I can't believe NFL teams have these QBs as opening day starters...

[Senser81]

Sometimes a team invests a lot in a rookie QB, so even though that rookie might play like Ryan Leaf, the team will still throw the guy out there. Other times, a team might have their top two QBs injured, so then they are forced to use a Ryan Fitzpatrick-type QB.

But this year, I am amazed at how many bad QBs have seen action this early in the year. Here is my list of bad opening-day starters at QB, with commentary...

Dennis Dixon = I give the Steelers a pass because he's a 3rd stringer, but he's still terrible.

David Garrard = the Jags are really going another year with this guy?

Jake Delhomme = Browns did the Jags one better by actually going out of their way to acquire Delhomme.

Matt Moore = possibly the worst QB in the NFL. I don't understand the hype around this guy. Another Mike McMahon clone.

Matt Cassel = I hate this guy with a passion. Only saving grace is that Brodie Croyle is his backup. I have no idea why the Chiefs invested so heavily in this schmuck.

Alex Smith = how can the Niners be an up-and-coming team with Alex Smith still at QB?

Trent Edwards = see David Garrard

Kevin Kolb = really?? I love how my fantasy football preview had Kolb rated #9 right after Phillip Rivers. Sheesh.

Chad Henne = like Kolb, another mid-round unspectacular QB who was anointed the QB of the Future by default.

Josh Freeman = has done well this year, but I'm waiting for the bubble to burst.

Derek Anderson = wow, Matt Leinart must REALLY suck.

Jason Campbell = congratulations, you've been outplayed by Bruce Gradkowski.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Half the teams in the league have bad starting QB's. In my opinion, this is the worst collection of starters the league has seen since probably the 1970's.

[Esjay]

Freeman and to a lesser extent Henne are the only two on that list I give any chance to ever be very good.

[ralaw]

I can understand the point of this thread, but its not as if there's ever been a time in modern day football where teams across the league had proven/established guys. It seems to me to be a product of having 32 teams. The best backup is probably Vick and he was in jail 2 years ago. Having a proven/established QB isn't an easy thing to find and due to pressure of having to win teams have to move forward with what they have. Take Garrard....he's not an ideal choice, but he's more certain than drafting someone in hopes they justifying the pick. Then guys like Cassell, Edwards, Freeman, Henne, Smith, Kolb, Moore are still fairly young, shown flashes of being decent and the teams have invested a lot in them.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I took a quick look at a random year - 1988

The QB's of the last place teams were:

Dan Marino
Bubby Brister
Steve DeBerg
Steve Pelluer (back up was Danny White, who would have been starting if Dallas wasnt rebuilding)
Rusty Hilger
Chris Miller

You have a Hall Of Famer, two guys who had long, solid careers (Miller & DeBerg), one guy who was an average at best starter who carved out a niche as a good backup (Brister), and two washouts, one of which (Pelluer) wouldnt have been starting if the Cowboys werent rebuilding.

Remember, these are the last place QB's. Some of the bums on senser's list play for teams expected to contend. Some are 2-0 right now. Some play for teams that made deep playoff runs last year.

I'll take DeBerg or Miller over just about any of these guys without a second thought.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Here are some of the backups from 1988:

Mark Rypien
Frank Reich
Tommy Kramer
Steve Grogan (3rd string!)
Jim Harbaugh (3rd string!)
Jeff Hostetler
Rich Gannon (3rd string!)
Ron Jaworski

[Hasselbeck]

At one point in yesterday's Titans/Steelers game.. it was Kerry Collins v. Charlie Batch.

I was flashing back to 1999

[jaxjaggywires]

It's ok to say that these guys suck (and they do), but what should the teams do about it? There is a shortage of real QB talent, it seems, and this is the best the teams have got going for them...

[Hasselbeck]

It's ok to say that these guys suck (and they do), but what should the teams do about it? There is a shortage of real QB talent, it seems, and this is the best the teams have got going for them...

And this is exactly why Sam Bradford gets $50M guaranteed before he takes a snap.

The drop off between just the "good" quarterbacks in this league (the mid-level guys like Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer, etc)... and then the guys Senser posted.. is incredible.

If you're able to find a good QB, you're well ahead of the curve.

[ralaw]

W2BTD, the issue with the guys you're mentioning is that in hindsight its hard to judge them, because we know most of them became solid starters in the league, which IMO would inflate their status a bit. However, where were they at or what were people saying about them in years 1-3? The modern day guys (outside of Garrard) are all pretty young and have yet to really establish themselves. Also, I think the NFL has trended towards developing younger guys in hopes that they become decent as opposed to keeping veterans as backups, because even finding a decent vetaran backup is pretty slim.

[FirstTimer]

The only thing I remember about Charlie Batch was he was on the cover of The Sporting News back around 2000 when TSN picked the Lions to win the Super Bowl.

[Cody]

Not sure I'd have Freeman and Henne on there.

[Houston]

I always think about that whenever I see a horrible player consistenly playing. Like with Rex Grossman in '06, surely they could've found someone else to play. A free agent, un-drafted rookie, random fan from the stands?

It's real hard to believe that some of these guys really are the best in the organization.

[Blade]

I dunno..........I like Henne...I will give senser the rest of those bozos though.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

The spread in college is killing QB development.