The NFL is a quarterback league. Teams live and die by the quarterback and if the right man isn’t under center, it can be disastrous. Not all teams are blessed with a franchise quarterback and this year some teams put less-than-stellar quarterbacks under center. Here are the top four quarterback fails from this season.
No. 4 Tarvaris Jackson
What were the Seahawks thinking on this one? You give up Matt Hasselbeck for Jackson? Yes, he has had some good moments, but he is definitely not the guy you want out there week after week. So far this season he has thrown for 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Jackson is not the caliber of quarterback that’s going to lead Seattle out of the gutter.
No. 3 Donovan McNabb
McNabb had the resume coming into this season. He was a good quarterback for many years in Philadelphia and the Vikings wanted a veteran around to help develop Christian Ponder, but McNabb didn’t come as advertised. In the six games he played with Minnesota he threw just four touchdowns. Ever since McNabb left Philly he hasn’t looked the same. Maybe he didn’t fit in with the Minnesota system or he just doesn’t have it anymore, but his stint with the Vikings goes down as an utter failure.
No. 2 Curtis Painter
If there is anything that proves how important the quarterback is in the NFL, it’s the situation in Indianapolis. In one season the Colts went from a Super Bowl contender to a team that has the potential to go 0-16, and it’s all because Peyton Manning is out. Since then the Colts have tried numerous guys at the position, including Curtis Painter. Painter has been Peyton’s backup for a while. He finally got his chance to show what he has learned, and he failed miserably. In nine games he has thrown six touchdowns and nine interceptions, while only completing 54 percent of his passes. The only thing Painter proved is how good Peyton is. Colts fans just want to get the season over with so they can see Manning back — or could it be Luck?
No. 1 Caleb Hanie
The Bears looked like they were putting all the pieces together to make another run at the Super Bowl, but in the past two weeks those dreams have come crashing down with the injury to Jay Cutler. In two games Hanie has thrown for six interceptions and the Bears have lost both games. The Bears can’t get Cutler back soon enough, but in the meantime maybe it’s time we see a certain former Vandal make his debut.