Chad Henne

[cincygrad]

Noway the 49ers mess with team chemistry right now. Harbaugh stood by Alex Smith during the offseason, never panicked and changed his tune during a messy preseason and certainly won't now that he has been rewarded for his faith.

Seattle is the only place I could see happening and I'd put it as less than 10%.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Miami is still in place for a QB as well. Granted, they could be in the Luck Sweepstakes, but nothing wrong with getting Palmer to help the offense win now, and then letting luck sit for a year.

Denver could end up being another place. While they are going to let Tebow do his thing, the current management did not draft Tebow, and more than likely does not want Tebow.

Also, do you really think Washington will Keep Grossman? To borrow Fleymings words a bit "It's Grossman". No way you can expect this to continue.

The Raiders could still be another fit. Yes, they have Pryor, but he's not going to be ready and isn't/shouldn't be the QB. He should be moved to WR where he can take advantage of his gifts. Gad. Could you see him lining up in the slot? Blow by a LB, simply reach over a CB, and would crush a safety after the catch. He was a mediocre QB at OSU at best. His spot should be WR. Also, don't forget, Hue Jackson has time with Palmer.

There are plenty of "fits", but with Palmer not going anywhere soon, teams are going to play the season out, and Brown will probably trade him off next year when a team will likely give more since they will get 100% healthy Palmer (year off) and a full off-season to get him up to speed on the offense.

 

[Tubbs1518]

Miami is still in place for a QB as well. Granted, they could be in the Luck Sweepstakes, but nothing wrong with getting Palmer to help the offense win now, and then letting luck sit for a year.

Denver could end up being another place. While they are going to let Tebow do his thing, the current management did not draft Tebow, and more than likely does not want Tebow.

Also, do you really think Washington will Keep Grossman? To borrow Fleymings words a bit "It's Grossman". No way you can expect this to continue.

The Raiders could still be another fit. Yes, they have Pryor, but he's not going to be ready and isn't/shouldn't be the QB. He should be moved to WR where he can take advantage of his gifts. Gad. Could you see him lining up in the slot? Blow by a LB, simply reach over a CB, and would crush a safety after the catch. He was a mediocre QB at OSU at best. His spot should be WR. Also, don't forget, Hue Jackson has time with Palmer.

There are plenty of "fits", but with Palmer not going anywhere soon, teams are going to play the season out, and Brown will probably trade him off next year when a team will likely give more since they will get 100% healthy Palmer (year off) and a full off-season to get him up to speed on the offense.

Let's not forget Newton "couldn't" play QB either. Before the scandle there was a lot of talk as him being a top 10 pick maybe the 1st QB off the board. I'm not saying he will be good, but lets give the kid time and a shot before we write him off.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Compare Pryors last season at OSU and then look at Newtons. It's not even close.

Pryor was an average, at best QB. Newton was one of the top players in the country. I dogged him because of his inability to read defenses at any level. Pryor not only has that problem, but is not nearly as gifted in his ability to throw, and throw on the run.

If you have a shot at a QB like Palmer or Pryor...you take Palmer. If pryor is your QB of the future, you can do a lot worse than having Palmer for a year or 2 until Pryor is ready to go. Right now, they have Jason Campbell to play QB until Pryor is ready. You don't think that doesn't quicken the desire to get Pryor in there?

 

[flamingrey]

They're not benching Smith. Harbaugh believes in him, and they're winning. It'd be monumentally stupid.

When SF was rumored to be (relatively) offering the farm for Carson, where was Harbaugh's belief in Smith then?

This is like saying Dalton was the guy the Bengals wanted all along in last season's draft, so even if we had the first pick, we wouldn't select Luck since Dalton is Gruden's man. That logic doesn't make sense because teams are always looking to improve at any/every position.

Winning doesn't have to mean great QB play. They're winning because of their defense and to a much lesser extent good ST play. In 5 games, Smith has played exceptionally well in 1.5 games. Nobody is pot committed to him.

 

[vancelot23]

Who was the last team to bench their QB with a 4-1 record? Not happening unless smith gets hurt. He's the starter and as was said, theyre not messing with chemistry for an aging QB who hasn't performed well the last few years and has no time to prepare. That'd be coaching suicide.

 

[flamingrey]

This idea that Smith's play this season has been some feel-good story is unfounded:

The first 3 games of the season, the offense had 124, 132, and 176 passing yards to go with 85, 74, and 50 rushing yards. The 176 isn't pretty standing alone, but we all know that game, it was against us where Smith had one very good drive, and then the rest garbage. Heck, they had 3 points until 10 of their 13 points were fueled by our offense at the end of the 4th.

It's over the last 2 games where their offense has netted 278 and 205 passing yards and a whopping 164 and 213 yards on the ground.

Furthermore, the defense has 14 TO's on the season. 3 every game with the exception of 1 game where they had 2.

I would argue the offense's success, let alone the team's success, is a much larger product of the run game and the defensive turnovers than it is anything Smith has done (maybe with the exception of 1 or 1.5 games).

 

[flamingrey]

Who was the last team to bench their QB with a 4-1 record? Not happening unless smith gets hurt. He's the starter and as was said, theyre not messing with chemistry for an aging QB who hasn't performed well the last few years and has no time to prepare. That'd be coaching suicide.

When was the last time a team was 4-1 and the obvious weakest link on the team was the QB, AND there was a QB the *caliber of Palmer on the wire? Never.

Irrelevant statistic.

*Despite what Bengals fans think - none of us are rational in this subject, some of us like him, some hate him - the national perception Palmer is still very positive.

*Edit: Btw, there's no rule that says if you trade for a QB, you have to start him, especially right away. From a team's perspective, Palmer would be a great investment for the next 2-3 years, whether he's traded for now or in the offseason, until they can draft a real QB. There's no way if Palmer becomes available, they let him slip to Seattle, unless his asking price gets too high.

 

[cincygrad]

Yes, but if SF traded for Palmer, you can bet it would damage Smith's confidence and would create issues in the locker room. There just isn't much point in doing it - They aren't a super bowl team with him and they ARE a playoff team with or without him. Let things play out and upgrade in the offseason.

 

[vancelot23]

I disagree completely and not because I hate Palmer. I don't think he's as good as you think he is, but I don't hate him. SF is 4-1, Smith has the 3rd highest QB rating in the league, and the coaches are behind him. They're not going to fuck with things and invite a QB controversy. No possible way are they in the running for a trade this season.

 

[cincygrad]

Alex Smith has thrown 7 touchdowns and hasn't turned it over once. The team has only lost one game and that was in overtime. The team successfully traveled East and won 2 games in 2 weeks on a difficult road trip.

How are a few pick 6's and several delay of games from Palmer going to improve their performance?

 

[vancelot23]

Picking up David Garrard would be a better option for them than trading for Palmer. But for now, they have to roll with Smith. He's playing well, and they're winning. You don't mess with success.

 

[Tubbs1518]

Compare Pryors last season at OSU and then look at Newtons. It's not even close.

Pryor was an average, at best QB. Newton was one of the top players in the country. I dogged him because of his inability to read defenses at any level. Pryor not only has that problem, but is not nearly as gifted in his ability to throw, and throw on the run.

If you have a shot at a QB like Palmer or Pryor...you take Palmer. If pryor is your QB of the future, you can do a lot worse than having Palmer for a year or 2 until Pryor is ready to go. Right now, they have Jason Campbell to play QB until Pryor is ready. You don't think that doesn't quicken the desire to get Pryor in there?

The point is you let him have his shot. You don't trade for an aging QB who frankly isn't going to make them a SB contender any more than Jason Campbell. They gave up a 3rd round pick for him so you give him his shot. He was considered a top 10 pick for a reason. People are saying he can't play QB just like Newton. You don't give up another pick in next years draft for a QB who won't help this year and isn't much better than what you have.

 

[Tubbs1518]

And as far as SF trading for him, never going to happen. He isn't better than Alex Smith, and SF would have to giveup quite a bit to get him. Plus they would have to cut someone because they already have a 2nd QB in Kapernick (sp?). Not going to happen. It's SEA or no one in my mind.

 

[Cincyfan78]

TP was never a top 10 pick. Ever. Come on. Show me one report and I'll change my tune. I could be wrong. But he was never considered a top 10 pick, at least as far as I am aware.

And you can give him a shot. I'm just saying. Who would you rather him sit behind? Campbell or Palmer. Neither is taking the team to the SB, but you're going to get more out of Palmer. 31 is not "aging" for a QB. Especially when you consider he'll now have spent 2 full seasons not playing.

 

[flamingrey]

Yes, but if SF traded for Palmer, you can bet it would damage Smith's confidence and would create issues in the locker room. There just isn't much point in doing it - They aren't a super bowl team with him and they ARE a playoff team with or without him. Let things play out and upgrade in the offseason.

Smith's confidence? So he'd be MORE inconsistent than he already is? And he'd have more than 3.5 alright-to-bad games for every 5 games? The fact that every season they're looking for a replacement isn't enough.

Considering Smith is the weak link, I see no reason why it would create issues in the locker room. Players know it's a business and they just have to work harder and be better to keep their role.

I'm sure most in the organization know Palmer wouldn't make them a SB contender, though I'm sure there are some elements that do (it's the nature of any team). Nonetheless, you still make a change if it brings you CLOSER to contention.

Upgrade in the offseason if your prize won't be lost during the season, especially to a division rival. If the Bengals starting tending offers and Seattle is about to snatch him, SF will do everything in their power to grab him for themsevles.

 

[flamingrey]

Picking up David Garrard would be a better option for them than trading for Palmer. But for now, they have to roll with Smith. He's playing well, and they're winning. You don't mess with success.

You keep talking about success, but you have to show where/how Smith has been successful.

We should probably hold on to Boling in the SL too since we've been successful. Heck, a couple bounces here or there and we'd be sitting at 5-0.

 

[flamingrey]

Alex Smith has thrown 7 touchdowns and hasn't turned it over once. The team has only lost one game and that was in overtime. The team successfully traveled East and won 2 games in 2 weeks on a difficult road trip.

How are a few pick 6's and several delay of games from Palmer going to improve their performance?

Despite the numbers, Smith has limited their passing offense. I've posted all the numbers. He's playing game manager. They would love to be able to open up their offense.

Outside of Cincinnati, Palmer's image isn't that of a pick 6 machine or anything else you can throw at him. Outside of Cincinnati, the bad guy is the organization, not Palmer.

 

[BigBlueNation111]

Morning Bengal Nation,hope everyone is staying warm and dry.I'ts rainy and cold here in OL KY.

 

[Cincyfan78]

If SF were interested, I don't think it would happen this season. That would potentially rip apart the team, and they are playing well. I would think that if they were interested that they would wait until after the season.