I'm not usually an apologist for QB's, but Jason Campbell sure makes me look like one. I find myself using the same excuses everyone else uses when discussing this guy's struggles. But I have one excuse the other's rarely use, "square peg in a round hole". Average armed QB's like Joe Montana and Rich Gannon generally thrive in the WC system. But how many big armed QB's see success in the dink and dunk attack. I count one, Donovan McNabb. I hate seeing bright, talented guys like Campbell stuck trying to work against their best assets. Look for Campbell to end up elsewhere sooner than later if JZ can get Colt Brennan to set his feet before he throws the ball by season's end. For his sake, I hope so.
Even McNabb loses it in big games, though. Last week's stellar start against Texas' team was seriously deflated by McNabb's newest choke move, the double-clutch handoff. I consider Westbrook lucky in one respect. At least McNabb didn't McPuke on him.
Brodie Croyle. Doesn't that name sound like a gunslinger in a spaghetti western? Here's what it doesn't sound like, an NFL QB's name. But wait, once again, Herman has outdone himself. First Brodie, then Damon, now Tyler . . .wait, this isn't a western, it's an adult video.
I thought Duante Culpepper had lost his mind with his conspiracy theory retirement letter. Now I'm starting to believe him. You're gonna tell me that Tyler Thigpen gives a team a better chance to win than Duante Culpepper (in a wheelchair, even). For me, crippled Culpepper starts over a at least a half dozen of the flunkies calling signals in the NFL right now. Sorry JT O'Sullivan, Brodie Croyle, Jon Kitna, Chad Pennington, Tarvaris Jackson/Gus Frerotte Pod, Kerry Collins. Maybe the rap on Culpepper being a locker room devil is deserved. Collusion is all that makes sense right now.
No, I didn't include Joe Flacco or Matt Ryan in that group. They've proven nothing yet. Sure Ryan came back to earth last week, and Flacco will too. But both have demonstrated enough to inspire some hope.
This just in! In Jacksonville, Wayne Weaver burned a pile of money on a QB dinking and dunking behind the NFL's best running game last year. Can you say Kordell Stewart? What was Weaver thinking? Even Jerry Jones waited a few games into season two to spend big on Tony Romo, and Romo had proven that he could win games throwing. Garrard has only proven that he can lose games throwing.
Speaking of winning with his arm, Jay Cutler is probably a season away from being a top 3 QB. If he can handle a full season and diabetes, that is. The only thing I see wrong with Cutler's game this year is the "bowling ball-bomb shelter" phenomena. That's when QB's force passes because they think they can throw a bowling ball through a bomb shelter. Cutler's ability to throw (albeit with a different release) any ball with accuracy reminds me of Joe Namath.
Another guy who really impresses me is Philip Rivers. As LaDainan Tomlinson rides the fast track to obsolescence, the team is Rivers' now. Well he has his down spots, no QB gets as hot, for as long, as Rivers does. I still hate his delivery. But his delivery can buy and sell me, so that's that.
This just in! Only Al Davis manages to burn a pile of money on a rookie, after the rookie burns his first season holding out. Now, JaMarcus Russell is burning every offensive series for the Raiders. Did the Raiders not watch a second of film on this guy? He's neck and neck with Brodie Croyle for the "How the Hell Did I Get Drafted Award". I've never seen a QB less ready to play in the NFL than Russell. I swear, #2 isn't just staring down his first option, he's screaming "I'm throwing to him" at the top of his lungs too.
Wait a minute . . .Jeff Garcia still thinks he got shafted? Let me get this straight. He didn't notice that John Gruden picks a QB to be his whipping boy every year? He didn't notice that his replacement's biggest claim to NFL fame is smashing his head on a sidewalk during a bender? He didn't notice that DETROIT released him? Come on Jeff. Even Steve Bono had a couple good years. Let's move on.
Speaking of moving on, how many games before the Cleveland Brown (brown is plural) are Brady's bunch? I'm setting the over under at 4. Why? Because Romeo Crennell has no answers. Cleveland rode an explosive game to ten wins last year. But it had nothing to do with Crennell. I'm not saying Derek Anderson is a year-in, year-out pro bowler. But he's nowhere near as awful as the Brown (brown is plural) look after two games.
Yes, Matt Cassel won his first game. Let's hold off on the 2001 reprise for just a bit.
Three plays up close and three handoffs? I'm surprised that Broadway Brett didn't announce to the media that he needed some time to determine if he was coming back next game. . . I may not be the biggest Favramaniac, but I still can't get my arms around that one. There's no such thing as a $12mm decoy. Still, no matter who was playing QB, Mangina needs his head examined.
Chad Pennington? The other day I said, "My cat Milton's arm is a bazooka compared to Pennington's". My cat walked over, meowed with disgust and slashed me. He had a point. But seriously, watching Pennington's softballs sail softly is just sad now.
Marc Bulger has to be telling himself "I make $6mm for this" after every play.
No, I haven't said anything about Eli Manning.
Peyton, on the other hand, he has no fear of the spotlight. For all his puffy stats, though, I never had more respect for him than last week. Watching Manning get pounded and pick himself up after every play without quitting last week was the best performance I've ever seen from him. That's what winners do.
Ben Roethlisberger does that too. Unfortunately, the swinging gate Pittsburgh calls an offensive line doesn't appear to have hope in sight. Folks were questioning the OL in light of Alan Faneca's departure this year. They should have been questioning it since 2003. Despite having at least a respectable rushing attack year in and out, the Steelers haven't been pass-blocking for half a decade now. No one noticed that until this year, evidently. Maybe they should have checked BR's many trips to the injury list. "Ben" as the talking heads love to call him, has yet to play a full season (he even missed game 16 of his rookie year).
Did I mention Tony Romo? Why yes I did. Here's what you don't know. Any QB who bumbles and fumbles like Romo did last Monday and last year against Buffalo, has obviously made a deal with the Devil. Any QB who can't win a playoff game, hasn't read the fine print on his contract with Satan though.
Finally, Green Bay is quickly becoming Mr. Rogers neighborhood. I'm very interested to see how Mr. Rogers handles this week's test in the Tundra, though. I still think, no matter what, that GB made the right call in "moving on". Now let's see if they have the right guy with whom to move on.
Until next week!