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Report: Former Trojan Carson Palmer Requests Trade Or May Retire

(CBSSPORTS.COM/Josh Katzowitz) -- ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting that Bengals QB Carson Palmer wants out of Cincinnati and, if he's not dealt, he could retire from football.

Palmer is coming off a tough year – though his statistics (61.8 completion percentage, 3,970 yards, 26 TDs and 20 INTs) aren't that terrible – and despite the organization's attempts to surround him with receiving weapons, it appears he's already on the downside of his career.

But, like I wrote earlier, it doesn't appear the Bengals, coming off a 4-12 season, feel the need to make improvements.

That might have something to do with Palmer's desire to leave, although he has four years and $50 million of base salary left on his contract (how bad must Palmer want to go if he's going to leave THAT much money on the table?).

And what will Cincinnati do without Palmer if he's dealt or retires, considering backup QB Jordan Palmer – Carson's brother – is not a starting NFL quarterback? Well, the Bengals have the No. 4 pick in the Draft, so they could take a QB there, or they could grab a veteran free agent like Marc Bulger for a short-term solution.

But losing Palmer is a big deal, and no matter how mediocre he's been the past two season, this is bad news for the Bengals.

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