The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cards QB Palmer is retiring at 38
Heisman winner was 1st overall pick in 2003 NFL draft.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is retiring after 15 NFL seasons.
Palmer, who turned 38 last week, made the announcement in an open letter released Tuesday by the Cardinals. Palmer missed the last nine games this season with a broken left arm. He called his long professional career “the most incredible experience of my life.”
The statement came one day after Cardinals coach Bruce Arians announced his retirement. Arians and Palmer spent the last five seasons together.
Palmer was a Heisman Trophy winner at USC and the No. 1 overall pick by Cincinnati in 2003. He threw for 46,247 yards, 11th-most in NFL history, in a career with the Bengals, Oakland and Arizona.
Packers: Ted Thompson is out after 13 years as general manager but will remain as senior adviser of football operations, and President/CEO Mark Murphy said a search for a replacement has started. The Packers have several in-house candidates. But whoever replaces Thompson will have Mike McCarthy under contract through 2019, after Murphy said the coach was given a one-year extension. The extension prevents McCarthy from having lame-duck status with a new GM.
Falcons: Left guard Andy Levitre was placed on season-ending injured reserve four days before the Falcons visit the Rams for an NFC wild-card game. Levitre’s streak of 140 starts ended three weeks ago with a triceps injury.
Chiefs: Wide receiver De’Anthony Thomas (broken leg) and running back Akeem Hunt (ankle) were placed on injured reserve. The Chiefs elevated receiver Marcus Kemp from the practice squad and signed running back C.J. Spiller, who has been on and off the roster much of the season.
Bengals: Coach Marvin Lewis agreed to a two-year contract extension, after a second straight losing season and two days of discussions with owner Mike Brown. Lewis has been the Bengals’ head coach for the past 15 seasons — the second-longest active tenure in the NFL to New England’s Bill Belichick.
Raiders: Jon Gruden hopes he’s a candidate to return for a second stint as coach. The Raiders fired Jack Del Rio on Sunday following a six-win season. “My understanding is they’re interviewing candidates this week and they’re going to let everybody know sometime early next week or whenever they make their decision,” Gruden told the Bay Area News Group. When asked if he was a candidate, Gruden replied: “Well, I think I am being considered, yes. I hope I’m a candidate.”
Vikings: Quarterback Sam Bradford returned to practice Tuesday, two months after a Nov. 7 cleanup surgery on his left knee. Bradford led the Vikings to a season-opening win over New Orleans before experiencing pain in the twice-repaired joint. Case Keenum took over for Bradford and helped lead the team to a 13-3 record.
Bills: Buffalo fans are making a surge in donations to Andy Dalton’s foundation, their way of thanking the Bengals quarterback for his role in the Bills’ playoff appearance. Dalton’s foundation reported Tuesday it has received more than $100,000 in donations since the Bengals beat the Ravens on Sunday. Dalton threw a 49-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left to eliminate the Ravens and open a spot for the Bills. The Bills got the final AFC wild-card berth and ended their 17-year postseason drought, the longest among North America’s four major professional sports.
Noteworthy: Linebackers Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are among four first-time eligible former players selected among the 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018. Receiver Randy Moss and guard Steve Hutchinson also made the cut to the finals in their first year of eligibility. They join Tony Boselli, Isaac Bruce, Brian Dawkins, Alan Faneca, Joe Jacoby, Edgerrin James, Ty Law, John Lynch, Kevin Mawae, Terrell Owens and Everson Walls for consideration. The seniors committee nominated guard Jerry Kramer and linebacker Robert Brazile. Voting will be Feb. 3 in Minneapolis.