After an unorthodox start to his NFL career, Terrelle Pryor will likely get to showcase his skills on the next level as the starting quarterback of the Oakland Raiders. Uncertainty still remains in terms of whether or not head coach Dennis Allen will start Pryor or Matt Flynn, but the writing appears to be on the wall with the Ohio State product set to get the start against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.
With Pryor likely stepping in to become the starter in Oakland, former teammate and friend, Carson Palmer, has been extremely supportive of his successor in Oakland saying the following about Pryor via Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com:
“I’m fired up for T.P.,” Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer told ESPN.com. “I know he has patiently waited for his opportunity and has never lost confidence or focus while sitting patiently. He has worked as hard, or harder, than every other starter in the league and I believe he will play with a passion and intensity that the entire Raider Nation will be proud of.”
The Raiders traded Palmer to the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL off-season after the veteran quarterback let it be known that he wasn’t willing to take a pay cut in order to play on a rebuilding team. Palmer left a bad taste in the mouths of many Raiders fans for forcing his way out of Oakland, but the team simply wasn’t willing to pay him $13 million with the team in rebuilding mode.
As for Pryor, the Ohio State product was a sponge in terms of soaking up all the knowledge he could from Palmer. Although Pryor is raw to say the least in terms of being a pocket passer like Palmer, the 24-year-old has impressed the coaching staff and may very well get the start on Sunday potentially starting another era at the quarterback position in Oakland.
