Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer made headlines Sunday by letting it be known that he would retire from football if he was not traded from Cincinnati.
Bengals president Mike Brown hit back on Monday, saying that Palmer requested a trade when the two met a week ago and that the team would not be trading its former first-overall pick.
"He is key to our plans, he’s central to us," Brown told Cincinnati.com. "He was told that and that we count on him going forward. He was told that we are not in a position to trade him."
The meeting, however, was apparently "amicable," leading Brown to praise his quarterback.
"[He] didn’t finger anyone or anything. … He’s a great player and equally a fine person," he said.
As to whether or not Brown believed that Palmer would really retire, the team president didn't seem too concerned.
"We’ll just have to see how it plays out," Brown said. "We’ll reach out to him and understand the things that are in his craw. Maybe there are things we can do that will appeal to him. We’ll try to and see whether we can get it fit back together again in the future"
Palmer threw 20 interceptions (five of which for touchdowns) in 2010 and he compiled his worst QB rating, 82.4, of any full season since his rookie year.
Arizona and San Francisco are considered possible destinations if he does leave Cincinnati.
