Now that we’ve had some time to digest the results of last month’s NFL Draft, it’s time to start looking ahead to the 2010 season and some of the compelling storylines heading into the year. This week, we take a look at the landscape of the most important position in the league – quarterback. It was a busy offseason for signal callers, as numerous former Pro Bowl players changed addresses and the league welcomed in a deep class of rookies at the position. What follows are the five top quarterback-driven storylines as we prepare for OTAs and training camp, plus a few honorable mentions.
1. Donovan McNabb vs. Kevin Kolb
When the Eagles made the decision to trade Donovan McNabb to the Redskins in April, it propelled Kevin Kolb into the starting role in Philadelphia and created an indirect matchup that football fans – especially in Philadelphia – will be keeping an eye on all season. The Eagles gave up on McNabb, one of the greatest quarterbacks in franchise history, for a relatively unknown former second round pick in Kolb. Most Eagles fans welcomed the move, and recent comments from players like wide receiver DeSean Jackson indicate that the players do as well. What McNabb does in Washington will be compared to what Kolb does in Philadelphia on a weekly basis, and it may take the entire season (if not longer) to determine if the Eagles made the right move.
2. Ben Roethlisberger’s Suspension
While the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to stick with two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger after the sexual assault allegations against him in Georgia, the Steelers will be without him for up to the first six games of the season. The Steelers have a challenging early schedule, with games against Atlanta, Baltimore, and division rival Cleveland among those first six games, and if Roethlisberger’s suspension is served in full, he will return against the defending Super Bowl champion Saints in New Orleans. The Steelers will have to choose between backups Charlie Batch, Byron Leftwich, and Dennis Dixon to be stopgaps until Roethlisberger returns, but could the Steelers already be out of the playoff picture by then?
3. Immediate Impact Rookies
The 2010 Draft saw a number of highly touted rookie quarterbacks enter the league, many of whom could end up seeing significant playing time for their teams this season. With their release of veteran Marc Bulger, the Rams all but handed the starting job to number one overall pick Sam Bradford, which would make him the fifth rookie to be an opening day starter since 2008 (joining Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez, and Matthew Stafford). In Carolina, Matt Moore was named the team’s starting quarterback, but that was before the team drafted Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen, who could compete with Moore (and fellow rookie Tony Pike) for the starting job. The most hyped rookie quarterback, Tim Tebow, likely won’t start in Denver, but should see time in a Wildcat-like package for the Broncos. The fourth high-profile rookie, Colt McCoy, won’t see playing time in Cleveland if new team president Mike Holmgren has his way, but the former Texas star could be only two injuries away from hitting the field.
4. Replacing Kurt Warner
Matt Leinart’s career in Arizona has been the definition of disappointing. Leinart struggled early in his career, opening the door for Kurt Warner to take the reins in the desert and lead the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl appearance. With Warner’s retirement after the 2009 season, opportunity is knocking once again open for the former USC standout to reclaim the starting job. However, in a move that may be an indication of how the Cardinals feel about Leinart, the team signed former Cleveland Brown Derek Anderson to a two year contract for $7.25 million. The battle in Arizona may drag out through the entire preseason, and may come down to which quarterback can develop a better relationship with Larry Fitzgerald.
5. Quarterbacks on the Rebound
While 2010 will feature a number of rookie quarterbacks trying to prove themselves, there will also be a number of quarterbacks trying to prove themselves after having dismal 2009 campaigns. Jake Delhomme’s 2009 season was marred by injuries, turnovers, and constant reminders of his collapse against Arizona in the 2008-09 playoffs. Delhomme will try to rejuvenate his career as the new starting quarterback in Cleveland. Matt Hasselbeck also fought injuries and inconsistencies in 2009, and Seattle struggled to a 5-11 record and a top six draft pick. Jay Cutler is coming off a disastrous first season in Chicago, leading the league with 26 interceptions and leading many to question how much of his success was due in large part to Mike Shanahan, his former head coach in Denver. Some former starters looking for redemption haven’t even been able to find a team to take a chance on them, including Bulger, Daunte Culpepper, and JaMarcus Russell.
6. Honorable Mentions
Can Tom Brady stay healthy for an entire season and return to his record-setting 2008 form? Who will start in Denver – Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn, or Tebow? Which Vince Young will show up in Tennessee? Can anybody figure out how to stop Drew Brees? Is Chad Henne ready to be the franchise quarterback in Miami? And, of course, how long will we have to wait for an official decision from Brett Favre?
Josh Cohick
Halftime Huddle contributing writer
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