Carson Palmer Will Be Ready For 2009
December 14, 2008 at 5:46 pm | Article by Paul Hickey |
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Since injuring his throwing elbow in Week 5, Carson Palmer has missed nine straight games, and has avoided Tommy John surgery thus far. Word is that he will not play again in 2008, but our sources tell us that he will come back strong in 2009.
The 28 year old Palmer called Carolina QB Jake Delhomme a few weeks ago to get a feel for what the surgery would be like, and try to evaluate whether he needed it. Palmer, his personal doctors, and Bengals team doctors advised him, and the reviews were mixed, according to our sources. Palmer has thrown a nerf ball with no pain for the last several weeks, and reportedly began throwing a real NFL-sized football last Saturday, December 6. Word from our sources in Cincy is that Palmer has had no pain at all and feels great, contributing to his decision to not move forward with surgery.
Obviously, if Carson can make a full recovery this off-season, it will be a solid decision, but if he decides later on that he actually needs surgery, it will be detrimental to his 2009 comeback attempt. Our sources believe that Palmer has made an educated decision based on how his body feels, and that he knows his body better than anyone. As a result, we’re inclined to believe that Palmer - who made a he-man like comeback from a knee injury in 2006, will be fine in 2009. This means he should absolutely be a solid fantasy option once again, but who knows who he’ll be throwing the ball to, as T.J. Houshmandzadeh is a free agent, and Chad Johnson could be on the trade block. Not to mention, the Bengals could revamp their ground game, as the contract of Cedric Benson - who has led the team with 465 rushing yards this season -expires at the end of the season.
Michael Vick To Tampa Bay? - If you watched the Fox NFL Sunday pre-game show in Week 15, you may have heard some potential rumors about incarcerated former Falcons QB Mike Vick returning in 2009 and playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Our sources in Tampa tell us that there is definitely truth to these rumors, and that head coach Jon Gruden would absolutely love to coach a QB of Vick’s caliber. Obviously, after a two year absence from the NFL, Vick would have to first be reinstated by Roger Goodell, then knock off the rust before being given a shot to make a fantasy impact, but this is something to keep an eye on in the off-season.
Ryan Grant Not Safe In Green Bay? - Word is that Green Bay Packers RB Ryan Grant, who has rushed for 1,036 yards and four TDs this season, may not be the Packers’ featured back in 2009. The Packers have always hinted that 2007 second rounder Brandon Jackson could significantly cut into Grant’s playing time at some point, but it hasn’t happened yet in 2008, as Green Bay has stuck by Grant despite a less than desirable yards per carry average. Our sources tell us that there will be an open competition in Green Bay this off-season for the starting RB gig, which may include a free agent and a rookie to be added later. While Grant’s fantasy value won’t dip until this actually happens, it’s something for owners to certainly keep in mind when evaluating their squads moving into 2009.
Reggie Bush Owners Shouldn’t Worry Too Much About Pierre Thomas - Fantasy owners who watched Thursday night’s Week 15 match-up between the Bears and Saints, saw disturbing images of Reggie Bush on the sidelines bundled up in a Saints’ winter coat, as second year man Pierre Thomas rushed 22 times for 87 yards and a TD, and caught seven passes for 59 yards and a score. Despite Thomas’ phenomenal play over the last five weeks, our sources tell us that Bush is still in the Saints plans to be their primary back. The issue recently has not been due to Bush’s play, rather that he’s not fully healthy. Thomas owners should feel good about his ability to contribute as an RB3 when Bush returns to full health in 2009, but should not consider Thomas an every week fantasy starter. We’ll provide more updates regarding the health of Bush’s knee leading into the off-season.
Battle and Johnson Done In San Francisco - Our sources tell us that the San Francisco 49ers will release 28 year old WR Arnaz Battle this off-season. The solid possession receiver has dealt with an injured foot since Week 8, and was recently placed on injured reserve. Word is, if Mike Singletary stays on as head coach, Battle will be gone, and Bryant Johnson - who is on a one-year deal - will not be re-signed in 2009.
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