Panthers feature back. He did not disappoint, racking up over 700 yards in total offense and three rushing TDs in his best season as a pro.

After that it was back to bench. 2011 saw Williams and Stewart return to full health plus the emergence of Cam Newton meant Goodson was a complete afterthought. He didn’t get a single carry last season and only returned 11 kicks.

This trade gives the Raiders a veteran runner that has the game experience Taiwan Jones lacks. While Jones is an explosive talent he’s not at all ready to be an every down back. Goodson is a solid runner with a good frame (5’11”/212lbs) that can contribute in a multitude of ways. He’s also going to be much more valuable in pass protection than Jones.

As for Campbell it goes without saying his time as a Raider was underwhelming. The freakish athlete out of Maryland arrived with all kinds of hype as an offensive tackle. Always viewed as a project player, Campbell was moved from tackle to guard and saw almost no action during his two years in silver and black. In preseason action Campbell was very inconsistent. He would run hot and cold, dominant on one snap then clueless on the next. Technique was always the issue with Campbell. He routinely played with his pad level much too high allowing him to be pushed around by smaller defenders nowhere near his strength.

The Panthers plan to move Campbell back to tackle as they now take on the task of molding a fantastic athlete into a quality football player. While this move was made with an eye on shoring up depth at running back it is hard to ignore this being yet another attempt to rid the roster of Al Davis’ pet projects.