Arizona Cardinals training camp: Carson Chats

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Quarterback Carson Palmer, now in his third year with the Arizona Cardinals, meets the media several times during training camp.

Here, in this space, we’ll highlight many of the key topics and personnel conversations he has with reporters following the morning walk-through:

How did you like that day off

 “Yeah, long day.  It was something that was set in stone months ago.  It was something that I argued with for probably six weeks and then just gave up because I realized I was getting nowhere with it.  I think it’s every fifth day or fourth day that they’re going to make me do it.  I understand it, I get it, I’m not going to like it, but it is what it is.”

Was it helpful

“I think so.  I won’t admit that to them, but I understand what their thinking is.  You got to stay in your lane.  You got to do what you do, know what you know and leave medical decisions to the experts that we have.”

Were you a little startled when you got rolled into the other day

 “No.  Shockingly, I wasn’t.  It looked a lot worse, obviously, than it was.  Until I saw it on film I didn’t really realize what had happened especially because we were in the two-minute drill and you’re focused on what happened on that play and then what you need to do on the next play.  Really didn’t think twice about it.”

Did Tyrann Mathieu say anything to you

 “Yeah, a bunch of times.  He’s been checking on me every day, actually.  I think he was more scared than I was, a little more nervous than I was when it happened.”

How much have you changed your footwork

 “There’s some things I’ve done stance wise in the shotgun, there’s some things I’ve done off a different play-action fakes, there’s some things I’ve been working on to really stay a little bit lower and ready to throw the ball—a little bit more prepared to throw the ball coming off play action stuff.  I think it was a huge change what I’ve done in the shotgun, changed my feet in the shotgun, because it’s one of those things that, for a long time I was lining up the old way because I wasn’t thinking; and then I had to think about it and line up the new way.  And I’ve done it so much and worked so hard at it that now it just happens, and that’s the point you want to get to is where’s it’s second-nature.  You don’t think about it.  You’re focused on 15 other things and not that one little thing that you had to focus so hard on to change a month-and-a-half ago.”

Do you feel that you’re especially sharp here in camp

 “Yes, but that’s because I’m in the third year of this system, not because of anything I’ve done this offseason.  It’s just because I’m really getting comfortable in the offense, I’m really getting comfortable in the protections.”

What do you think of rookie receiver J.J. Nelson

 “J.J. looks like a different person.  In OTAs and mini-camp he was a typical rookie, I think probably a little bit nervous, trying to figure out where he fits in, does he belong.  That kind of negative self-talk.  Now he’s telling himself he’s the best receiver on the team.  He’s playing like his 40 time.  He’s catching everything.  He’s making the routine catch, which he wasn’t doing before, but he’s also making the spectacular catch that he wasn’t doing before.  I had a talk with him right after our rookie mini-camp (before training camp).  I just said, ‘dude, you’re a different person.  The question is now as the vets get here, can you sustain what you’ve put on film, can you be the same guy you were with the rookies; and then when we put pads on, can you be the same guy once pads are on.’  That’s a challenge, that’s a big challenge.  And he has stepped right up to it and done a great job so far.”

How receptive is Logan Thomas to your helping

“I think he’s had a good camp.  He’s thrown some really good balls and made some really good decisions.  I think he’s taken some really good strides, and he’s super-receptive to any help he can get.  He just wants to learn.  He wants to pick things up and he wants to compete.  I think he’s done a really good job and had a good camp so far.”

Have you seen a more explosive John Brown given the weight he’s added

“I have.  He came on the scene so fast and so hot last year and had such a great camp.  He’s having just as good of camp, he’s just, for whatever reason, for a number of reasons, he’s not catching 25 balls a practice like it seemed like last year.  And we haven’t been running a ton of the stuff that’s designed really for him, that’s really specific to him because he’s so good at some of these things that we have.  We haven’t gotten a ton of those reps of those plays and schemes.  I notice it.  I think the DBs notice it.  It’s just, you can’t put my finger on it, he just hasn’t caught a ton of balls in practice, but he looks awesome.  He looks fast, he looks explosive, he looks strong coming off the ball.”

How do you feel physically at this stage in your career compared to your days in Cincinnati

“I feel great.  I think a good reason for that is I’m too old to do what I used to do.  When I was in Cincinnati, we had a golf course literally three minutes away and between meetings we would go play four holes or eight holes or 11 holes and just compete and bet.  There was a basketball court and we’d go shoot baskets and play pool.  Now, I’m laid up with my feet up resting and studying.  So, I feel better.  I shouldn’t, but I feel better but it was because I was an idiot back then and I doing way too much in-between practice.  Back when you’re 22, 23, especially if you’re a quarterback and you’re not getting hit in practice and all those things, I was always looking for something else to do—shoot baskets, we’d stay out on the field and throw balls in trash cans, do all these different things, competitive things, and I’ve stopped doing that just to get my rest, so I actually feel better.”

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