Peter King: Cardinals ‘routed the Raiders’

There are media members who cover events. And then there are media members who are billed as the event.

And let’s just say there’s a reason that Peter King had his name on the Cardinals Pre-Pat’s Run charity event recently.

As a longtime NFL insider for Sports Illustrated, Peter King writes. And people read. He churns out multi-media content and NFL fans consume on various platforms.

But last Friday, I had a few minutes to pose a few questions — in person. After King eloquently responded to questions about Tillman and King’s longtime former hometown of Boston, we audibled into the Arizona Cardinals.

For example, I asked King to bottom line Cards new head coach Bruce Arians.

“Players will play for this guy,” King said slowly and emphatically. “X’s and O’s are very important. But there’s also the motivation of men. Bruce Arians is going to motivate these guys.”

Speaking of team leaders, I put the following question to King: “If quarterback, head coach, and general manager are the lifeblood of any NFL organization, then how do you think the Cardinals will fare with Palmer, Arians, and Keim in the years to come?”

“That’s a great question. In my opinion, if there was one quarterback out there this off-season, including the rookies, who this team could’ve acquired, I think it would’ve been Carson Palmer. Because Arians wants a QB who can throw the ball downfield. He wants a QB who’s a veteran, who’s been there before. And Carson Palmer really fits that,” King said.

And when it comes to Palmer, King made sure to mention that acquiring Palmer via trade is not just a matter of answering “who” is playing QB, but “how”…as in, “how much?”

“Let’s be honest, they paid nothing for Carson Palmer. And that’s a little baptism by fire for Steve Keim. That’s really his first big decision, when you think about it.

“(Keim) won that one. He routed the Raiders on that one,” King continued. “Of course, the Raiders didn’t have a lot of choice because everybody knew they had to cut him, but Keim made a really good trade.”

What sort of fit will Palmer prove to be? And what’s the upside? That was the final topic.

“Carson Palmer, I think, has been bruised and battered by his experience in Oakland,” said King. “Carson Palmer has always wanted to throw the ball downfield. He’s always wanted a weapon like Larry Fitzgerald.”