Q+a [jesse Palmer]

The Giants quarterback spent his off-season taking a pass at love as ABC's The Bachelor, which premieres on April 7.

SI: Before this experience, had you dated 25 different women?

Palmer: I've dated a lot but never 25 at the same time. The weirdest thing was walking in the first night and seeing 25 faces staring at you and 15 cameras around the room. That's when I remember thinking, What the hell did I just get myself into?

SI: What are you looking for in a mate?

Palmer: Strong arm. Ability to read coverages. Mobile in the pocket. And the ability to make a big play when the game is on the line.

SI: You're a 25-year-old professional athlete. Do you really need your own television show to meet women?

Palmer: Absolutely not. Dating has never been an issue. But I'm at a point right now where I'm ready to find someone to hopefully spend the rest of my life with. Being a professional athlete in the dating scene, I found that some women were with me more for what I did than who I was. One of the big things that drew me to the show was that the 25 women who signed up didn't know who I was or what I did.

SI: Did doing the show make you more of a romantic?

Palmer: I'm probably more of a romantic now, but the problem is, I think I'm cursed in a way because I'll never be able to even come close to matching the dates I went on again. Anybody who goes on a date with me and we go get a coffee is going to be disappointed after seeing the show [laughs].

SI: What other player would make a good Bachelor?