DC.COM: Blog: The Backup Quarterback Market

[Future]

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.

Doesn't mean I wouldn't still I want them here...I know its like 1 in a billion.

You originally said there wasn't a name there you would want.

 

[WoodysGirl]

DMN spin

A glance at the free-agent backup QB market
10:13 AM Tue, Feb 10, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips

Todd Archer mentioned that the Cowboys are likely to look to the free agent market to find a backup for Tony Romo (and should draft another QB in the mid- to late rounds). There are plenty of candidates to hold a clipboard who would be much better than soon-to-be-released Brad Johnson if pressed into duty.

A look at some of the Cowboys' potential targets, in alphabetical order:

Charlie Batch: Ex-Lions starter went 3-1 as Ben Roethlisberger's fill-in over the last four years. He'd be a safe option, in the sense that he knows his days as a starter are done. He's 34 years old and coming off a broken collarbone.

Kyle Boller: He's a former first-round pick with a rocket arm who is only 27 years old. He's considered a bust, but his career numbers aren't awful (20-22 as a starter, 45 TD, 44 INT). Accuracy (56.9 comp. pct.) is his biggest problem.

Jeff Garcia: Obviously, this would only work if T.O. is gone. He turns 39 this month, but he still has his mobility and had a 90.2 QB rating as the Bucs' primary starter this season. He was outstanding in a backup role for the Eagles in 2006 (after T.O. got booted from Philly). The Eagles went 5-1 after Donovan McNabb went down and won a wild-card game.

Rex Grossman: A 28-year-old former first-round pick who makes Romo look cautious with the ball. Great arm but poor decision making (54.2 comp. pct., 3.6 INT pct.) Threw for 3,193 yards and 23 TDs during the Bears' Super Bowl season in 2006, his only full season as a starter. Bad mouthed Wade Wilson after the QB coach left Chicago to return to Dallas, so this is a long shot at best.


Byron Leftwich: The seventh overall pick in the 2003 draft will try to find a team that wants him to compete for a starting job. Was solid in backup duty for the Steelers after signing during the 2008 season. Big arm, but has a slow release and lacks mobility, which is a scary combination when aging Flozell Adams is protecting your blind side.

J.P. Losman: Another 27-year-old former first-round pick. Threw for 3,000 yards with 19 TDs in 2006 but lost the starting job to Trent Edwards after getting hurt the next season. Like Romo, his mobility is one of his biggest strengths.

Chris Simms: The Cowboys considered trying to trade for the Texas-ex before Tampa Bay released him, but Jason Garrett convinced Jerry Jones to stick with Johnson. Simms, a 28-year-old, strong-armed lefty, landed in Tennesse and held a clipboard while watching Kerry Collins. He went 6-4 as a starter for the Bucs in 2005, throwing for 2,035 yards and 10 TDs.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

DMN spin

A glance at the free-agent backup QB market
10:13 AM Tue, Feb 10, 2009 | Permalink | Yahoo! Buzz
Tim MacMahon E-mail News tips

Todd Archer mentioned that the Cowboys are likely to look to the free agent market to find a backup for Tony Romo (and should draft another QB in the mid- to late rounds). There are plenty of candidates to hold a clipboard who would be much better than soon-to-be-released Brad Johnson if pressed into duty.

A look at some of the Cowboys' potential targets, in alphabetical order:

Charlie Batch: Ex-Lions starter went 3-1 as Ben Roethlisberger's fill-in over the last four years. He'd be a safe option, in the sense that he knows his days as a starter are done. He's 34 years old and coming off a broken collarbone.

Kyle Boller: He's a former first-round pick with a rocket arm who is only 27 years old. He's considered a bust, but his career numbers aren't awful (20-22 as a starter, 45 TD, 44 INT). Accuracy (56.9 comp. pct.) is his biggest problem.

Jeff Garcia: Obviously, this would only work if T.O. is gone. He turns 39 this month, but he still has his mobility and had a 90.2 QB rating as the Bucs' primary starter this season. He was outstanding in a backup role for the Eagles in 2006 (after T.O. got booted from Philly). The Eagles went 5-1 after Donovan McNabb went down and won a wild-card game.

Rex Grossman: A 28-year-old former first-round pick who makes Romo look cautious with the ball. Great arm but poor decision making (54.2 comp. pct., 3.6 INT pct.) Threw for 3,193 yards and 23 TDs during the Bears' Super Bowl season in 2006, his only full season as a starter. Bad mouthed Wade Wilson after the QB coach left Chicago to return to Dallas, so this is a long shot at best.


Byron Leftwich: The seventh overall pick in the 2003 draft will try to find a team that wants him to compete for a starting job. Was solid in backup duty for the Steelers after signing during the 2008 season. Big arm, but has a slow release and lacks mobility, which is a scary combination when aging Flozell Adams is protecting your blind side.

J.P. Losman: Another 27-year-old former first-round pick. Threw for 3,000 yards with 19 TDs in 2006 but lost the starting job to Trent Edwards after getting hurt the next season. Like Romo, his mobility is one of his biggest strengths.

Chris Simms: The Cowboys considered trying to trade for the Texas-ex before Tampa Bay released him, but Jason Garrett convinced Jerry Jones to stick with Johnson. Simms, a 28-year-old, strong-armed lefty, landed in Tennesse and held a clipboard while watching Kerry Collins. He went 6-4 as a starter for the Bucs in 2005, throwing for 2,035 yards and 10 TDs.

Thanks WG. I certainly wouldn't lose any sleep over Losman or Simms. Pretty good back-up material at this stage in their careers.

 

[Stash]

Thanks WG. I certainly wouldn't lose any sleep over Losman or Simms. Pretty good back-up material at this stage in their careers.

I think Losman has similar traits to Romo (both good and bad) and wouldn't be a bad fit as a backup.

Although given his age, I'd think Losman still envisions himself a starter and might not embrace a backup role.

 

[theebs]

I am sure Wade Phillips would love to have a scrambling qb who has all the talent but doesnt use it, seems to not get along with his teammates, makes poor decisions and is from buffalo!!!!!!!!

Sounds like someone else he had an on his team once upon a time.

 

[Arch Stanton]

I think I read somewhere that the Bills were going to resign Losman.

I'd take him if they don't.

 

[Woods]

I'd be o.k. with Batch, C Simms, Grossman (though unlikely), Losman, and even Kitna.

Heck, all these guys are an upgrade over B Johnson at this stage.

 

[skinsscalper]

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.

I wouldn't mind Warner coming in under the understanding that there will be a true battle for the starting QB Position. If Tony's the guy he wins. If not..........


It wouldn't happen anyway. Warner is going to cost a pretty penny and Ware needs to be signed. With that being said a legitimate battle for the starting QB position would only be good for Tony and the Cowboys (I am a Romo fan, btw).

 

[WoodysGirl]

I'd be o.k. with Batch, C Simms, Grossman (though unlikely), Losman, and even Kitna.

Heck, all these guys are an upgrade over B Johnson at this stage.

I don't want Grossman anywhere near the 'boys.

Batch will probably re-sign with Pitt.

I think Titans want to re-sign Simms, too.

Losman would be interesting, but I think he wants to start and there are some opportunities out there for him.

 

[Randy White]

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

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

Why ? He's a great back up.

As a matter of fact, he might be THE perfect back up QB for the Cowboys.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

I'm sick of this stuff. We can't try for Garcia because T.O. is here; we can't try for Grossman because his old QB coach, Wade Wilson, whom he can't stand, is here. God forbid we go after Chris Simms because he's the guy Garrett talked Jerry out of signing last year, just to save Brad Johnson's job. But yet, the Cowboys just mentioned - Garrett, Johnson, Wilson, T.O., are 4 names athat I directly associate with Dallas' problems on offense - yet they're all still here, and staying put it seems. Great!

At this rate, our next backup QB will be Leftwitch, because like Brad Johnson (or dare I say, Drew "the human statue" Bledsoe - remeber him?), Leftwich has good size but ZERO mobility and sub-par accuracy. So that's who we'll sigh - just watch!

 

[Randy White]

J.P. Losman: Another 27-year-old former first-round pick. Threw for 3,000 yards with 19 TDs in 2006 but lost the starting job to Trent Edwards after getting hurt the next season. Like Romo, his mobility is one of his biggest strengths.

Poor man's Romo. If he dated Brittney Spears, then he'd REALLY fit in.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

I wouldn't mind Simms, Kitna, or someone like that with some experience to be the backup.

 

[Funxva]

Kitna is a knucklehead. Too classless for his own good.

Simms, I'm on that bandwagon.