To contrast with the five starters that should be backups, here is a list of five backup quarterbacks who could easily start for a team in the NFL, in reverse order:
5. Kevin Kolb (Philadelphia Eagles)
He started two games while Donovan McNabb was out, and had phenomenal games. The first game he completed 60.8% of his passes for 391 yards and two touchdowns. The second game, he completed 70.6% of his passes for 327 yards. Two more touchdowns. No picks.
4. Byron Leftwich (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
He looked bad in the first three games with Tampa Bay, because the team is horrible, mainly the offensive line. You have to look at his years with Jacksonville, or his year with Pittsburgh just last season to know this guy makes a great quarterback. All he needs is a strong o-line and he’s deadly. Put him in a team like the Denver Broncos; I think he’d do better than Kyle Orton.
3. Seneca Wallace (Seattle Seahawks)
This guy is regularly called upon to replace an oft-injured Matt Hasselbeck, or even alongside Hasselbeck in a wildcat formation. Wallace is accurate and mobile as well. He’d make a great starter for a team with great receivers but a struggling offensive line.
2. Sage Rosenfels (Minnesota Vikings)
Sage Rosenfels is good. He was the best QB the Texans had ever seen, even including the early days of the Matt Schaub era. The Vikings entrusted their season’s success to him this year, although the second coming of Brett Favre has put a hold on the Rosenfels era. But Tarvaris Jackson should NOT start. Rosenfels should. After Favre is done for good, of course.
1. Daunte Culpepper (Detroit Lions)
I honestly don’t know why the Lions chose to start rookie Matthew Stafford this year. They are setting him up for failure. And the numbers show that Culpepper is much better: Stafford has thrown 3 TD’s and 6 picks. Culpepper 1 and 1. Stafford took 10 sacks against the Redskins and Bears. Culpepper took 7 against the Steelers. Against the Saints in week 1, Stafford completed 43.2% of his passes. Against a better defense, the Steelers, Culpepper completed 62.2% of his passes. Daunte Culpepper is not the beast he used to be in Minnesota, but he’s still a starter.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
This list is waay off. Firstly, Culpepper lost in a starting battle to Stafford because he’s simply not as good. Second, Leftwich has PROVEN he can’t start. Third, where is Chad Henne on this list? He’s the one guy who actually IS starting.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
And where is VINCE YOUNG??
November 29th, 2009 at 1:22 am
Kolb is a good backup, not starting.