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- Sep 13, 2004
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Here's how I see veteran QBs and the Pats:
Let say that at any time there are maybe two dozen quarterbacks who are solid NFL-caliber starters. After them come another two dozen borderline guys who all feel, legitimately, they should be able compete for a starting spot. In any given year, only a handful of those borderline guys are available as UFAs.
If you're one of those handful of guys, what job do you aim for? One where you'd have the best shot at earning the starting job. So a team like the Patriots with an elite QB simply isn't going to get a quality veteran backup.
BB has tried a variety of workarounds to cope with this: the injured (Miller, Redman) and the geriatric (Testaverde, Flutie), along with a steady stream of rookies. But by and large, if the rookies don't develop as hoped you're always going to be looking at the dregs of the veteran pool.
Let say that at any time there are maybe two dozen quarterbacks who are solid NFL-caliber starters. After them come another two dozen borderline guys who all feel, legitimately, they should be able compete for a starting spot. In any given year, only a handful of those borderline guys are available as UFAs.
If you're one of those handful of guys, what job do you aim for? One where you'd have the best shot at earning the starting job. So a team like the Patriots with an elite QB simply isn't going to get a quality veteran backup.
BB has tried a variety of workarounds to cope with this: the injured (Miller, Redman) and the geriatric (Testaverde, Flutie), along with a steady stream of rookies. But by and large, if the rookies don't develop as hoped you're always going to be looking at the dregs of the veteran pool.