NFL Notes: Cardinals, Patriots, Rams

Cardinals

Cardinals QB Carson Palmer was asked if he knew how much longer he intends to continue his NFL career, but he isn’t sure right now.

“That’s a great question and I don’t have an answer,” Palmer said, via AzCardinals.com.

Palmer added that he loves “every facet” of the game and “[doesn’t] want it to stop.”

“I love every facet of it,” Palmer said. “I don’t want to stop. But I’ll have to wait and make that decision after the season.”

Palmer admitted that there’s a sense of urgency for him, given where he is in his NFL career.

“There’s always urgency, especially as you get to the second half of your career,” Palmer said. “You just never know when your last year is going to be.”

Patriots

• Assuming Tom Brady is still playing at a high level, Jimmy Garoppolo improves and Jacoby Brissett shows the coaching staff that he can be a capable No. 2 option, ESPN’s Mike Reiss believes the Patriots would still with Brady as their starter.
• From there, Reiss could see the Patriots attempt to trade Garoppolo to another team after applying the franchise tag to him, assuming they can’t reach an agreement on an extension.
• New England previously traded Matt Cassel to the Chiefs back in 2009 after they franchised him, so this figures to be a consideration with Garoppolo, depending on how things play out in 2017.

Rams

Rams OLB Connor Barwin explained that playing in a 4-3 system was a “big adjustment” for him last year and it took him until the final month of the season to show progress.

“It was a big adjustment for me,” Barwin said of playing in a 4-3, via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. “I thought the last month of the season was probably my best four games. And I was excited to be back there and continue to adjust in that new role because it takes time.

“But that didn’t work out and this couldn’t be a better situation for me.”

According to Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, Barwin is noticeably bigger and stronger now.

“He’s bigger and stronger than he was,” Phillips said. “He ran a 4.5-something at the [NFL scouting] combine when he came out, so he can run.

“But he’s a big, strong fast guy now.”