Palmer draws comparisons to Lamonica

It starts with the number, really.A number so stark, so simple, so, well, prime it stands out on its own while drawing the inevitable comparisons.Carson Palmer rocks No. 3 for the Raiders. Same as another statuesque-in-the-pocket, vertical game-loving gun slinger from Silver and Blackdom lore. But the similarities between Palmer and Daryle Lamonica don't end there, with both guys wearing the same digit on their jersey.Yeah, yeah, I know, a lot of people tried to tie Todd Marinovich to Kenny Stabler 20 years ago, not only for their predilection for the number 12, but for their night-owl ways. Turns out that was not a fair comparison. To either man.But when it comes to what Palmer offers the Raiders and what Lamonica provided Oakland in those glorious AFL days, the similarities have a lot of old school Raiders fans experiencing some major deja vu.Mad Bomber Redux? As reader "HBeach" suggests, how about the Mad Palmer?Four times Lamonica ranked among the top 10 in his league in pass attempts in a season, same as Palmer. Same thing goes for passes completed.For his time, Lamonica was the quintessential strapping signal caller, standing 6-feet-3 and weighing 215 pounds. His single-season high for touchdown passes was the 34 he threw in 1969.Palmer is 6-5, 230 pounds and his career-high of 32 TD passes came in 2005, for the Cincinnati Bengals.Lamonica played his college ball at Notre Dame; Palmer wanted to go to Notre Dame but won the Heisman Trophy at the Fighting Irish's blood rival, USC.Lamonica was a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro; Palmer has been to two Pro Bowls.Both were born in Fresno.No, we're not talking Lincoln being shot in Ford's Theater and Kennedy being shot in a Lincoln, made by Ford, or even about former Oakland offensive lineman Lincoln Kennedy's job description of protecting Raiders quarterbacks.But the similarities between Lamonica and Palmer are strikingright? And they all start with the number 3.