The news that Carson Palmer was nursing a sore elbow might've gotten lost in all pre-game Bengals-Cowboys foolishness, but the Cincinnati quarterback admits that the injury affected his confidence last Sunday. Via the Cincinnati Enquirer's Mark Curnutte:
There were a couple times where I didn't have the confidence I normally have, just because my arm's not the same as previous to the injury," Palmer said. "But as far as throwing balls, I felt like I missed a couple I shouldn't have missed, but the only thing I noticed was just a little less confidence in throwing some. I saw holes in certain spots that I kind of held back on and moved on to the next guy."It wasn't long ago that Palmer was considered one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, usually ranking close behind Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Now, after a severe knee injury during the 2005 playoffs (which, honestly, didn't seem to affect his performance in 2006), an elbow injury during the Giants game three weeks ago, and one of the most inept offenses in the league, Palmer's just another guy. It's sorta sad, really.
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a quick fix in Cincinnati, which means Palmer's considerable abilities could be wasted on a team best known for shoddy personnel decisions and a cheapskate owner.
For now, Palmer seems resigned to his fate, and unlike some of his name-changing, high-drama teammates, he won't complain. Given the direction the season is headed, it's probably not even worth it.
