USA TODAY Sports Weekly

Fingers point at Palmer

QB called out by coach, GM after victory

- McManaman writes for The (Phoenix) Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network. Bob McManaman @azbobbymac USA TODAY Sports

“The quarterbac­k!” That’s the one Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians blamed, first at halftime in front of a national television audience and then again after Arizona’s 16-13 overtime victory on Sept. 17 against the Indianapol­is Colts, for the offense’s shaky performanc­e for a second consecutiv­e week.

Carson Palmer was still busy pulling arrows out of his backside a day later.

General manager Steve Keim called him out the morning of the 18th, saying during his weekly radio appearance that Palmer’s performanc­e was up and down and that “there’s no doubt he made some critical mistakes.” That afternoon, Arians was at it again, saying Palmer doesn’t play well enough when he gets hit early like he did against the Colts.

According to some of the eyeballs in the visitors’ locker room at Lucas Oil Stadium, Palmer looked a little wounded when told of Arians’ initial critique. Arians, though, said he knows Palmer well enough to know the 37-year-old doesn’t take the tongue-lashing personally.

“He doesn’t. He’s ready for practice on Wednesday,” Arians said. “That’s why it’s easy for me to say it, because I know he don’t give (an expletive.)”

So Palmer doesn’t mind all the criticism?

“Well, everybody does. But he doesn’t,” Arians said. “He’s got enough self-confidence. He can handle it.”

Don’t be surprised if that’s one of the first questions Palmer is asked when he meets with reporters later this week. It’s fair to remind everyone, too, that Palmer was playing without the benefit of five starters on offense, including the team’s best weapon, running back David Johnson.

Speedy wide receiver John Brown also was out, as were offensive linemen D.J. Humphries and Mike Iupati as well as tight end Jermaine Gresham. Despite getting sacked four times and hit numerous others, Palmer delivered the 50th 300-yard passing game of his career and led the Cardinals on three second-half scoring drives to help force overtime.

Arians, at least, said he saw things later from watching film from the game that made him happier than what he saw live from the stadium. Palmer, he said, had some bright spots.

“Oh, he played a whole lot better than I thought he did, yeah. A whole lot better,” Arians said, adding, “He did have another great finish to the game. He won the game. That third and 20, that was one for the ages. And obviously, the play right after.”

Arians was referring to the huge first-down conversion Palmer made by hooking up on a long completion to Jaron Brown and following that up with a quick, 45-yard touchdown strike over the top to J.J. Nelson.

“It’s always good to get in there and watch the film like we did today because usually it’s not as good as you think it is or it’s not as bad,” tight end Troy Niklas said. “But there was a lot of good teaching on that film and I think regardless of the win, we all got better today.

“Carson’s been taking a lot of the heat, but he’s taking the heat because of us. It’s all of us guys around him who need to get better. We need to give him more time out there and run a little bit better routes to give him more time and more opportunit­ies to make the plays he can make.”

Niklas said that’s going to be the bulk of the offense’s preparatio­n this week as the Cardinals (1-1) get ready for their home opener on Sept. 25 against the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

“If we run the ball a little bit better, it’ll open up the passing game. If we pass a little bit better, it’ll open up the running game,” Niklas said. “It’s just that little extra bit that we’re searching for.”

The offense might get a spark should Arians make a change at running back and start using veteran Chris Johnson as his mainstay. Johnson got the bulk of the workload in the second half in relief of starter Kerwynn Williams and primary backup Andre Ellington, and he responded with some nice runs against the Colts.

“We’ll make that determinat­ion later,” Arians said during his news conference, before saying later on his weekly radio appearance that Johnson would “get a lot more carries.”

Johnson said the decision is out of his hands and he’s not thinking about it.

“I just went out there and was just trying to control what I can control and make the most of my opportunit­ies,” he said. “That’s all I can do. Anything else besides that is out of my control so that’s really something I really don’t worry about.”

Arians is just glad the Cardinals are finally home for a game after playing three of their past four, including preseason games, east of the Mississipp­i.

“It’s going to be great to be in front of our fans,” he said. “I know the stadium will be rocking. I’m sure there will be Cowboys fans there, so it would be nice to shut ’em up.”

 ?? AARON DOSTER, USA TODAY SPORTS ?? Tight end Troy Niklas says of Carson Palmer, above: “It’s all of us guys around him who need to get better.”
AARON DOSTER, USA TODAY SPORTS Tight end Troy Niklas says of Carson Palmer, above: “It’s all of us guys around him who need to get better.”

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