Franchise QBs: Four NFL teams feel they've found their saviors

[SoFlaJets]

In the NFL, where the franchise quarterback label has been bestowed entirely too liberally this decade, I can't recall a year in which more hope has been invested in more would-be quarterback saviors than exists as we approach the dawn of the 2009 season.

And I'm talking franchises with some long-standing quarterback searches of historic proportions and epic failure. Not just your run of the mill instances of a team drafting a Patrick Ramsey, or a Rex Grossman or a J.P. Losman and calling him its franchise QB, or a Houston trading for a Matt Schaub and installing him as its guy for the foreseeable future.

If you know your NFL history, you know the Lions have been looking for their next great quarterback since trading Bobby Layne to Pittsburgh in 1958. In the ensuing 50 years, Detroit has compiled the worst winning percentage in the league and won just one playoff game. On to that particular minefield, with Detroit fresh off the first 0-16 season in league annals, steps rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, the first-overall pick in April's draft and, coincidentally, a graduate of Layne's Highland Park High in Dallas.

In Chicago, Jay Cutler's new NFL address, they've heralded the acquisition of the ex-Bronco as nothing short of the franchise's finest quarterbacking option since Sid Luckman led the Bears to four league titles in a 12-year career that spanned 1939-1950. Sid Luckman. For a little perspective, keep in mind the U.S. has had 11 different presidents since Luckman retired, and Alaska and Hawaii were still almost a decade shy of becoming states at that point. Welcome, J.C.

In New York, where the Jets perennially loom in the shadow of the more successful Giants, rookie first-round pick Mark Sanchez doesn't have a thing to live up to except the legacy of one Broadway Joe Namath, whose trademark white shoes the Jets have been unable to truly fill since he left for that one, last forgettable season in Los Angeles in 1977. No pressure, kid. Just get around to becoming iconic at some point. Soon.

And then there's Kansas City, where fresh hope abounds after last year's 2-14 debacle. Much of it centers on $63 million man Matt Cassel, the ex-Patriots backup quarterback whose stock has continued to go up ever since Tom Brady went down. Cassel's task is simple. He has to create visions of Len Dawson for Chiefs fans, and make them forget that since Dawson retired in 1975, the Kansas City faithful has been subjected to the likes of Mike Livingston, Bill Kenney, Steve Fuller, Todd Blackledge, Elvis Grbac and Brodie Croyle at the game's most pivotal position.

Sure, Steve DeBerg, Joe Montana and Trent Green won some in K.C., but they didn't win it all like Dawson did, and that's Cassel's charge. It's a big job for a guy with 15 career starts -- counting both college and the NFL -- to his credit.

All in all, it should make for some fascinating Monday morning quarterbacking this season in those four tradition-laden pockets of the NFL map. There are certainly other QB dramas to keep track of as well -- the Vikings, Browns, 49ers and Bucs leap to mind -- but if 2009 is remembered as the year in which the Lions, Bears, Jets and Chiefs all found their franchise quarterbacks, after decades of trial and mostly error, what a story it would be.

Cassel, Cutler, Sanchez and Stafford. Their sagas are bound together by the hope they represent, and their potential to break their franchise's cycle of mediocrity with greatness. Odds are they won't all be the one, the guy who ends the long wait at quarterback. But any day now, we get to start finding out which of them really deserves the franchise quarterback label they have been given, and which are temporary occupants to the throne.

Based primarily on the situations those four step into this season, here's how I rate their chances of first-year success with their new teams. One season, of course, will only offer us an opening snapshot:

1. Jay Cutler, Chicago -- Easily the most accomplished of the four, Cutler has the game to change the dynamic for the defensive-led Bears and elevate their offense into the league's upper third. He has a dearth of front-line receiving help to deal with in Chicago, but after his days in Denver ended so dismally, he also has plenty to prove and that should keep him motivated.

2. Mark Sanchez, N.Y. Jets -- I predict the Jets are poised to make some noise in the AFC East under ultra-confident rookie head coach Rex Ryan, and Sanchez will be firmly in the middle of that resurgence, with Ryan trying to duplicate game plans that mirror Joe Flacco's role in Baltimore's playoff run last season. If the Jets do indeed have defense and a running game to lean on, Sanchez will be just fine.

3. Matt Cassel, Kansas City -- The decision to lock up Cassel in a six-year, $63 million contract even before he had proved himself in Kansas City was a gusty move by new Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli. And I reserve the right to change gutsy to risky and unnecessary if Cassel turns out to be more of a product of New England's successful program than his own star potential. Let's see if he can come close to replicating his Patriots production without Randy Moss and Wes Welker to throw to, or Josh McDaniels calling the plays. Discovering just who the real Matt Cassel is will be the league's most intriguing quarterback situation of the season.

4. Matthew Stafford, Detroit -- I'm not making a top of the head judgment on Stafford's long-term NFL potential, but given the Lions' arduous road back to respectability, he's got the highest probability of facing first-year struggles. In essence, Detroit may be akin to an expansion team this season, starting over and building from the ground up under new head coach Jim Schwartz. The Lions should be content with baby steps in Stafford's rookie season.

[SenorGato]

Kellen Clemens will hold back the n00b.

I'm rooting for you you blonde, religious, no touch, no clutch, no "it" SOB.

[war ensemble]

We should've traded for Cutler.

[SoFlaJets]

We should've traded for Cutler.

ahh....sigh

[Irish Jet]

Sanchez will be fine. He's in a better situation to succeed than any of those QB's IMO.

If Stafford starts the season he wont finish it.

[124]

We should've traded for Cutler.

Even though I think you are joking here, I agree 100%.

[Larz]

We should've traded for Cutler.

why ?

so we could watch him have a public melt down in the media a la ryan leaf ?

UMe0Rz1frdE&feature=PlayList&p=5E4104A31A9B8E68&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=7

sanchez' personality is 1,0000,000 % better suited for the NYC media

so we have to wait a year or two for him to blossom. I've been waiting since '82, what's another 2 years ?

culter has all the physical tools, but NY would have eaten him up and spit him out

first day or TC, cimini asks cutler, "Jay if the Jets draft a QB, will you demand a trade ?"

[war ensemble]

I'd rather have a proven QB who is still young, than a guy with a good personality. But, hey, what do I know.

The bottom line is Jet fans will love their quarterback if they are winning, and abhor them if they are losing, no matter their personality.

[Larz]

I'd rather have a proven QB who is still young, than a guy with a good personality. But, hey, what do I know.

The bottom line is Jet fans will love their quarterback if they are winning, and abhor them if they are losing, no matter their personality.

don't underestimate the NY factor. Ask any yankee fan if they have seen guys come in and fold under the heat

this isn't about being a good guy, this is about being media savvy and having the intestinal fortitude to stand up to 15 microphones in your face after a bad game

culter likes to take his ball and go home when the chips are down

the bears can have him

[war ensemble]

don't underestimate the NY factor. Ask any yankee fan if they have seen guys come in and fold under the heat

this isn't about being a good guy, this is about being media savvy and having the intestinal fortitude to stand up to 15 microphones in your face after a bad game

culter likes to take his ball and go home when the chips are down

the bears can have him

I am a Yankee fan. We're talking about the Jets here--a team that has won one super bowl in their existence, not a team with 26 World Series'. Yankees fans are tougher on the team than the media on the Jets. No matter where you play you are going to have the media after you, a bigger market just means a larger reaction to it.

If Cutler likes to take his ball and go home when the chips are down, everyone will be fine with that as long as he comes back the next week and keeps winning. If he's winning people will like him. He'd do more to help us win now, and is a better option for the future because you already know he can play.

[Larz]

I am a Yankee fan. We're talking about the Jets here--a team that has won one super bowl in their existence, not a team with 26 World Series'. Yankees fans are tougher on the team than the media on the Jets. No matter where you play you are going to have the media after you, a bigger market just means a larger reaction to it.

If Cutler likes to take his ball and go home when the chips are down, everyone will be fine with that as long as he comes back the next week and keeps winning. If he's winning people will like him. He'd do more to help us win now, and is a better option for the future because you already know he can play.

I meant yankee fans old enough to drive or remember the 80's

but that's just it. because the jets are the red headed step child, it would have been WORSE for cutler as a jet. the jets beat writers are horrible. they ask questions designed to bait a player into trouble. cimini used to do it with coles.

can you imagine the plan of attack for getting back page headline with cutler ? they could fill up a notebook with ways to get a dumb quote from him.

of course it matters where you play, don't be naive.

[slats]

Stafford has the toughest road to hoe. He's stepping into a David Carr type situation. Maybe -if it's even possible- worse.

I think Cassel will prove to be a complete bust. His best hope was getting to Denver, where McDopey might've been able to do something with him. He will be completely exposed this year. He's Scott Mitchell II. At least Detroit didn't remake that mistake.

Sanchez has a good line in front of him, and hopefully a defense that puts him in good position to put points on the board. It's a very good situation. He's got help, and expectations for this season seem to be tempered.

Cutler has a lot of pressure on him, but he should respond. I think the Bears will win that division. I hope he crushes Brett Favre twice.

[war ensemble]

I meant yankee fans old enough to drive or remember the 80's

but that's just it. because the jets are the red headed step child, it would have been WORSE for cutler as a jet. the jets beat writers are horrible. they ask questions designed to bait a player into trouble. cimini used to do it with coles.

can you imagine the plan of attack for getting back page headline with cutler ? they could fill up a notebook with ways to get a dumb quote from him.

of course it matters where you play, don't be naive.

I'm not saying it doesn't matter where you play. But the media can get all the stupid quotes they want, as long as the Jets are winning no one will give a sh*t what he's saying. It's the performance that matters, and at this stage he's a much more proven option than Sanchez. Personality won't make or break a player when you already know he's really good.

[hoping4ASuperBowl]

Stafford has the toughest road to hoe. He's stepping into a David Carr type situation. Maybe -if it's even possible- worse.

I think Cassel will prove to be a complete bust. His best hope was getting to Denver, where McDopey might've been able to do something with him. He will be completely exposed this year. He's Scott Mitchell II. At least Detroit didn't remake that mistake.

Sanchez has a good line in front of him, and hopefully a defense that puts him in good position to put points on the board. It's a very good situation. He's got help, and expectations for this season seem to be tempered.

Cutler has a lot of pressure on him, but he should respond. I think the Bears will win that division. I hope he crushes Brett Favre twice.

+1 to everyone, +1,000 to Cassel. He doesn't even have a fraction of the talent NE had....o-line and WR. he's got a tough road ahead of him. but at least he got his big payday.

[124]

He has a better running back and Dwayne Bowe is no Randy Moss, but he is no slouch either.

I think it is ridiculous to think he will mirror the same kind of numbers that he put up last season in New England, but I think it is also ridiculous to assume certain failure for him in Kansas City.

[hoping4ASuperBowl]

He has a better running back and Dwayne Bowe is no Randy Moss, but he is no slouch either.

I agree about the running back part. But Bowe is the only talented receiver they have and he's gonna get double teamed all time with Gonzalez gone now. Moss at least had Welker to compliment him. When Moss was double covered he could still go up and grab the ball, I haven't seen Bowe do it.

[Klecko73isGod]

I'm not saying it doesn't matter where you play. But the media can get all the stupid quotes they want, as long as the Jets are winning no one will give a sh*t what he's saying. It's the performance that matters, and at this stage he's a much more proven option than Sanchez. Personality won't make or break a player when you already know he's really good.

Having seen scores of pitchers who were lights out pitching for teams like the Royals and Twins come the Yankees and forget where the plate is, I'll politely disagree with this statement.

[slats]

He has a better running back and Dwayne Bowe is no Randy Moss, but he is no slouch either.

I think it is ridiculous to think he will mirror the same kind of numbers that he put up last season in New England, but I think it is also ridiculous to assume certain failure for him in Kansas City.

New England was coming off a nearly perfect season with a relatively easy schedule and a lot to prove. They would've gone 8-8 with me at QB, and I suck.

Mitchell > Cassel

[Irish Jet]

Cassell is absolutely awful at throwing the ball downfield. He'll get exposed without a Wes Welker type WR IMO.

[war ensemble]

Having seen scores of pitchers who were lights out pitching for teams like the Royals and Twins come the Yankees and forget where the plate is, I'll politely disagree with this statement.

Once again, that's NOT what I'm saying. I am saying if he plays well then he will his attitude to the media won't mean anything. You can be a meek, humble guy...you're still going to get crucified if you can't handle the pressure. I don't see why some would prefer taking a guy that played one full college season over a proven NFL QB because the former would somehow have a better attitude when thrown in the spotlight. Doesn't make sense.

[Klecko73isGod]

Once again, that's NOT what I'm saying. I am saying if he plays well then he will his attitude to the media won't mean anything. You can be a meek, humble guy...you're still going to get crucified if you can't handle the pressure. I don't see why some would prefer taking a guy that played one full college season over a proven NFL QB because the former would somehow have a better attitude when thrown in the spotlight. Doesn't make sense.

First of all, it is really a moot point because unless you weren't paying attention, the Jets had absolutely no shot whatsoever of getting Cutler.

That being said, chances are someone as emotionally goofy as Cutler would probably let it affect his play negatively. I just don't have any confidence that Cutler wouldn't fold under the pressure of the NY spotlight. I don't think he's gonna handle Chicago all that well.

Sanchez just comes off as a guy who can handle the spotlight, possibly even thrive under it and feed off of it.

Plus, has Cutler really been THAT good? It's not like we missed a chance at getting a 25-year-old Joe Montana.

[sirlancemehlot]

And I'm talking franchises with some long-standing quarterback searches of historic proportions and epic failure. .

In New York, where the Jets perennially loom in the shadow of the more successful Giants, rookie first-round pick Mark Sanchez doesn't have a thing to live up to except the legacy of one Broadway Joe Namath, whose trademark white shoes the Jets have been unable to truly fill since he left for that one, last forgettable season in Los Angeles in 1977.

Cassel, Cutler, Sanchez and Stafford. Their sagas are bound together by the hope they represent, and their potential to break their franchise's cycle of mediocrity with greatness. Odds are they won't all be the one, the guy who ends the long wait at quarterback.

.

Honestly, I've struggled with this team for decades, but I don't see the Jets as having had perennially ****ty QB's. The Bears? yeah. The Lions? hell yeah. The Vikings? sure. Bot Todd, O'Brien, and Pennington were each and all better players than the QB's running these other teams through the years. The Jets have had problems with depth and supporting cast forever. And they still do. It's what happens when the coach's office has a revolving door.

[jetophile]

KC 2-14, most teams could run around on auto-pilot and squeak out more. C'mon. The Jets in the past, the Jets recently, Detroit, just make it up. Sometimes it's more fun watching electric football. And more rewarding.

Too bad Herman Edwards got his pink slip after murdering Larry Johnson (literally) because I wouldn't mind seeing him throw Cassel under the bus (figuratively). You know, the bus Edwards was always DRIVING. "We're on the bus." Mmm, OK. I must've gotten off in Palookaville.