Raiders QB Carson Palmer: 'I thought I was retired'

By Robert Klemko, USA TODAY

Carson Palmer says he was transitioning into life after football when he got the call from Raiders coach Hue Jackson. The trade for Palmer got done at the 4 p.m. Tuesday deadline after Jackson reached out to Bengals owner Mike Brown, who before Tuesday seemed content with leaving Palmer under contract in semi-retirement.

"For the past six weeks I thought I was retired," Palmer said after being introduced to media as a Raider on Tuesday. "Week 1 hit and I thought, I've got to look elsewhere and find what the next phase of my life might be. Then I got the text from Hue.

"I'm ready to go. I'm excited... I'm excited to be a part of this organization." Oakland gave up a first-round pick next year and a second-round pick in 2013, which could become a first-rounder if the Raiders (4-2) go to the AFC championship game.

In a stroke of bravado reminiscent of late team owner Al Davis, Jackson called the deal "the greatest trade in football." "As far as the draft picks, what we have to give up, I never hesitated because I know exactly what I'm getting," said Jackson, who was an assistant in Cincinnati from 2004-06. "I don't think you're ever mortgating the future when you put a big-time franchise quarterback on your team.

"Any player we put on this football team is going to be someone who can help us to our goal, which is winning a championship." Jackson said his relationship with Brown helped get the deal done, and that Brown said he wanted Palmer to do well in Oakland. But Jackson stopped short of taking full credit for the trade.

"I'm the head coach of the football team. I'm not playing GM," Jackson said. Jackson said Davis' son, Mark Davis, and team CEO Amy Trask were principle in the negotiations. Palmer, 31, declined to speak about his conflict with Bengals management, focusing instead on the future.

"It was time for me to move on," he said. "I'm just happy and thankful the Bengals organization made that decision also. I'm excited to be where I am. But I'm not going to go into depth on certain things that happened. Its a fresh start." Jackson left open the possibility that Palmer, who says he's been working out during the season, could start Sunday vs. the Chiefs.

"I'm not gonna let that out of the bag just yet," he said. "You've got to be ready for anything. we'll see later in the week."