Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer is shouldering the blame for Arizona's lackluster 2016 season, but Kurt Warner doesn't think he's getting much help.
"I look at the wide receivers," Warner said Sunday on GameDay Morning. "I mean, John Brown, at one point last year he and (Larry Fitzgerald) were leading the National Football League in yards for a tandem. This year, I don't even know where John Brown is. And you talk about Michael Floyd -- aside from Larry Fitzgerald, they don't have anyone stepping up on the outside to help Carson Palmer.
"I agree that Carson isn't playing up to the level he was last year, but he needs some more help on the outside. (Running back) David Johnson has been incredible. Larry Fitzgerald is on a career pace at age 33, but they have to get more help around him if they're going to be able to turn this thing around."
For what it's worth, NFL Network's Marshall Faulk said he thought Palmer has yet to "get over the hump" after last year's playoff thrashing at the hands of the Carolina Panthers.
Outside of Fitzgerald (74 catches for 749 yards and five touchdowns), the Cardinals don't have another receiver with more than 30 catches. Brown is second on the team with 380 yards and a touchdown, while Michael Floyd has 26 grabs for 379 yards and three scores.
The frustrating part for Palmer and Bruce Arians is that the talent is there. Floyd has made some spectacular grabs this year and Brown is still a burner. Thanks to Johnson's pass-catching abilities out of the backfield, Arizona has the same type of potential as the underperforming Pittsburgh Steelers -- another team that we've waited all season to see explode. Against the Falcons on Sunday, Arizona (4-5-1) has one more chance to get a win over a quality opponent that could propel them down the stretch. According to Football Outsiders, their playoff odds have decreased to roughly 3.8 percent, with games against the Redskins, Dolphins, Saints and Seahawks left to play after this weekend.
Should their receivers turn it on, things could get interesting. If not, we may be talking about one of the great missed opportunities in football.
