If you’re an Arizona Cardinals fan, it might be hard to judge how you’ll take today’s news that Carson Palmer is returning to quarterback your team in 2017. On one hand, he’s definitely the best quarterback on your roster and your best chance to win games next season. On the other, he’s Carson Palmer and you get the full Carson Palmer package when he’s your quarterback.
UPDATE: @AZCardinals QB Carson Palmer announces he will return to football for the 2017 season. pic.twitter.com/7oNVVNvejw
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 9, 2017
“My intent was to take some time after the season to get away and see where I was physically and mentally,” Palmer told the Cardinals official website. “On both fronts, I can say I’m ready to get back to work and prepare for the 2017 season. This is a phenomenal group with a very special opportunity in front of it. I know how rare that is and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.”
So if you were excited that Larry Fitzgerald said he was returning for another season, this might just temper that. It was nice of Palmer to end any speculation the Cardinals would be without his services next season as his $15.5 million 2017 salary becomes fully guaranteed Friday.
If Palmer did retire, Arizona likely would have been one of the top potential landing spots for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. So try not to think about that as you’re tucking yourself in tonight.
Colts part ways with D’Qwell Jackson
D’Qwell Jackson is probably more famous right now for intercepting the pass that sparked Tom Brady’s DeflateGate problems in the 2014 AFC Championship, but he made news Thursday for another reason. Jackson was sent packing by the Indianapolis Colts in what should be the first of many salary-cap moves by new general manager Chris Ballard.
In releasing Jackson, the Colts save $5.5 million in cap space.
Good News: The Colts are currently sitting at roughly $50M in cap space and can easily get to $60M by releasing Art Jones & D'Qwell Jackson.
— jaybobcooter (@JayVeeThree) January 9, 2017
Jackson didn’t get to play all of last season after being suspended the final four games for PEDs. He still managed 78 tackles, one sack, two fumble recoveries and three passes defended. Jackson will be entering his 12th year in the league and will likely find a place on a roster, though he might have to sit a while to do it while rosters take shape.
“D’Qwell is a consummate professional,” Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said in a statement. “The way he approaches the game is second to none. His leadership and mentorship provided a valuable example for the younger players on this team. We are grateful for all of his contributions to the organization and wish him the best.”
Seahawks sign Blair Walsh
I was relatively sure I’d never see Blair Walsh again unless I stumbled across him in the woods somewhere living under a log. But he’s back, this time the former Minnesota Vikings’ goat is signing with the Seattle Seahawks, who dealt with their own kicker inaccuracy issues last season with Steven Hauschka.
The irony is the kick that started Walsh’s slide into unemployment was the playoff loss to Seattle in 2015, where he missed a chip-shot field goal in the final seconds that would have won the game for the Vikings. Hopefully the Seahawks have a good shrink on hand.
Falcons looking at Marquand Manuel as defensive coordinator
It’s rare for a Super Bowl team, even the Super Bowl loser, to need to replace both their offensive and defensive coordinators, but that’s the situation the Atlanta Falcons find themselves in.
The Falcons lost OC Kyle Shanahan when he took the head coaching job in San Francisco and consciously uncoupled with defensive coordinator Richard Smith, who’d really been in the dog house all season long. They also fired defensive line coach Bryan Cox.
"He’s really tough in practice, but it makes the games easy." – Ricardo Allen on Marquand Manuel
📝 – https://t.co/anKKgTuds0 pic.twitter.com/DGwMLQYEOK
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 28, 2017
Head coach Dan Quinn is looking at promoting secondar coach Marquand Manuel to defensive coordinator. Manuel has been a Quinn assistant since 2012 with the Seattle Seahawks so he knows the system. He’s been a potential DC since the offseason began for the Falcons, getting an interview for that same position with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He’s also a candidate to take the open DC job under Shanahan with the 49ers.
Giants re-sign Spagnuolo
There won’t be any coaching shake-ups on the New York Giants’ defense. Defensive coordinator Steve Spanuolo has re-upped with the Giants after leading that rebuilt unit to a Top 10 NFL ranking in 2016.
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