The last time Carson Palmer took the field, he threw four interceptions and turned the ball over a ridiculous six times in the Arizona Cardinals’ blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship game.
In the months since that horrendous performance, Arizona has done everything in its power to help Palmer overcome the bitter end to that season.
The team upgraded its offensive line by bringing in Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis. It also traded for one of the best young pass rushers in the game in the form of Chandler Jones.
Now one of the odds-on favorites to win the NFC in 2016, Palmer has made it clear that it’s his ultimate goal to earn that elusive trip to the Super Bowl.
Not only that, he seems rather infatuated with the idea.
“Playing quarterback in the National Football League, getting to the Super Bowl is an incredible challenge,” Palmer said, via The Arizona Republic. “That’s why I’m still playing. I (strive) for it. You get addicted to it.”
At 36 years old and having already accomplished more than most quarterbacks, Palmer’s primary issue has been the playoffs. He won his first postseason game in four attempts in a victory over the Green Bay Packers this past January, only to pull up lame the following week against Carolina.
For Palmer, the “addiction” comes from the criticism he’s received for his lack of postseason success. As he indicated, the quarterback enjoys “working to prove skeptics wrong.”
He will definitely be given that opportunity this upcoming season.