We're back on Carson Palmer watch with the possibility of the NFL lockout coming to a close at some point in the near future (fingers crossed!). Palmer has given every indication that he wants out of Cincinnati, selling his house, threatening retirement and, essentially, cutting all ties with the Bengals. And while that may seem like enough to take his word, Chad Ochocinco weighed in on Thursday, opining that Palmer is serious about getting out of Cincinnati.
Ochocinco spoke to reporters in Atlanta, saying Palmer wants a fresh start that doesn't include the Bengals.
"I know him really well. He will sit out, he will retire," Ochocinco said from the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he rode in a car with Sprint Cup driver Jeff Burton. Ochocinco added that Palmer is "frustrated" and wants a "fresh start."
For the Seahawks, this matters. Seattle still needs a quarterback and has been linked to every available, or potentially available, veteran at the position. The Seahawks opted to pass on the available quarterbacks in the 2011 NFL Draft, only increasing speculation that a secret deal could be in place or that the team is exploring veteran signal-callers, including Palmer, Matt Leinart and Kevin Kolb.
As we've said before, if Palmer is serious about leaving Cincinnati, he's left the Bengals in a less-than-ideal bargaining position. Every team in the NFL knows Palmer wants out and his trade value is extremely low as a result. While his contract could be somewhat pricey, it wouldn't take much to bring him into the fold.
For the latest on the situation, stay with our Carson Palmer rumors StoryStream. For more on the Seahawks, head over to SB Nation's Field Gulls.