Carson Palmer Not Returning to Cincinnati Bengals

A reunion between Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati Bengals won't be taking place any time soon. That's the news coming out of California, where Palmer was tailgating before USC's football game.

According to ESPN, Palmer is still set in his stance about not returning to the Bengals and appears to be done with the game of football for now. It was during the past offseason that Palmer requested a trade from the front office, obviously becoming discontent with the atmosphere surrounding the team.

The Bengals seem to be just as invested in moving on without Palmer as he is, and that has furthered the current stalemate. It would seem like a huge benefit for the franchise to trade Palmer for some value, but the front office seems more intent on not giving Palmer what he wants. The Bengals could trade him and get value in return, but right now are simply trying to send a message.

In week one, new quarterback Andy Dalton helped lead the Bengals to a victory over the Cleveland Browns. It wasn't pretty though, as Dalton went 10-of-15 for 81 yards and Bruce Gradkowski went 5-of-12 for 92 yards. Both quarterbacks avoided throwing interceptions though, and that allowed Cedric Benson enough time to rush for 121 yards and help put down the Browns.

Being tied for first place after week one might have inflated the egos of those in the Cincinnati front office, but this team really doesn't look like one that can compete with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens for a full season. A few more wins though, and the Bengals could really be one of the surprising teams of the young 2011 NFL season.

During 2010, Palmer threw for 3,970 yards and had 26 passing touchdowns. Those were his best totals since 2007, but he also had 20 interceptions and three lost fumbles that really tempered positive thoughts about his season. The team was once again picking high in the NFL Draft, but decided that it was time to go after a new quarterback (Dalton) than try to make Palmer happy for the short term.

While Cincinnati might be trending up during the first two weeks of the season, this doesn't seem like a team that can survive with the current quarterback situation. It might be best to now call this a "rebuilding year" for the Bengals, even if it has seemed more like a five-year process to fans.