The new NFL season is turning into the Year of the Backup Quarterback.
As far back as May, we were told Patriots backup Jimmy Garoppolo would start the first four games of the regular season for the suspended Tom Brady. Garoppolo was a storyline for such a long time that we even learned how to spell his name. Then a federal judge upheld the ruling from the Court of Public Opinion that found Roger Goodell to be completely incompetent.
But not long after Brady was reinstated, other quarterbacks started going down. Jay Cutler injured his hamstring attempting to chase down his No1 receiver/an opposing defensive back. Tony Romo broke his collarbone. Drew Brees hurt his shoulder. Ben Roethlisberger got knocked out for more than a month. It seems half the starting quarterbacks in the league are one-time backups and/or McCown Brothers.
Yet all second-stringers are not created equal. While the Cowboys and Steelers are much worse off without the services of their number ones, other teams could be much improved if their backups dumped the clipboard and took the field. You never wish serious injury on anyone, but maybe a minor ankle sprain that allows the backup to get some action and the head coach to see the light? Sure.
We start where any discussion of quarterback replacement must always begin: Cleveland, Ohio, home of the extended quarterback jersey. In Week 1, Josh McCown started and the Browns lost. In Week 2, Johnny Manziel started in place of a concussed McCown and the Browns won. In Week 3, McCown returned to the lineup ... and? The Browns lost. To the Raiders. At home. Of course, it’s not exactly as analog as that sounds, but you do have to question the efficiency of the Browns offense with McCown at the controls.
There is also nothing McCown has done in his two games in a Cleveland uniform that has changed anyone’s mind that the Browns were (characteristically) foolish-to-bordering-on-insane to rush out at the start of free agency last March to get a now-36-year old quarterback with a 17-32 career record and a QB rating in the mid-70s to put his name on a three-year contract. It was Cleveland’s acquisition of Jake Delhomme all over again, except McCown isn’t even half the quarterback Delhomme was.
The Browns aren’t a team that simply needed a steadying veteran presence in the huddle to see them become Super Bowl contenders. They have a long way to go. They may as well see what they have in the new/rehabbed Manziel. Or if they have no confidence in him, get 26-year old third-stringer Austin Davis some action. Davis isn’t a known quantity yet. McCown, unfortunately, very much is. He’s a player that will only see Cleveland continue to lose. And let’s not pretend that he has shown the ability to handle sustained losing very well.
Now to a franchise whose continued existence should make the entire NFL cry – well, teams who have them on their schedule excluded: Dan Snyder’s Wonderful Washington Disaster.
First, an obvious fact: Robert Griffin III has not played good football since 2012. Whether from poor coaching, Griffin’s supposed unwillingness to put in the work required of an NFL starter, or the crushing failure that pervades Snyder’s organization – or a combination of all of those and maybe some karma related to the team name – it became clear that RGIII was not the franchise savior many thought he would be three years ago. So we’re all in agreement then, yes? Robert Griffin III: not a star quarterback. OK. Good.
But, ooh, boy: Kirk Cousins is much worse. A lot worse. Completely worse.
Cousins has twice the turnover ability as Griffin with none of the upside. Griffin may not be the answer in DC unless the question is: “Who should start at scout team safety?” But Cousins isn’t either. That leaves Colt McCoy. Is McCoy, one of the names on that Cleveland Browns extend-o jersey, the long-term solution? Nope. But he gives Washington a better shot than Cousins and, at 1-2 in a division that currently features Brandon Weeden and Sam Bradford (and Eli Manning’s magical inconsistency), McCoy could actually give his team a chance in the NFC East.
It’s time to give McCoy a big hug, Washington, and tell Cousins that “No means no.”
Oh, right. Weeden and Bradford.
Through three games this season, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford has more interceptions than touchdowns, a 72.5 quarterback rating, a 24.4 QBR, a 62.4 completion percentage and a losing record. Last year in 10 games with the Eagles, Mark Sanchez had more touchdowns than interceptions, an 88.4 quarterback rating, a 59.4 QBR, a 64.1 completion percentage and a .500 record. I’m not a fraction of the football genius that Chip Kelly is, but I am able to say that every available statistic says Sanchez performed much better at the controls of Philadelphia’s up-tempo whatever it is that they’re trying to do. That .500 football Sanchez is so adept at playing – he’s 37-33 in his career – could be enough to win the NFC East this year.
That said, it’s also true that handing his franchise to The Sanchise so soon would be akin to Kelly admitting all of his many offseason maneuverings failed. And he may not be ready to do that until later in the season when some big-time college football jobs open up. So it will be more Bradford for now, while the superior Mark Sanchez (that’s a phrase I’ve never written before) stands on the sidelines.
Pulled from the Dallas sidelines two weeks ago to takeover for the injured Romo, Weeden surprised many by not single-handedly losing the game for his team on Sunday. It was the Dallas defense who was to blame. (Way to step up when you were needed, guys!) Weeden completed 22-of-26 passes with only one (admittedly quite awful) interception and he didn’t even get caught under a flag – all of which shows he has improved over the years. But compare Jerry Jones’ pregame comments on Weeden (“You won’t see a more gifted passer”) to his postgame comments (“I think we have something to work with.”). Don’t be surprised to see the newly-acquired Matt Cassel on the field soon wearing the star, if not exactly playing like one.
Then there is the Bears. Oh, Bears. Say this for Jimmy Clausen: he didn’t turn the ball over on Sunday. He also didn’t cross midfield much either, throwing for 63 yards in a 26-0 home loss to Seattle. The only other option the Bears have until Jay Cutler returns is rookie David Fales, but the sixth-round pick out of San Jose State probably isn’t quite ready for NFL action.
That would sound so fitting for Chicago, though: “Here’s the new Bears quarterback ... FALES.”
And, really, could Fales fail more than this?
Make the move, Chicago.
