Carolina, Oakland, Arizona, Philadelphia, Tennessee and Jacksonville are a few teams that benched the opening day starter for performance. Vince Young and David Garrard returned as starters the next week but Matt Moore, Jason Campbell and Derek Anderson didn't.
Carolina opted to start second round pick Jimmy Clausen and now will return to Moore. Switching out one quarterback for another though shouldn't make a difference on the misery of the Panthers. Clausen's 47% completion rate along with 5 turnovers is slightly better than Moore's 42% and 8 turnovers. Why the change then? Beats me. Probably wants to keep both quarterback's brains from turning to complete mush. The only way to do that is to not one all 16 games.
The Hex of JaMarcus Russell?
Detroit has the Curse of Bobby Layne. Does Oakland have the opposite effect in a jinx or hex? Did the franchise snake bit the quarterback position forever with the selection of JaMarcus Russell?
It's to early to tell if the Raiders quarterbacks are snake bitten. A hex, jinx or curse develops over time.
Despite the lack of evidence for a hex, something is going on at the quarterback spot. Jason Campbell went directly to the bench after a Russell like performance opening day. Campbell received another shot at the starting job due to injury. Campbell did his best JaMarcus Russell impersonation. He posted a line of 8 of 21 for 83 yards passing along with a 10.7 passer rating. Campbell is so bad that the Raiders are thinking of starting third stringer Kyle Boller against Denver.
As For the Eagles
Kevin Kolb went to the bench after an injury. Michael Vick stepped in as the starter. The unwritten rule is a player doesn't lose a starting job to injury. Kolb was expected back when he recovered. Head coach Andy Reid even named Kolb the starter. Then a day later Reid decided to go with Vick. And it paid off. Then Vick got hurt and now Kolb is starting again. Reid stated though that if Vick were healthy Vick would start.
The interesting thing about the Eagles quarterback shuffle is there is no animosity between the two nor in the locker room. Controversies usually divide a locker room as players back their favorite guy. By all accounts that's not the case at all in Philly.
According to SI.com's Peter King, the two quarterbacks respect and like each other. According to Kings account:
When Vick hugged Kolb after the game, he said to him, "I'm proud of you.'
I think both players realize that they will succeed somewhere in the NFL so there is no point undermining each other. Vick has lost it all once before due to off the field behavior. He's getting a second chance. If he gains a reputation in the locker room with an attitude or as a subversive player, he career is effectively over. No one will want to deal with him anymore. Kolb probably also realizes that he has many years ahead of him to play barring injury. He waited behind Donovan McNabb for his chance patiently. I think he's willing to wait it out a little bit more if he has to.
The Brett Favre Saga
I normally don't give any air time to Brett Favre and his off the field antics. He thrives on being a drama queen and hacks like Peter King eat it up.
So I'm limiting my words here. All I have to say about the latest reports and allegations concerning Favre is the whole affair is curious.
Why did Jenn Sterger wait a about two years to release the information about the photos and Favre? More odd is that she released the allegations but has been quiet since. She has made no public allegations of harassment nor filed a law suit. It appears that she just threw it out there to give someone a story. I have no clue to her motivation.
Box Score Line of the Week
Chris Ivory RB Saints
158 yards on 17 carries for a 10.5 average.
Considering this was only his fourth NFL game....outstanding
Player of the Week
E.J. Henderson MLB Vikings
Two interceptions that lead to ten points in the Vikings 24-21 victory against the Cowboys.
Joe Pisarcik Player/Coach of the Week
Todd Haley and Charlie Weis
In the closing minutes of the Texans vs. Chiefs game, on a 3rd & 2 the Chiefs passed. Matt Cassell overthrew the tight end. The incomplete pass stopped the clock, allowed the Texans to preserve a time out and eventually score the game winning touchdown with 28 seconds left.
JaMarcus Russell Player of the Week
As mentioned earlier, Jason Campbell did his best to out do Russell posting a 10.7 passer rating.
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