Happy Days Lois & Clark Posted February 21, 2005 Posted February 21, 2005 http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football...2p-242132c.html QB or not QB? Here are the answers: Kurt Warner's agent, Mark Bartelstein, has sent 10-12 teams a copy of the tape the Giants made of every one of Warner's throws last season. The goal is to find Warner a team when the market opens March 2. The Lions, Bears, Cardinals, 49ers, Cowboys and Browns either need starters or want to bring in legitimate competition to challenge their incumbents. Three spots could be secured by coach-quarterback reunions: Drew Bledsoe-Bill Parcells, Jeff Garcia-Steve Mariucci and Brad Johnson-Dennis Green. If there were a draft of free-agent quarterbacks, here's how the top of the board would look: 1. Matt Hasselbeck Status: Now that Seattle signed OT Walter Jones, who had been franchised the last three years, it can tag Hasselbeck, although an $8 million cap number for him is excessive. Next Stop: He's made the playoffs two years in a row and it's hard to imagine Seattle not bringing him back. 2. Kurt Warner Status: Eli Manning's struggles actually help Warner. Turns out he was 5-4 with a bad team. Manning was 1-6. Warner needs a strong offensive line and playmaking receivers to succeed. Next Stop: A year ago, the Bears backed off Warner because they didn't want competition for former No. 1 pick Rex Grossman. But with Grossman suffering a season-ending knee injury in the third game, the Bears went with Craig Krenzel, Jonathan Quinn and Chad Hutchinson. And they still have no idea what they have in Grossman. This is the most likely spot for Warner, but Detroit is the dark horse. 3. Drew Bledsoe Status: He was 23-25 in three years in Buffalo and dumped because the Bills want to go with J.P. Losman, who was acquired with draft picks obtained from Dallas. Next Stop: He and Parcells didn't have the best relationship in New England, but it improved after they were separated. Parcells doesn't have the patience to develop Drew Henson. 4. Brad Johnson Status: He was good enough to win a Super Bowl just over two years ago in Tampa, but he was never Jon Gruden's guy and was benched after an 0-4 start last season. He didn't play another snap. He is expected to be cut by the Bucs. Next Stop: Green believes in interchangeable QBs, and bringing in Johnson would keep up his routine of a different QB each year. 5. Brian Griese Status: He's due a $6 million bonus March 1 and will be released by the Bucs if his deal is not restructured before then. Next Stop: He resurrected his career last season (20 TDs, 12 INTs, 97.5 QB rating) and Gruden wants him back. If he's on the market, he would keep things respectable in Cleveland or San Francisco, but he's never going to be an elite player. 6. Jeff Garcia Status: He never stopped complaining about the Browns offense. One of Romeo Crennel's first moves was to cut him. Next Stop: Mariucci wants competition for Joey Harrington, who has been a huge disappointment. Gruden tried to sign Garcia last year, and if Griese is not back, he may go after him again. 7. Vinny Testaverde Status: He will get squeezed out in Dallas if Parcells decides he'd rather have Bledsoe. The Cowboys have shown no urgency to bring him back. Next Stop: Now that Paul Hackett is gone, a return to the Jets as Chad Pennington's backup is a possibility. Sometime in the next 10 years, Testaverde will retire. 8. Jay Fiedler Status: He did a better job succeeding Dan Marino in Miami than Griese did taking over for John Elway in Denver. He lost his job to A.J. Feeley, and a $2 million bonus due in March guarantees he will be cut. Next Stop: The Jets should strongly consider bringing him back home to Long Island as insurance in case Pennington is not ready. Originally published on February 19, 2005
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