DC.COM: Blog: The Backup Quarterback Market

[Cbz40]

The Backup Quarterback Market
Posted by rphillips at 2/9/2009 5:14 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com

Last Friday I tossed out a few veteran quarterbacks who likely will be looking for work later this month. You can cross off Luke McCown; he's re-signing with Tampa Bay. I didn't mention Kurt Warner, because he's probably either retiring or re-signing with Arizona. I didn't mention Jeff Garcia because, well, I bet you'll see Shaq-Kobe and Torre-Steinbrenner reunite before Garcia and T.O. play on the same team again.

Warner and Garcia also aren't the type of guys who would come to Dallas, assuming the Cowboys will in fact pursue another veteran backup this off-season (Brooks Bollinger is a free agent and there's strong speculation Brad Johnson might be let go).

Sure, Warner's at the top of the free-agent list, but he wants to start. So does Garcia. So does Kerry Collins. So does Byron Leftwich, who might get a real opportunity somewhere. That's what Daunte Culpepper wanted last year.

Tony Romo might have a growing stable of critics, but his job is safe. The organization is invested in him both faithfully and financially. He does need to cut down on his turnovers and the Cowboys need him to stay healthy.

But a mid-round draft pick, if the Cowboys go that route, isn't going to challenge him in camp. They really need a capable veteran behind Romo, but finding the right fit is difficult because quarterbacks of a certain caliber want a real chance to compete for playing time. I just can't see that happening here.

The Cowboys thought Johnson was the right fit, but that just hasn't worked out.

-Rob Phillips

 

[Wrangler87]

Great blog. Telling us who it won't be is easy. How about some possibilities.

I think you can put Simms at the top of the list. I think Kitna will be available.

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

The Backup Quarterback Market
Posted by rphillips at 2/9/2009 5:14 PM CST on truebluefanclub.com

Last Friday I tossed out a few veteran quarterbacks who likely will be looking for work later this month. You can cross off Luke McCown; he's re-signing with Tampa Bay. I didn't mention Kurt Warner, because he's probably either retiring or re-signing with Arizona. I didn't mention Jeff Garcia because, well, I bet you'll see Shaq-Kobe and Torre-Steinbrenner reunite before Garcia and T.O. play on the same team again.

Warner and Garcia also aren't the type of guys who would come to Dallas, assuming the Cowboys will in fact pursue another veteran backup this off-season (Brooks Bollinger is a free agent and there's strong speculation Brad Johnson might be let go).

Sure, Warner's at the top of the free-agent list, but he wants to start. So does Garcia. So does Kerry Collins. So does Byron Leftwich, who might get a real opportunity somewhere. That's what Daunte Culpepper wanted last year.

Tony Romo might have a growing stable of critics, but his job is safe. The organization is invested in him both faithfully and financially. He does need to cut down on his turnovers and the Cowboys need him to stay healthy.

But a mid-round draft pick, if the Cowboys go that route, isn't going to challenge him in camp. They really need a capable veteran behind Romo, but finding the right fit is difficult because quarterbacks of a certain caliber want a real chance to compete for playing time. I just can't see that happening here.

The Cowboys thought Johnson was the right fit, but that just hasn't worked out.

-Rob Phillips

Ok.... So what's the point of this? Telling us who isn't available? There wasn't a name in the blog that I would've wanted anyway.

 

[5Countem5]

Another journalist saying TO will stay.

 

[CowboyMike]

Great blog. Telling us who it won't be is easy. How about some possibilities.

I think you can put Simms at the top of the list. I think Kitna will be available.

You seriously want Kitna? Tell me you're joking.

Keep that ******* as far away from The Star as possible.

 

[Future]

Ok.... So what's the point of this? Telling us who isn't available? There wasn't a name in the blog that I would've wanted anyway.

Uh, I'd kill to have Warner or Garcia as a backup.

 

[Aikbach]

Garcia ain't going to be in a locker room with TO again, Warner is either staying in Arizona or retiring he has stated, Collins is a long shot as he made Tennessee 13-3 last season so why would hey part?

Bring on the Chris Simms rumors, I tell you what it is getting more difficult to name people's backups in this league, remember when backups were household names? They were veteran players past their prime that were once greats or at least good.

In 1992 the backup quarterbacks in the NFC East were:

Dallas- Steve Beurlein
Filthy- Jim McMahon
Was- Stan Humphries
NYG- Jeff Hostetler

Some guy named Montana was riding the bench in San Fran as well.


Now the cream of the crop is Kerry Collins who in reality starts for washout Vince Young.

 

[followthestar]

A good backup like Garcia would probably have won us a couple more games last year, but he won't come here because we have TO. In that case, I would say cut TO and sign Garcia...

 

[Clove]

A good backup like Garcia would probably have won us a couple more games last year, but he won't come here because we have TO. In that case, I would say cut TO and sign Garcia...

A good QB is the hardest thing to find, you have a lot of frauds out there who will give you a good year, I hope we don't have one on our team.

 

[Arch Stanton]

Another journalist saying TO will stay.

You can't believe anything they say.

 

[Thick 'N Hearty]

Uh, I'd kill to have Warner or Garcia as a backup.

If Warner continues to play, which he hasn't decided yet, he will stay in Arizona and be the starter. No way he would want to leave there to be a backup in Dallas. He showed he still has the skills to be a starter, and that won't happen here.

TO will keep Garcia from coming here, so I don't see that happening.

 

[Oh_Canada]

I still think Boller is the right fit. He might pose just enough of a threat to keep Tony motivated and is good enough to win some games if the team needs him.

 

[justbob]

You seriously want Kitna? Tell me you're joking.

Keep that ******* as far away from The Star as possible.

I'll second that motion

 

[DeepBleu]

joey harrington. he is an unrestricted free agent, and we can do a lot worse than harrington. just look at last year, who would you rather have?

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

A good backup like Garcia would probably have won us a couple more games last year, but he won't come here because we have TO. In that case, I would say cut TO and sign Garcia...

Cut TO and sign Garcia...EXACTLY what I was thinking. Garcia is the type of mobile QB this team need to backup and push Romo.

I also like Chris Simms as a darkhorse at hte #3 QB spot becasuse I recently heard an interview with his Dad, Phil Simms, who said that he was convinced his son's NFL career was over due to injury, but that he was impressed how he battled back to still have a chance. The work ethic and mental toughness are "there" according to his dad, because he has proven that with actions.

He also said that his son's arm strength had finally returned back to the same level it was befoe the splen injury; that the kid really has put in the necessary overtime to get himself back to form and compete. So basically, his phisical attributes are back and he's ready to compete for a starter spot.

So if we could, I would like Dallas to dumb Brooks Bolling-whatever, bring in a backup like Garcia, and take a chance on Chris Simms at the #3 spot. It's time to upgrade the ebtire position, and Garcia is the catalyst in all this because he could start if Romo continues to go "Jessica Simpsoon" on the filed.

 

[CATCH17]

You seriously want Kitna? Tell me you're joking.

Keep that ******* as far away from The Star as possible.

I think Kitna would be a great backup.

He has a ton of experience and has had some success in this league.

We should draft a QB, cross our fingers and hope we get lucky with that, and bring Kitna in as a backup.

Chris Simms is also a great canidate too and he has proven he can be very solid at this level.

I still think Boller is the right fit. He might pose just enough of a threat to keep Tony motivated and is good enough to win some games if the team needs him.

Another guy who can be a solid backup for us. I think the Ravens gave up on him a little early too but its not like they didn't have a choice.

 

[lcharles]

I would not mind Kitna, other than the fact he ran his mouth about us when detroit beat us.


Hey, if we can let a guy crap on our star, then become the focal point of our team, a Kitna signing would be easy to swallow.

That being said, I like the thoughts of Boller too.

 

[wileedog]

Cut TO and sign Garcia...EXACTLY what I was thinking. Garcia is the type of mobile QB this team need to backup and push Romo.

Garcia has played almost his entire career in a WCO. I don't think he's a great fit for Red's "everyone run straight upfield as fast as you can" offense.

Hopefully we can change that too though.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

Garcia has played almost his entire career in a WCO. I don't think he's a great fit for Red's "everyone run straight upfield as fast as you can" offense.
Hopefully we can change that too though.

 

[Stash]

Two guys who intrigue me are Tim Couch and Alex Smith. Both have medical questions but if either checks out physically I like either to back-up Romo.

But I'm not sure on either's current status.