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Y! MyWebPalmer stays in New York to get second opinion
QB will have his inflamed elbow examined today by the New York Mets' team physician.
Monday, October 13, 2008
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Bengals team doctors wouldn't clear quarterback Carson Palmer to play with an inflamed right elbow on Sunday, Oct. 12.
Palmer hopes to get a more positive evaluation from Dr. David Altchek, the New York Mets team physician who will examine Palmer today.
"It was my decision to get a second opinion and have someone else look at it other than our doctors," Palmer said after the Bengals' 26-14 loss to the New York Jets. "Hopefully, he'll have a different opinion and say it looks a lot better and I'll be able to play."
Palmer, originally injured on a first-quarter sack against the New York Giants on Sept. 21, didn't play for the second time in three weeks. He also sat out the Cleveland game (Sept. 28).
He spent Sunday on the sidelines — not in uniform — as one of the club's eight inactive players. Teams can only activate 45 players from the 53-man roster on game days. All he felt was frustration as he watched the Bengals fall to 0-6.
"I'm going to stay here and see the doctor first thing in the morning," Palmer said. "I'm going to the supposed best elbow guy (doctor), one who worked on a bunch of Major League pitchers.
"It's a big concern of mine to get out there and play. It's a concern of mine if I have to sit on the sideline and watch. I'm not used to doing that. It's not my concern whether my injury is season-ending or not. I was told it would get better after about a month, and every day it's gotten better, so that's a good thing.
"Hopefully, it got better over the last week. I'll play when they give me clearance to play."
The Bengals generated only 171 yards of offense and 13 first downs — three rushing. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's 1-yard TD plunge pulled Cincinnati within 17-14 at halftime, but the Bengals were shut out in the second half.
"It's especially tough to watch as an offensive guy when your defense plays the way it does," Palmer said. "They were giving us turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble return for a TD). Offensively, we just kept our defense on the field way too long and it wore them out.
"When you don't have a running game, it doesn't open up the passing attack and it makes it especially hard on Ryan. It's also demoralizing offensively. When you can't put the points up to help your defense out, it makes it tough."
