NFL Tickets - Quarterbacks with Everything to Prove in 2010
August 29, 2010 by Stub_Hub
NFL quarterbacks are the talk of the league this year, and there are several hot commodities that have emerged over the last year or two. With names like Favre on their way out and still others like Clausen working their way in, quarterbacks are all the rage going into the 2010-11 regular season. Here are a few quarterbacks around the league who must post solid years to remain starters in the NFL.
Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs. Cassel's stock quickly rose in New England with the fall of Tom Brady in 2008, but Brady's backup hasn't proven much since joining the Kansas City Chiefs last season. In his lone starting year in the league, Cassel led the Chiefs to a dismal 4-12 record, finishing with 2,924 yards, 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions with a 69.9 passer rating. Was it the Patriots' offense that was making Matt Cassel look so good in 2008 or did he just have an off year in 2009? Whatever the case, Cassel's huge deal with the Chiefs is making the team impatient for him to mature, and Cassel has to prove he has the talent to back up his six-year, $63 million contract.
Matt Moore, Carolina Panthers. Matt Moore isn't the kind of quarterback who's going to sell tons of NFL tickets just yet, but he has a solid foundation to build upon. Moore takes over for the axed Jake Delhomme as the Panthers' starting QB this season, following a strong end-of-season run last year where, in his seven starting games, he accumulated 1,053 yards and eight touchdowns with a 98.5 rating. Moore looked solid last year, but he has rookie Jimmy Clausen nipping on his heels to become the next face of the Carolina franchise.
Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos. There's a three-way battle for quarterback in Denver, but so far incumbent QB Kyle Orton has secured the starting job over Brady Quinn and Tim Tebow, both new acquisitions this offseason. The Broncos drafted Tebow to be the No. 3 QB this year and brought over Quinn to challenge Orton for the starting job, but from training camp and so far in the preseason it looks like Tebow will be Orton's main competitor this year.
Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals. Leinart will have the tough job of replacing Kurt Warner behind the ball in the Cardinals' offense this year, and that's a lot for the four-year backup to live up to. Leinart failed to impress at Arizona's preseason opener, but he's still got the starting job in front of backup Derek Anderson. How long that starting job will stay open for him is an entirely different question.
Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills. Trent Edwards' name here means we're assuming he will be awarded the starting spot this year - though that's not yet a sealed deal. Edwards is in a battle with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm for the starting job, though the main competition looks to be between Edwards and Fitzpatrick. Last season, Edwards lost the starting job to Fitzpatrick toward the end of the season, but the way things look now Edwards will start the season as the Bills' No. 1.
