Raiders' QB Situation Has Chiefs Guessing

Whether it's Palmer or Kyle Boller starting in place of the injured Jason Campbell, the Chiefs are hopeful of capitalizing on an unsettled Raiders quarterback situation. Palmer hasn't played since he guided the Cincinnati offense last season.

When the news of Palmer's trade from the Bengals to Oakland came down on Tuesday, the Chiefs quickly went to the videotape. They last faced Palmer on Dec. 27, 2009. This time, Palmer would be working with new teammates after missing training camp and the opening six weeks of the 2011 season.

Last year, Kansas City showed a knack for disrupting opponents' emergency quarterbacks. The Chiefs hope they do it again Sunday against Oakland amid speculation the Raiders will start the newly acquired Carson Palmer.

Whether it's Palmer or Kyle Boller starting in place of the injured Jason Campbell, the Chiefs are hopeful of capitalizing on an unsettled Raiders quarterback situation. Palmer hasn't played since he guided the Cincinnati offense last season.

"It sounds like Carson has been working extremely hard to be ready if something came up," Chiefs coach Todd Haley said. "This isn't a one- to two-year guy you're talking about. This is a guy who has a bunch of years under his belt."

When the news of Palmer's trade from the Bengals to Oakland came down on Tuesday, the Chiefs quickly went to the videotape. They last faced Palmer on Dec. 27, 2009, when they limited him to 139 yards passing. However, his 6-yard touchdown pass to Chad Ochocinco with 2:03 remaining snapped a 10-10 tie and lifted the Bengals to a 17-10 victory.

This time, Palmer would be working with new teammates after missing training camp and the opening six weeks of the 2011 season.

"The thing about this league is that you think you have an advantage sometimes — less preparation from another team or another guy. But everybody is a professional. He's going to get ready to play," Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson said. "He's a smart guy and this is a copycat league. I'm sure he'll fit right in."

Oakland coach Hue Jackson maintained that he wouldn't decide on his starting quarterback until thoroughly evaluating Palmer in practice this week.

The Chiefs faced two backup quarterbacks in their opening six games last year and were able to use key interception returns for touchdowns against Cleveland's Seneca Wallace and Jacksonville's Todd Bouman as a springboard to victories over the Browns and Jaguars. Brandon Flowers victimized Wallace with a 33-yard TD return and Johnson had a 15-yard scoring return against Bouman.

Asked specifically if the Chiefs would be inclined to come with additional pressure packages against a rusty quarterback, Haley replied: "I don't think I'd give much of that out, as much as I could help it."

Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel was a college roommate of Palmer's at Southern California. When he heard that Palmer had been traded to the Raiders, Cassel called Palmer and left a congratulatory message.

"Carson is a great guy and a great friend of mine," Cassel said. "I'll be a fan of his every day but two when we play them."

Cassell said he has never faced the type of situation Palmer may find himself in Sunday — starting for a new team having had just a couple of days to get ready. "I'm sure if anybody can do it, Carson can," Cassel said.

Whether his team faces Palmer or Boller, Haley's overriding message is that the Chiefs can't be consumed by Oakland's change at quarterback.

"First and foremost, we have to stop one of the best running attacks in the league, one of the best backs (Darren McFadden) in the league," Haley said. "If we don't do that, it will be a long day for us. It won't matter really who's playing quarterback. We've got to stay focused on the specific strengths of their team."

Johnson agrees that all the Palmer talk will merely become a subplot if the Chiefs' defense fails to take care of its primary goal of taking away the run.

"Carson Palmer is a guy who can beat you with his arm. He's a guy who's very seasoned at the quarterback position, but they run the ball," Johnson said. "That's their bread and butter."

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One Reader's Thoughts on the Miami Situation

Regular contributer Regan offers his thoughts about the Canes.

There is a difference between "fault" and "responsibility", but it's not one that really matters.

I actually didn't like the Miami Hurricanes when I was growing up in the 80's. I went to Clemson games with my dad, and all I knew of the 'Canes were things like this . The stories of brawls, running up the score, and thuggery were all we really heard about 'The U', and it took a long time before I actually came to understand the mentality of the program.

By the time I was looking for colleges to attend in 1995, I liked what I saw at the University of Miami and seriously considered going there. Funding issues kept me in-state, and I went to a school with no CFB team. It was a few years later during college that my interest in CFB resurged, and I started watching Miami football again. It was a totally different situation with Butch Davis having cleaned up the program. Losing by five touchdowns to FSU, a 5-6 season, massive reductions, etc. were disheartening for a program - but at least they were clean. Redeemed, if you will. I'm a sucker for redemption stories and started pulling for 'The U' like they were my own, because I didn't actually have one.

Then came 2000-2001, when the 'Canes returned to full form - this time with class. It was a wonderful story. The Michael Irvins of the past had been replaced by the Ken Dorseys; the team was stand-up and winning at the same time, after doing their time in the doghouse. The years went by and the 'Canes started a down slide - inevitable when you have so much success, but even the guys that came after were classy, good guys. People like Brock Berlin and Frank Gore were wonderful guys who could be role models for kids across America. Then, as the losses piled up, pressure was put on Coker to be fired.

The On-Field Brawl against FIU was the turning point for many, including me. Coker had to go, because that wasn't Miami anymore. The 'Canes weren't beholden to the shadows of the past, despite the fact that few seemed to notice - things had to change. When Randy Shannon took over, it was a sigh of relief at how much of a disciplinarian he was. He reigned in those kids and Miami's compliance had become a shining example of how a team could wash itself clean of it's old ways. Efforts at compliance were massive. Even when Shannon was fired, the job he'd done with the program's reputation was stellar, and when Al Golden was announced to replace him, worries were put to rest about the classiness of the program's future.

That was four days ago. Now, people are openly calling for the 'Death Penalty'. There was absolutely no warning - and I follow this sport every single day, on-season and off.

No warning that something was out there that went this deep. That hit this many players I'd built up so much respect for. And all because of what? A guy in prison for a ponzi scheme that tainted the team over eight years.

Over the last year we've seen unprecedented levels of NCAA crackdowns on teams because of improper benefits, recruiting violations, etc. If you're a fair person, you'll consider Miami innocent until proven guilty, but if you're an informed person, you'd realize at this point that there is just too much out there to be truly fair to the 'Canes.

In this down economy, we have seen many respected institutions and companies ruined by gold-digging CEO's who then jumped ship, dragging down the company's name and stock while making out like the bandits they were. The same thing is happening in College Football, but the NCAA could stop it - by updating the way it goes about enforcement.

I can only hope that the NCAA will one day figure out that the best way to punish improper behavior is to punish those individuals that behave improperly, not the kids that will play three years down the road, or the fans who in some cases see their schools penalized for the actions of a coach long gone (Lane Kiffin comes to mind). Discussions and agreements with the NFL and NBA must happen to ensure that kids that take benefits and gifts will only do so at the threat of losing down the road. Consequences for bad behavior must be borne by those who actually commit these acts, or they will continue.

Sadly, none of this will help Miami. At the end of the day, it's looking like up to six former assistant coaches were complicit, and that justifies the set of encyclopedias the NCAA will hurl at Coral Gables. Jacory Harris, Sean Spence, and anyone else on the roster who took this guy's bait need to be cut loose. Now. Golden and those who actually are clean at Miami are going to have to weather this storm with their heads held high, knowing they are staring at a tidal wave on the horizon.

And I'll still be cheering them on, and would ask others to also - because it's not their fault.

It's not even The University of Miami's "fault". But at the end of the day it is their responsibility.

And while there is a difference between "fault" and "responsibility", it's not one that really matters.

Posted by War Eagle Atlanta

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Tom Savage situation turning ugly?

So much for hopes that Tom Savage could make a clean getaway from Rutgers.

The Miami Herald has reported that the former Scarlet Knights quarterback has drawn interest from Miami but that head coach Greg Schiano is blocking a transfer to the Hurricanes. And Savage's father is unhappy with that decision.

"Miami called his high school coach and said they really like Tom and he would fit well in their offense and they are really interested," Tom Savage Sr. told the paper. "Tom is interested. He has always loved Miami."

Schools often block transfers within their own conference or to teams that will appear on future schedules within a player's career. Neither of those is the case with Miami. The Scarlet Knights' only possible justification for preventing Savage from going to Florida is that they recruit heavily in that state.

"I don't understand how one person can be dictator over your son's future," Savage Sr. said. "I know they recruit Florida, but the ones that want to go to Rutgers are going to go to Rutgers. … It's just wrong."

Savage Sr. said the family has spoken with an attorney and has filed an appeal on the blocked transfer. The appeal will be heard within 10 days.

It's distasteful how many cards schools hold over players. A player is granted a one-year, renewable scholarship and can be asked to leave if he underperforms or is recruited over. If he wants to go to another school, he has to sit out a year, and his old program can dictate where he can and can't go. Meanwhile, coaches are free to change jobs at any time.

I think teams end up looking petty when they try to restrict players from transferring to a preferred destination. Losing Savage already hurts, but if he ends up in Miami it is not going to permanently damage the Scarlet Knights in any way. It's sad to see things come to this, after Schiano and Savage seemed to have such a strong relationship in the previous two years.

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