Bengals GM: Palmer won't be traded

CINCINNATI, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Disgruntled Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer won't be traded, General Manager Mike Brown said Monday.

Brown confirmed to The Cincinnati Enquirer he had indeed fielded a request from Palmer to be traded but had personally nixed the idea.

"He is key to our plans, he's central to us," Brown told the newspaper. "He was told that and that we count on him going forward. He was told that we are not in a position to trade him."

Palmer agent Steve Dunn released a statement reiterating the quarterback "strongly feels that a separation is in order," but didn't elaborate further. Dunn noted Palmer and his wife were expecting their third child Monday.

Palmer led a pass-happy Bengals offense this season, setting a club record for pass attempts with 586, but also was picked off 20 times, with five returned for touchdowns, as Cincinnati stumbled to a 4-12 record.

For the season, he Carson Palmer completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 3,970 yards and 26 touchdowns. He had a rating of 82.4.