[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by Ugly Duck

Clark Judge a moran, too?

"He's 1,000 times better than the quarterback they have, and every time he goes out to practice they're going to know it."

"Plus, he's a helluva guy, and he's going to be so energized to be there it will carry over to the rest of the club. They're going to know that they have themselves more than just a quarterback; they have themselves a leader.

"And he's going to look like a Raider. He's bigger than everyone, he's stronger than everyone and he throws the ball farther than everyone. That's a Raider."

"But this guy is a workout freak," said our AFC coach. "I understand he will have to get himself into 'football shape,' but he's not going to have to lose 15 pounds. He's going to come to the Raiders ready to play."

Oakland is the league's second-ranked rushing offense, and they're physical up front -- grinding down opponents while Darren McFadden and Michael Bush run over, around and through them. In its second defeat of San Diego last year, the Raiders ran 52 times for a season-high 251 yards, with quarterback Jason Campbell asked to throw only 16 times. Carson Palmer can do that.

"Carson Palmer is the real deal," said an AFC offensive coordinator. "I know the Raiders paid a high price for him, but people don't know how good he is ... or can be ... because there was so much going on in Cincinnati. "Believe it or not, I think there will be an order and discipline here that will benefit him. Yeah, I know his numbers lately weren't that good in Cincinnati, but there was a lot going on there that isn't in Oakland." Now there's plenty going on in Oakland, and Carson Palmer is in the middle of it. There's no question his addition makes the Raiders better.

So in other words the Palmer you guys are getting is not the Palmer we have all watched on TV the last few years. Sure, it's possible, and if so, congrats. I have my doubts, though.