If you don’t remember Jesse Palmer’s blink-and-you-miss-it “career” with the New York Giants, you’re not alone. But as someone that lived and breathed for Kerry Collins every Sunday growing up, Palmer’s paltry 3 TDs and 4 INTs are still lodged somewhere in the recesses of my brain. By the way, that’s career stats, over eight games.

Reality television fans may remember him better as the first non-American Bachelor. His relationship with the lucky lady didn’t work out.

So what is he up to now? Well, he’s taking a second crack at co-hosting Live! With Kelly Ripa. And you know what? He isn’t too shabby.

I managed to catch a few segments of the show this morning, and I was impressed. On the Live! website, Palmer is cited as a “college football analyst” only, no NFL career or Bachelor credentials in sight, and it’s probably for the best. He looked professional, and was engaging.

Was he clearly the second-fiddle to Kelly Ripa, whose personality is big enough to hold up the show on her own even in the post-Regis era? Yes. But did he embarrass himself by forgetting anyone’s name? No way, that’s so 2004.

He’ll be cohosting tomorrow, if you’re interested. Here is a clip of the first 15 minutes of this morning’s show, which seems to be the time where Kelly actually lets her co-hosts shine. After that, the day’s guests start parading in and the carousel of co-hosts is relegated to the background.

Well done, Mr. Palmer, well done.