Arizona Cardinals fans thankful for Oakland Raiders' generosity

Dear Oakland Raiders:

It’s been a while since we talked, and as Cardinals fans, we hope this letter finds you in high spirits after beating Baltimore and eliminating 2.65 million Americans from survivor pools.

As we watched the Cardinals score 48 points last week at Soldier Field (the most ever against the Bears there!), it dawned on us that we have been remiss in not thanking you for the kindness you showed our franchise in 2013 and 2014.

Many football experts consider quarterback and left tackle two of the most important positions in the game. And to think, you helped us at both spots.

We know we would not be here – our team 2-0, atop the NFC West, practically in the playoffs for a second consecutive year – without Carson Palmer at quarterback and Jared Veldheer at left tackle.

And, please, don’t tell us that it wasn’t a big deal. It was to us!

For three seasons after Kurt Warner retired, we watched in anguish as our many quarterbacks tried to complete passes to our receivers.

It’s hard to throw a pass to Larry Fitzgerald that he can’t catch, but our guys managed it time and again.

And don’t get us started on left tackle. Do you know how hard we’ve been trying to find one? How long?

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But you came to our rescue, first on April, 2, 2013. You traded Carson Palmer and a seventh-round pick to us for a sixth-round pick in 2013 and a seventh-round pick in 2014.

Regarding Carson, we think our General Manager Steve Keim said it best this week on his weekly radio show: “He’s been a godsend for this organization.”

Most times, we don’t think God cares much about football. If he did, he wouldn’t have made us suffer so much from 1949 through 2007. What did we do to deserve that?

But watching Carson now, well, we’re thinking divine intervention brought him to the desert.

The Cardinals are 15-2 in his past 17 starts, including victories in the past eight. And to think, we got Carson and a seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth rounder and a seventh rounder.

We don’t write this to make you feel bad about the deal. It was good for both sides! Really.

The Cardinals took tight end D.C Jefferson with that seventh-round pick. He’s no longer in the league.

You parlayed that one sixth-round pick into two selections, running back Latavius Murray and tight end Mychal Rivera. Both are playing for you. And the seventh rounder, Shelby Harris, is on the practice squad.

So we have one player, Carson, left on the roster from that deal. And you have three! You win!

Your kindness did not end there. Not by a long shot.

Early in 2014, you decided not to place the franchise tag, or even the transition tag, on Jared. We know he missed 11 games in 2013 because of a triceps injury, but he wasn’t even 27 at the time.

Do you know what talented, young left tackles are worth in the NFL?

Of course you do. So you were kind enough to let Jared explore the free-agent market, untethered by the franchise or transition tag.

Our guy Keim, well he went to Jared’s (sorry) and signed him to a five-year, $35 million deal.

That would not have been possible without your help.

We thank you, because games are so much more enjoyable to watch now that our quarterback’s head isn’t whiplashing from blindside hits.

It looks like your organization is coming along, other than not having a decent place to play and all.

Your young quarterback, Derek Carr, shows promise. A fan could get used to watching him throw to that rookie receiver Amari Cooper for the next few years, huh?

Before we close, we just wanted to mention one thing we noticed when the Cardinals played you in the preseason. That No. 52 on your team, Khalil something or other? Just doesn’t seem like he fits your up-and-coming ball club.

As a favor, because we owe you, we could take him off your hands next spring. Think about it.

Sending you our best (because you sent us yours, lol),

Cardinals fans

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