About Drew Brees and Hasselbeck

[gbrittain]

The two names most often mentioned on this board when talking about next years QB are Brees and Hasselbeck.

I have not seen either of these two play all that much, however I would be concerned about either of these two being the next Cowboys QB.

Lets get the obvious out of the way first. Matt Hasselbeck will either not be available due to franchise tag or he will come at a very high price.

Many have mentioned the history between Hasselbeck and BP, but is that not the same reason many speculated BP stayed away from Chris Simms?

Drew Brees will most likely remain a Charger due to San Diego not knowing what they have in Phillip Rivers. According to what I have read, the Chargers do have the Cap space to do exactly that.

The only way Dallas is getting their hands on Brees would be with draft picks.

Now to my main concern.

Matt Hasselbeck vs top 14 defenses in the league this year:
Tampa Bay 60.9
New England 59.5
Buffalo 61.8
Average 60.7

Drew Brees vs top 14 defenses in the league this year:
New York Jets 47.1
Denver 59.7
Jacksonville 116.0
Atlanta 91.7
Denver 46.2
Tampa Bay 96.3
Average 76.1

Drew Brees fairs a little bit better in this comparison, but Hasselbeck has only played three games versus top 14 defenses. This could hurt or help him, dont really know.

Again, I have not seen either one of these guys play to much. I know QB ratings do not always measure a QB accurately.

It appears to me that neither of these guys have shown anything to merit a big contract and the Cowboys giving up picks for them.

To me these guys are in the same bracket as a Brian Griese and remember how interested BP was in Griese?

If I were a betting man, I would almost guarantee at this point that neither one of these guys will be a Cowboy next year.

Which makes me wonder what in the world are the Cowboys going to do with the QB position next year?

One curious note, I heard on the radio some commentator mention to Moose Johnston that Hasselbeck appeared to have regressed this year. Moose Johnston replied something like this "I did not know he had ever progressed".

[Etonicas]

Lets get the obvious out of the way first. Matt Hasselbeck will either not be available due to franchise tag or he will come at a very high price.


Or they may use it on Walter Jones, no?

[gbrittain]

Or they may use it on Walter Jones, no?

Yes they could, and if they let Matt go in a QB starved league and let Dilfer lead the team next year that probably answers every thing I need to know about Hasselbeck.

[CowboyChris]

let me say this, we would be lucky to get Hasslebeck or Brees. that would a tremendous upgrade over the crap we have now, im sorta leaning to Brees even if it means we have to give up (1) of our 1st rounders, Brees has been in the league now 3-4 years and appears to be "getting it" now, and just exactly who do you think we could get? i damn sure dont want to start all over again with a rookie, and i damn sure dont want another re-tread ie..Brad Johnson, Drew Bledsoe or Rich Gannon type.

[godofwar]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm skeptical of Brees' success this season. Isn't this a contract year for him? If so, it's a bad sign to have such an increase in productivity on the eve of a big payday. How will he perform once he gets the cash? I for one, am not willing to pay one of our 1st round picks for him. I do not have statistical proof, but I think he was only marginally better (if at all) over the past few years, than what Vinny is this year. IIRC he tended to throw lots of picks.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a fan of Vinny. I'm also not a fan of a Vinny-play-alike, that will cost a crap-load of cash or picks.

[gbrittain]

let me say this, we would be lucky to get Hasslebeck or Brees. that would a tremendous upgrade over the crap we have now, im sorta leaning to Brees even if it means we have to give up (1) of our 1st rounders, Brees has been in the league now 3-4 years and appears to be "getting it" now, and just exactly who do you think we could get? i damn sure dont want to start all over again with a rookie, and i damn sure dont want another re-tread ie..Brad Johnson, Drew Bledsoe or Rich Gannon type.

I will agree that Hasselbeck or Brees would be an upgrade over Testaverde. Testaverde should never ever start another NFL game for any team again much less the Cowboys.

I would lean towards Brees as well. Again, I dont think the Chargers are going to part with Brees. Could be wrong, but I doubt it.

I agree with what you said about the retread part. I do not want anyone in the NFL that has over 10 years experience for sure.

The following is a list of QBs which are firmly entrenched as the QB of the present and the future for their respective teams:

* = QB not drafted by the team the QB plays for now
1. Patrick Ramsey Washington
2. Rex Grossman Chicago
3. Kyle Boller Baltimore
4. Steve McNair Tennessee
5. Michael Vick Atlanta
6. Carson Palmer Cinncinnati
7. Joey Harrington Detroit
8. Aaron Brooks New Orleans *
9. David Carr Houston
10. Byron Leftwich Jacksonville
11. Eli Manning NY Giants
12. Brett Favre Green Bay *
13. Marc Bulger St. Louis
14. Tom Brady New England
15. Chad Pennington NY Jets
16. Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh
17. Trent Green Kansas City *
18. Donovan McNabb Philadelphia
19. Drew Brees/Phillip Rivers San Diego
20. Peyton Manning Indianapolis
21. Daunte Culpepper Minnesota
22. Jake Delhomme Carolina *
23. Jake Plummer Denver *
24. Matt Hasselbeck Seattle *


Now look at the "settled" QB situations. Only six of the QBs were not drafted by the team they for now. Matt Hasselbeck, Aaron Brooks and Brett Favre were drafted by a different team but they had a grand total of 34 passes between three of them when they were traded. They were unknown commodities.

Down to three. These guys were true veterans. Actually that is not true, but I am going to let Jake Delhomme stay in this group. Jake Delhomme had played five years for the Saints and yet only thrown a grand total of 86 passes. In my opinion that in an unknown commodity, but given the five years in the league I will list him with the vets.

Down to two. Jake Plummer and Trent Green. Two veteran QBs who were let go by their former teams. Only one is any good. Jake Plummer remains just as inconsistent as the day he departed Arizona.

Trent Green is the only veteran QB who was let go and managed to establish himself as the future of another team.

On the other end of the spectrum you have those teams which do not have an established QB:

Unsettled QB situations:
1. Vinny Testaverde Dallas *
2. Drew Bledsoe Buffalo *
3. Kelly Holcomb Clevland *
4. Brian Griese Tampa Bay *
5. Kerry Collins Oakland *
6. Tim Rattay San Fransisco
7. Josh McCown Arizona
8. A.J. Feeley Miami *

Out of the eight teams with unsettled QB situations only two of them were drafted by the team they play for.

I would not be surprised to see Clevland, Oakland, San Fran, Arizona or Miami draft a QB with their #1 if they are in a position to do so this April.

Buffalo and Tampa Bay both have promising young QBs on their roster who could very well be their future in JP Losman and Chris Simms.

There are exceptions to every rule, but succesfull QBs are almost always developed by the team they play for and remain with that team for as long as they are in their prime.

Dallas needs to develop Drew Henson or draft their future, I am not in favor of other teams sloppy seconds.

History says most teams do not let good veteran QBs walk. If they are allowed to go like Plummer was let go you have to ask yourself...why?

[Sarge]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm skeptical of Brees' success this season. Isn't this a contract year for him? If so, it's a bad sign to have such an increase in productivity on the eve of a big payday. How will he perform once he gets the cash? I for one, am not willing to pay one of our 1st round picks for him. I do not have statistical proof, but I think he was only marginally better (if at all) over the past few years, than what Vinny is this year. IIRC he tended to throw lots of picks.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a fan of Vinny. I'm also not a fan of a Vinny-play-alike, that will cost a crap-load of cash or picks.

Newsflash - if you want a top tier QB, you'regonna have to pay a 'crap-load' of cash or picks."

The alternative is to do nothing.

[HTownCowboysFan]

Kitna is a guy I would look at as well. Kitna, Hasselbeck, someone of that like is what I'd be interested in. Someone who can come in here and start a year or two, while we develop Romo or Henson or perhaps both.

Plus I'd keep Vinny here to do what he was intended to do: be a backup. He's be great in that role and he is very good in tutoring young QBs.

[Jarv]

Newsflash - if you want a top tier QB, you'regonna have to pay a 'crap-load' of cash or picks."

The alternative is to do nothing.

Call me in the "Do nothing" group. Lets solidify the defense. Vinny will retire. I'm trusting the young guns, even if Bill is PUBLICALLY saying it, he does too.

Next years offense we have a better surrounding cast (which BP has been saying), heck just getting Glenn, Campbell and a full year of JJ...Vollers or Rogers at RT and Peterman in for Gouard at gaurd (say that 3 times fast)...

If Bill and Jerry go after a QB in the Spring, then they are going against their speak...Build a better surrounding cast. I truly like both of our young QB's.

[Woods]

Call me in the "Do nothing" group. Lets solidify the defense. Vinny will retire. I'm trusting the young guns, even if Bill is PUBLICALLY saying it, he does too.

Next years offense we have a better surrounding cast (which BP has been saying), heck just getting Glenn, Campbell and a full year of JJ...Vollers or Rogers at RT and Peterman in for Gouard at gaurd (say that 3 times fast)...

If Bill and Jerry go after a QB in the Spring, then they are going against their speak...Build a better surrounding cast. I truly like both of our young QB's.

But why not get a relatively young QB to challenge Henson/Romo? Someone who isn't going to break the bank.

Like McMahon, Bouman, etc.

We should have about $15-20mm under the cap. We can still fix the defense, add on offensive lineman, and pick up a couple of additional role players on offense.

[starfrombirth]

But why not get a relatively young QB to challenge Henson/Romo? Someone who isn't going to break the bank.

Like McMahon, Bouman, etc.

We should have about $15-20mm under the cap. We can still fix the defense, add on offensive lineman, and pick up a couple of additional role players on offense.

I like McMahon also but I think Detroit has refallen in love with him all over again. He won't go anywhere. Not as long as Harrington is struggling. :jints:

[Jimz31]

How ironic this whole thing is.....

I see people saying that "Let's pick up one of these other guys.....he can't be any worse than what we have now." Yet, this is the exact same thing that we all heard last year.

I am in no way convinced that Brees isn't just having "one of those years", like Maddox did a couple of years back.....Maddox had that year, got signed and pretty much regressed back to what he always was.
Has he turned that corner? If we pick him up, I certainly hope so.

[Kangaroo]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm skeptical of Brees' success this season. Isn't this a contract year for him? If so, it's a bad sign to have such an increase in productivity on the eve of a big payday. How will he perform once he gets the cash? I for one, am not willing to pay one of our 1st round picks for him. I do not have statistical proof, but I think he was only marginally better (if at all) over the past few years, than what Vinny is this year. IIRC he tended to throw lots of picks.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a fan of Vinny. I'm also not a fan of a Vinny-play-alike, that will cost a crap-load of cash or picks.
Brees stats are not bad you liek everyone else remember him struggling last year on a bad chargers team. yet the year before his 1st full season playing (he only threw 27 passes his rookie year) he played well. Do you guys remember when Bret Farve rode that roller coaster his 1st three years. I mean a lot of QB's have done that we only wish we had a QB that played decent the last 3 years. I will post brees stats and you do realize last year was a new coach and a new system for him. Funny a young QB has a system changed on him and he struggles at 1st. Then after all that name his wr from those years.

Year G GS Att Comp Pct Yards YPA TD Int Rate
01 1 0 27 15 55.6 221 8.19 1 0 94.8
02 16 16 526 320 60.8 3284 6.24 17 16 76.9
03 11 11 356 205 57.6 2108 5.92 11 15 67.5
04 14 14 369 241 65.3 2869 7.78 24 6 103.8

[ctalker]

I think Bress or Hasselback would be a good addition to the boys.

I think in Brees situation, he has really come into his own this year. He responded to the challenge when the Chargers drafted Rivers to replace him and stepped up his game when his career was on the line. Says a lot to me. I don't think the Chargers will let him go though.

Hasselback's problems could be blamed on his WR's. I haven't kept up lately but the first half of the season all they did was drop balls. I imagine his confidence is a little shaken and the team as a whole is just not playing well. Could be a good pickup if he is available.

[Eskimo]

The problem here is really cost. Are these guys worth $7-9M/year on a long-term deal? I would probably say yes to Hasselbeck but I'm not convinced about Brees.

I don't think either guy will hit FA in the end. Brees almost certainly will not and I'm betting that Hasselbeck won't either.

My preference is to go with Henson who has a higher upside than either of the above guys.

[CowboyChris]

My preference is to go with Henson who has a higher upside than either of the above guys.[/QUOTE]


there isnt any guarantees that Henson has a high upside, and to say Henson has a higher upside than Brees or Hasselbeck is just specualtion.