The biggest news story of today came out of the NFC West, as the Cardinals and quarterback Carson Palmer agreed to a three-year extension worth $50MM, with about $20.5MM in guarantees. Let’s look at some reaction the Palmer deal, as well as some other notes from the division:
- If the new money figure of $20.5MM is correct, Palmer will receive about $3MM less in new money that did Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith under his recent extension, writes Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, who says the three-year value of Palmer’s pact will be similar to that of Bengals QB Andy Dalton‘s contract. Fitzgerald opines that the extension makes sense for both sides, and expects that the Cardinals’ next move will be to lower Larry Fitzgerald‘s exorbitant 2015 cap hit.
- Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com also lauds Palmer’s extension, writing that the 35-year-old is the perfect fit for Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians’ vertical offense. Palmer, Weinfuss argues, can handle quarterbacking duties for at least two more seasons, at which point the club can determine if Logan Thomas, a 2014 fourth-rounder, is ready to take over.
- Regarding Sunday’s report that the 49ers shopped Ahmad Brooks in advance of the trade deadline, San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh declined comment, only telling reporters, including those at CSNBayArea.com, that he didn’t have any “specific knowledge” of such trade discussions.
- Harbaugh did tell Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com that in the event Dan Skuta can’t play Sunday due to his sprained ankle, the 49ers will likely promote second-year LB Chase Thomas from the practice squad. With Aldon Smith still on suspension, San Francisco has only Brooks, Aaron Lynch, and Corey Lemonier at OLB, so Thomas, who’s also spent time with the Saints, Raiders, Falcons, and Panthers during his short NFL career, could add some much-needed depth.