Quarterback. The most important position in American sports today. I say American sports because I don’t know nearly enough about cricket or jai alai or lacrosse or any other sports more popular abroad then in the United States. In fact, in American sports, the only position that even approaches the importance of the quarterback is baseball’s pitcher. But then, a good pitcher can only really help out his team in, maybe, a quarter of their games all season. In fact, a 20 win season for a pitcher is considered phenomenal. 20 wins”¦ out of 162. Which works out to twelve percent. The winningest pitcher in the major league as of today is Curt Schilling. He has 18 wins. Mariano Riviera, the most dominant closer in the game today, has shut the game down 46 times. He might hit fifty by the end of the year. That’s still only a third.
A great quarterback, on the other hand, is generally out there for 100 percent of their games. Every game he’s in, he affects. If he has a bad day, the team has a bad day. If he has a career game (See also: Favre, Brett on the Monday Night after his father died) the team wins. If he has a breakout season (See also: Kitna, Jon 2004 season) a traditionally .250 or less team makes the playoffs.
A football team revolves around its quarterback.
So where does that leave the teams in the 2004 season?
At the end of the day, I see five quarterbacks making a splash this year, with 2 or 3 dark horses that can go either way.
Brett Favre
Brett is playing for two reasons this season. First, because he is the modern day personification of the Green Bay Packers. The entire city of Green Bay, and probably most of the state of Wisconsin, allows the sun to rise and set on this man”¦ and he seems to accept it gracefully and happily. Secondly, he’s getting old and this is probably his last season. When Favre is on, he’s unstoppable, and when he’s off, he’s still a better passer than most of the league. He doesn’t move much, but he doesn’t have to when he can accurately hit targets 50 yards down the field. Favre also has one thing every other quarterback in the league doesn’t have.
Ahman Green.
Green is probably a coinflip with Priest Holmes for the most dominant back in the league today. Favre is a threat downfield but, while the secondary is worrying about that, they’ve got to worry about Green coming up their gut for 30 yards a pop. Favre is also a smart quarterback. He’s not going to throw downfield into double coverage to force a play, when he can dump the option to Green 2 yards downfield and watch Green turn it in to a fifteen yard gain.
A couple years ago, John Elway won a Super Bowl ring and retired. I think that’s what Favre wants. If he wins it all this year, he’ll retire. If he doesn’t, he’ll probably stick around for one more year.
Tom Brady
The new golden boy and the guy everyone has pegged as the next Joe Montana. Whether or not I agree with that assessment is still up in the air. Brady came into a great system with a lot of targets and a hungry team. Not to mention Belichek coaching him and showing him how not to be Vinny Testeverde”¦ and things happen.
However, a guy leading a team to two Super Bowls in three years, in today’s NFL is nothing to sneeze at.
Donovan McNabb
And now he has one of the best downfield targets in the league. TO, annoying as he is, doesn’t drop the ball”¦ which means McNabb doesn’t have to carry the load on his shoulders. McNabb is one of those quarterbacks that give defensive coordinators the shakes. He can throw downfield with the best of them, he’s a good decision maker, and he’s nigh impossible to catch in the backfield. Worst of all, he can still land a pass in a bullseye while scampering around avoiding rushes. If McNabb has a great season, the rest of the NFC could be in trouble.
Michael Vick
Michael Vick is the ultimate proof of what an amazing Quarterback can do. Vick has taken less than .500 team and made them a 9 to 11 wins per year team. When he’s healthy. Last year, Vick went out for the season and the Falcons were horrible. This year, on his back alone, they could win ten.
Vick’s only problem is, while the QB is the most important, it’s not the only position on the field. He can do a lot, but he can’t do it all. To win games, his receivers have to, you know, catch the ball. Especially in a year where he’s coming off a broken leg and has already strained his hamstring. He needs some help out there, and if his team can give it to him.
Peyton Manning
Obviously”¦ he’s a Jedi Knight slumming in the NFL. He’s got Marvin Harrison, who he has extended his Jedi powers too, allowing him to make ridiculous one handed catches. Edgerrin James and James Mungro give him options. The last few years Peyton has proven himself to be an onfield general but, make no mistake, if he drops and Joe Hamilton takes the reigns”¦ the team won’t enjoy half the success they have currently.
Dark Horses
The funny thing about a Quarterback situation, you never exactly know when one of them is finally going to have an epiphany and figure out how to play the position. When they do, watch out. Last year, Jon Kitna figured it all out and threw 26 touchdown passes (tied for third in the league) for 3600 yards”¦ which translates to him holding the clipboard this year”¦ it’s the Bengals, though. Why try to figure it out?
David Carr: His third year in the league”¦ anything is possible.
Vinny Testaverde: One of the interesting storied careers in the NFL. Heisman Trophy winner who never really enjoyed much success in any team he was on. Came to the Jets and were thisclose to the playoffs when Vinny reared his head and downed the ball with no seconds left on the clock. Now he’s got Bill Parcells to show him the way and the twilight of his career to try and salvage. Vinny is a dark horse every year”¦ he’s got that threat in him, even if it’s been unused.
Steve McNair: The cyborg. If he can go through a whole season without one of his limbs threatening to fall off, it would be interesting to see where the Titans end up.
Kurt Warner: He’s got Amani Toomer, who is one of the most undervalued receivers in the game today. He’s also got Tiki Barber, who’s a decent back when he’s not fumbling four times a game. A repaired New York Offensive live might give him some time to work”¦ and a young Padawan looming behind him. Warner has tools around him this year to work something”¦ however his best years could be behind him.
By the time you read this, we’re probably about 12 hours or less from Kickoff.
Let’s see which QB wins it this year.
