QB Palmer feels strong starting 15th NFL season

Dolphins’ Pouncey hope to be cleared

GLENDALE, Arizona, July 23, (Agencies): 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.

“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. I don’t think I felt that way coming into camp last year.”

After their disappointing 2016 season, the Cardinals aren’t getting much yards and 35 touchdowns, both career highs, with 11 interceptions. He guided the team to a 13-3 record and an appearance in the NFC championship game, a loss at Carolina.

The team had virtually everybody back last year, but staggered to a 1-3 start and finished 7-8-1.

Palmer had his sixth career 4,000yard passing season (4,233), but his touchdown total dropped to 24 with 16 interceptions. He was better the last half of the season, after Arians started giving him off for Wednesday’s practice. That led to the decision to severely limit his throwing in the offseason. Palmer said he followed orders.

“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 soamething’s wrong. But I listened to experts, like coach Arians ... I listened to their approach and I’m all in.”

Much is being made of that “window of opportunity” nearly closing for this group of Cardinals. This could be the final go-round for the trio of Arians, Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald. One or more of them might retire after this season.

Palmer said he doesn’t know how much longer he will play.

“I still love it,” he said. “I’m excited to be here.”

Palmer

Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey will have his left hip examined next week and hopes to be cleared to join his teammates for the start of training camp.

Pouncey, the anchor to the Miami Dolphins offensive line since 2011, has not practiced since November, missing all but five games last season due to the hip injury.

Pouncey will get the hip examined one more time before the start of camp