Cardinals’ Palmer alters approach

At 37, quarterback cuts back on his offseason throwing.

For the first time in his career, Carson Palmer abandoned his usual pattern and didn’t throw at all for several months.

The 37-year-old quarterback says the results are obvious as he begins his fifth training camp with the Arizona Cardinals at Glendale, Ariz.

“It’s hard to explain. You just feel better,” Palmer said before the team went through its first training camp practice Saturday. “You feel like you have more zip, more velocity. … I feel like I can go out

and throw 150 balls in practice (which he said he won’t do). I don’t think I felt that way coming into camp last year.”

Experts expecting little from the Cardinals this year point to Palmer’s age and his play diminishing a year ago after an outstanding 2015.

Palmer is entering his 15th NFL season and said he never dreamed he’d play so long.

“In football years, I think it’s perceived once you get to 35 you’re old,” he said, “but if you can still put it on every day and play and work out and train and prepare mentally, I look at is as being experienced and mature.”

Coach Bruce Arians acknowledged that a team’s success is usually tied to the play of its quarterback.

“I’ve been fortunate to be around some really, really good ones,” he said. “It’s always fun going to practices and going to the stadium on Sunday when you have a good one. When you don’t have one, it’s rough.”

So, much of any success Arizona has this season will depend on Palmer, who is used to that kind of scrutiny.

“You get probably a little nervous at first as you’re coming up,” he said, “but you get kind of addicted to it and enjoy it and enjoy the pressure that comes with the position.”

Palmer had his sixth career 4,000-yard passing season (4,233) in 2016, but with just 24 TDs and 16 interceptions. He was better the last half of the season, after Arians started giving him off for Wednesday practices.

That led to the decision to severely limit his throwing in the offseason.

“I’ve been playing so long you get so ingrained in throwing in March, April and June,” he said, “and then to not do it is just odd. It just feels like something’s wrong. But I listened to experts, like coach Arians. ... I listened to their approach and I’m all in.”

Cowboys: The first day for veterans to report to training camp did not go as smoothly as it could have.

Wide receiver Dez Bryant showed up late Friday, and defensive lineman David Irving didn’t show up at all, sources told ESPN, confirming multiple reports.

Players who miss the reporting date are subject to a $40,000 fine, according to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.

Bryant returned to his East Texas hometown of Lufkin on Thursday to thank supporters with free barbecue.

Irving has been suspended for the first four games of season for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Carson Palmer says he feels better coming into this camp.