The Raiders have one quarterback with (for now) a $13 million base salary and another with a third-year minimum base salary. G.M. Reggie McKenzie said on Friday’s Pro Football Talk that either could be the team’s starter this year.”
We’re going to have a competition not only at that position, we’re going to have it up front on the O-line, we’re going to have it everywhere and that’s why we want to open this thing to, we want to open the doors for everybody, just come out and compete, whatever happens happens,” McKenzie said.
Asked to clarify whether that means Terrelle Pryor could be the Week One starter over Carson Palmer, McKenzie minced no words: “Well if he wins the job, he could be and that’s what competition is all about.”
Since both players are under contract for 2013, McKenzie and the Raiders don’t have to worry about using the franchise tag on either guy in the coming nine days. McKenzie opted not to talk about which of this year’s eligible players could be tagged.
“I’m gonna have a poker face on that one,” McKenzie said. “I’m not a great poker player, but I can play Old Maid. We’ll continue to meet on stuff like that but we kind of keep those things kind of internal and we leave it at that.”
Ultimately, they’ll be able to make it harder for at least one player to leave. Along the way, plenty of others could be asked to do so voluntarily. Including Palmer.