this is an article from the ny daily news by gary meyers......
QB or not QB
With training camp getting closer,
questions flying over quarterbacks
The NFL is all about the coaches and quarterbacks, jobs that require stability, but instead are overrun with volatility. There are 10 new head coaches and just as many questions about quarterbacks. With training camps opening at the end of next month, here are the top quarterback issues:
1. If everybody is healthy, how many new starters will there be in September?
Daunte Culpepper (Dolphins), Drew Brees (Saints), Philip Rivers (Chargers), Jon Kitna (Lions), Aaron Brooks (Raiders), Steve McNair (once he gets traded to the Ravens), Billy Volek (Titans) and perhaps Patrick Ramsey (Jets). The Titans, once they deal McNair, could sign ex-Giant Kerry Collins to compete with Volek. Or if Vince Young progresses rapidly, he could beat out Volek. It's J.P. Losman vs. Kelly Holcomb vs. Craig Nall in Buffalo. Blah. Rivers has incredible pressure: He's thrown 30 passes in two years and inherits a Super Bowl-ready team.
2. Will Peyton Manning ever get to the Super Bowl?
He's eight years into his career and said he plans to play 16. Double his stats and he will finish with more yards, TDs, attempts and completions than Dan Marino, who holds all those records. But double his Super Bowl appearances and he still has zero, one fewer than Marino.
Manning may never have a better chance than last season, when the Colts started 13-0 and the question wasn't whether they would win the Super Bowl, but whether they would do it undefeated. Instead, Indy lost in the divisional round and Manning now has a 3-6 playoff record. If he doesn't get to the Super Bowl, his career will have an asterisk.
3. Will Brees (shoulder), Culpepper (knee) and Carson Palmer (knee), all coming back from devastating injuries that required surgery, be starting their openers?
There's optimism all will be ready to go, but until they take their turn in practice and play in the preseason, it may just be wishful thinking. If Palmer makes it back for the Sept. 10 opener at Kansas City, it will be exactly eight months since his surgery, which is pretty quick. Clearly, their teams desperately need them, considering the backups: Anthony Wright, Doug Johnson and Dave Ragone (Bengals); Todd Bouman and Adrian McPherson (Saints); Joey Harrington (Dolphins).
4. How long before Terrell Owens gets in Drew Bledsoe's face?
The Cowboys open the season at 4:15 p.m. on Sept. 10 in Jacksonville. So, how does 4:30 sound? By the second week, Owens will be saying he'd rather be playing with Brett Favre. If T.O. didn't like playing with Donovan McNabb, how is he going to handle it when Bledsoe throws the ball at his feet?
5. Can Chad Pennington hold off Ramsey?
Ramsey never had a chance in Washington: Steve Spurrier didn't believe in protecting the quarterback and Joe Gibbs trusts only AARP card-carrying quarterbacks. Ramsey has journeyman ability, so if Pennington can show he can break a windshield with his fastball, he will be the QB.
6. What happens with McNair?
The Titans, in accordance with an arbitrator's ruling, must let him back into their facility to work out. That should expedite his trade to the Ravens. Tennessee needs to clear his $9 million salary from its cap to sign Vince Young and the other rookies. McNair has already worked out the contract that will pay him $12 million this season with Baltimore, the Bermuda Triangle for QBs.
7. Will Eli Manning take his game up a level?
He played his best game of '05 in the most adversarial conditions in San Diego in September. He regressed the second half of the season when he should have been improving. Still, he went from virtually inept rookie to 11-5 and a division championship in his second season, although the Giants won many games in spite of him. Manning will be a different player this year and take the Giants deep into the playoffs.
8. How long before Matt Leinart beats out Kurt Warner in Arizona, and Jay Cutler beats out Jake Plummer in Denver?
Warner can't catch a break. He thought this was his team. Then Leinart falls in the draft. If the Cardinals get off to a bad start in their new stadium, the fans are going to be calling for Leinart. Mike Shanahan managed Plummer perfectly last season until the AFC title game, when Jake The Snake imploded with four turnovers. The recent alleged road rage incident doesn't help Plummer's image. Cutler will be starting by '07.
9. Was McNabb damaged by the Owens fiasco?
McNabb always controlled the Eagles locker room. Getting dumped on by T.O. forced him to constantly defend himself. Considering Owens was trying to infuriate him, McNabb did a good job of not losing it. T.O.'s departure will hurt McNabb on the field, but help him off it. At least he can commiserate about T.O. with his new backup, Jeff Garcia. McNabb has recovered from hernia surgery, which forced him to miss the last seven games.
10. Which quarterback is going to become a star this season? Which QB should have retired?
Chris Simms, who led the Bucs to the playoffs after Brian Griese's knee injury, is ready to do more than manage the game. Brett Favre struggled with his decision to play his 16th season. "I'm not going to lie," he said. "I wonder if it's the right decision." When in doubt, retire. In the Packers' dreadful 4-12 season, Favre threw 29 INTs, 12 more than anybody else.
Late Hits
So far, no ex-Jets have shown up in Kansas City with Herm Edwards, but that may change. Ty Law, who tied for the NFL lead with 10 INTs in his one season playing for Edwards, could wind up in K.C. The Titans and Seahawks are also interested. Law is the biggest name still on the market.
The Dolphins aren't happy about letting Ricky Williams play in the CFL because of the fear of injury, but didn't want to deprive him the opportunity to make some money. Williams is getting $240,000 with a chance to increase that to $500,000. That will come in handy because he has three children with three different women to support and a fourth child on the way with the mother of one of his children.
Former Jets defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, out of work after Mike Tice was fired in Minnesota, interviewed last week for the NFL's VP of football operations, a job previously held by Raiders coach Art Shell. Former Texans GM Charley Casserly will interview this week.
Eagles oft-injured running back Brian Westbrook has been trying, with no luck, to get ahold of Tiki Barber, at the suggestion of Andy Reid, to talk to him about how he stays injury-free. They are about the same size. Barber takes incredible care of himself - physically and mentally. "Tiki's been big-timing me," Westbrook said. "He's been chintzy with his secrets." Barber acknowledged getting messages from Westbrook and plans to call him back. Maybe he should wait until after the season.
QB or not QB
With training camp getting closer,
questions flying over quarterbacks
The NFL is all about the coaches and quarterbacks, jobs that require stability, but instead are overrun with volatility. There are 10 new head coaches and just as many questions about quarterbacks. With training camps opening at the end of next month, here are the top quarterback issues:
1. If everybody is healthy, how many new starters will there be in September?
Daunte Culpepper (Dolphins), Drew Brees (Saints), Philip Rivers (Chargers), Jon Kitna (Lions), Aaron Brooks (Raiders), Steve McNair (once he gets traded to the Ravens), Billy Volek (Titans) and perhaps Patrick Ramsey (Jets). The Titans, once they deal McNair, could sign ex-Giant Kerry Collins to compete with Volek. Or if Vince Young progresses rapidly, he could beat out Volek. It's J.P. Losman vs. Kelly Holcomb vs. Craig Nall in Buffalo. Blah. Rivers has incredible pressure: He's thrown 30 passes in two years and inherits a Super Bowl-ready team.
2. Will Peyton Manning ever get to the Super Bowl?
He's eight years into his career and said he plans to play 16. Double his stats and he will finish with more yards, TDs, attempts and completions than Dan Marino, who holds all those records. But double his Super Bowl appearances and he still has zero, one fewer than Marino.
Manning may never have a better chance than last season, when the Colts started 13-0 and the question wasn't whether they would win the Super Bowl, but whether they would do it undefeated. Instead, Indy lost in the divisional round and Manning now has a 3-6 playoff record. If he doesn't get to the Super Bowl, his career will have an asterisk.
3. Will Brees (shoulder), Culpepper (knee) and Carson Palmer (knee), all coming back from devastating injuries that required surgery, be starting their openers?
There's optimism all will be ready to go, but until they take their turn in practice and play in the preseason, it may just be wishful thinking. If Palmer makes it back for the Sept. 10 opener at Kansas City, it will be exactly eight months since his surgery, which is pretty quick. Clearly, their teams desperately need them, considering the backups: Anthony Wright, Doug Johnson and Dave Ragone (Bengals); Todd Bouman and Adrian McPherson (Saints); Joey Harrington (Dolphins).
4. How long before Terrell Owens gets in Drew Bledsoe's face?
The Cowboys open the season at 4:15 p.m. on Sept. 10 in Jacksonville. So, how does 4:30 sound? By the second week, Owens will be saying he'd rather be playing with Brett Favre. If T.O. didn't like playing with Donovan McNabb, how is he going to handle it when Bledsoe throws the ball at his feet?
5. Can Chad Pennington hold off Ramsey?
Ramsey never had a chance in Washington: Steve Spurrier didn't believe in protecting the quarterback and Joe Gibbs trusts only AARP card-carrying quarterbacks. Ramsey has journeyman ability, so if Pennington can show he can break a windshield with his fastball, he will be the QB.
6. What happens with McNair?
The Titans, in accordance with an arbitrator's ruling, must let him back into their facility to work out. That should expedite his trade to the Ravens. Tennessee needs to clear his $9 million salary from its cap to sign Vince Young and the other rookies. McNair has already worked out the contract that will pay him $12 million this season with Baltimore, the Bermuda Triangle for QBs.
7. Will Eli Manning take his game up a level?
He played his best game of '05 in the most adversarial conditions in San Diego in September. He regressed the second half of the season when he should have been improving. Still, he went from virtually inept rookie to 11-5 and a division championship in his second season, although the Giants won many games in spite of him. Manning will be a different player this year and take the Giants deep into the playoffs.
8. How long before Matt Leinart beats out Kurt Warner in Arizona, and Jay Cutler beats out Jake Plummer in Denver?
Warner can't catch a break. He thought this was his team. Then Leinart falls in the draft. If the Cardinals get off to a bad start in their new stadium, the fans are going to be calling for Leinart. Mike Shanahan managed Plummer perfectly last season until the AFC title game, when Jake The Snake imploded with four turnovers. The recent alleged road rage incident doesn't help Plummer's image. Cutler will be starting by '07.
9. Was McNabb damaged by the Owens fiasco?
McNabb always controlled the Eagles locker room. Getting dumped on by T.O. forced him to constantly defend himself. Considering Owens was trying to infuriate him, McNabb did a good job of not losing it. T.O.'s departure will hurt McNabb on the field, but help him off it. At least he can commiserate about T.O. with his new backup, Jeff Garcia. McNabb has recovered from hernia surgery, which forced him to miss the last seven games.
10. Which quarterback is going to become a star this season? Which QB should have retired?
Chris Simms, who led the Bucs to the playoffs after Brian Griese's knee injury, is ready to do more than manage the game. Brett Favre struggled with his decision to play his 16th season. "I'm not going to lie," he said. "I wonder if it's the right decision." When in doubt, retire. In the Packers' dreadful 4-12 season, Favre threw 29 INTs, 12 more than anybody else.
Late Hits
So far, no ex-Jets have shown up in Kansas City with Herm Edwards, but that may change. Ty Law, who tied for the NFL lead with 10 INTs in his one season playing for Edwards, could wind up in K.C. The Titans and Seahawks are also interested. Law is the biggest name still on the market.
The Dolphins aren't happy about letting Ricky Williams play in the CFL because of the fear of injury, but didn't want to deprive him the opportunity to make some money. Williams is getting $240,000 with a chance to increase that to $500,000. That will come in handy because he has three children with three different women to support and a fourth child on the way with the mother of one of his children.
Former Jets defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, out of work after Mike Tice was fired in Minnesota, interviewed last week for the NFL's VP of football operations, a job previously held by Raiders coach Art Shell. Former Texans GM Charley Casserly will interview this week.
Eagles oft-injured running back Brian Westbrook has been trying, with no luck, to get ahold of Tiki Barber, at the suggestion of Andy Reid, to talk to him about how he stays injury-free. They are about the same size. Barber takes incredible care of himself - physically and mentally. "Tiki's been big-timing me," Westbrook said. "He's been chintzy with his secrets." Barber acknowledged getting messages from Westbrook and plans to call him back. Maybe he should wait until after the season.
