Every
season in the NFL, we seem to have a few position battles amongst quarterbacks.
This upcoming season, there are three or four quarterback battles brewing that
could last several weeks, and possibly into the season. Some are more
competitive than others, while one in particular is simply speculation. Let’s
take a look at the four I have highlighted as potential drama hot spots.
New York Jets: Mark Sanchez versus Tim Tebow
This is
the one I referenced as speculation, because I think the Jets still really like
Mark Sanchez. The guy did lead them to back-to-back AFC Championship games. I think some have soured on him recently, however, so bringing in a competitor
like Tebow might just light a fire under the Sanchise.
In the end,
I don’t think Tebow will take the starting job away from Sanchez. Tebow is just
too raw, and doesn’t have the accuracy to run that offense day in and day out.
However, I know for a fact that the Jets are going to put together a nice Tebow
package, and how much or how little they use that package might come down to
how well Sanchez is playing. By the end of the season, it might end up being quarterback by committee. I believe bringing in Tebow will help Sanchez
in the long run.
It seems NFL odds makers aren't exactly convinced yet that the experiment will work out, making the Jets the slightest of favorites over the visiting Bills in week one.
Arizona Cardinals: Kevin Kolb versus John Skelton
This is
another one with a clear favorite going into training camp, but it’s only
because the Cards paid him so much money. Kolb will get every opportunity to
win the job, because you don’t pay a back up quarterback eight figures. However,
it was clear that occasionally last season the offense ran much smoother under Skelton than it
did Kolb. As I mentioned in my Cardinals blog, at some point, winning games
will trump salaries for Arizona.
However,
once again, I think the incumbent will win out. Kolb is a pretty good
quarterback, and remember, last season was a lockout season, and Kolb didn’t
get much time to get acclimated with the new offense. He had to learn on the
fly, and that almost never works out well. I don’t think Kolb will run away
with the job, but I do think he will come out of the preseason as the starter.
Seattle Seahawks: Tavaris Jackson versus Matt Flynn
versus Russell Wilson
This is
the truest of all the position battles but, once again, money might come into
play. The Seahawks gave Flynn a pretty hefty sum of money, and I think they
have finally soured on Jackson. Flynn is a good quarterback, and I think he
will fit well in Seattle. I’m not writing off Wilson or Jackson, but Flynn is
obviously the favorite going in.
I like
Jackson and Wilson, and one of them will probably be traded some time this
season. My pick is on Flynn, even though head coach Pete Carroll has said that
a starter will not be named for some time. This will be one to keep an eye on.
Tennessee Titans-Matt Hasselbeck versus Jake
Locker
If you
ask which quarterback battle has the most drama and the most divided factions,
this is it. It’s the classic battle of aging veteran versus young gunslinger.
Hasselbeck was sub-par last season with 18 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while Locker impressed a few people near the end of the season.
This one will be as close or closer even than the Seattle battle, and a lot
of the factors that will go into the decision rest on Kenny Britt and Chris
Johnson. Depending on Britt’s health,
the Titans could go in a few different
directions. This will be another one that will go through the preseason, and we
still probably won’t know whom to pick. I like Locker in the very early race.