Quarterback quandry

November 18, 1998
Originally published by The State Hornet (Sacramento State)

If 44-year-old graybeard Steve DeBerg could make a successful comeback this year with the Atlanta Falcons and Donald Hollas, Jason Garrett, and Chris Chandler finally prove they can guide their teams to consistent wins, things are bassackwards among the quarterback pecking order.

If all five feet of Doug Flutie can come off the junk-heap in the CFL and back to pulling out wins in The Show, then you know it's topsy turvy as far as signal calling is concerned in the NFL.

John Brodie, the old-time 49ers' QB, said he didn't begin consistent performance until he passed 30 years of age. It seems that correlation has come full circle now.

So now I have prepared a list for the notable quarterbacks this year so far: the good, the bad and the just plain ugly (or stupid.)

THE GOOD: DeBerg, Hollas, Garrett, Randall Cunningham, John Elway, Flutie, Testaverde, Warren Moon. DeBerg, Hollas and Garrett? These guys have won while taking over for injured starters.

Cunningham possesses poise he never used to have. Maybe a few months putting together tiles will do that for you.

Elway's not the scrambler/gunner he used to be, but is still as poised as they come. Flutie climbed out of the CFL graveyard, Testaverde has proved he can deliver and Moon ends a storybook career in Seattle.

THE BAD: Elvis Grbac, Drew Bledsoe, Jim Harbaugh, Glenn Foley, Kordell Stewart, Jeff George, Charlie Batch, and Brett Favre.

Elvis has left the building and gone to the bench, the Chiefs have left the playoff race, and Grbac has been booed mercilessly at Arrowhead.

Bledsoe made it to a Super Bowl, but the jury is still out on whether he can have an Elway-like career full of mythical proportions. Harbaugh is old and sore-armed and Foley has played himself right onto the bench before September was out.

Stewart hasn't done anything to help Pittsburgh's offense; if it weren't for Bettis, the Steelers would really be in a fix.

At the Raider camp, the feeling is that the team responds better to Hollas than to George. Unfortunately, George has the better arm but can't shake the stigma of a loser.

Batch has slipped after a promising start since taking over for erratic Scott Mitchell.

Favre, the media darling of the Cheeseheads, has reverted back to his pre-'95 form, when he tossed pick after pick.

THE UGLY: Kerry "Quitter" Collins, Leaf, and Mitchell.

"Quitter" Collins got a second chance with New Orleans after bailing out on the Panthers but then got busted for DUIs. What the heck was that?