NFL’s Top Backup QBs

By Paulie Knep
Love of Sports Correspondent

Four weeks into the NFL season, eight backup quarterbacks have already moved into their team’s starting lineup, either due to injury or a lack of productivity.

As injuries continue to mount and teams fall out of playoff contention later in the season, several additional quarterbacks will be given an opportunity to run the show. 

These are 10 quarterbacks that are likely to start at some point this season.

NFL’s Top 10 Backup QBs

10. Daunte Culpepper – Free Agent

Wasn’t it just a few years ago that Culpepper was considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL? Now, at 31 years old, he’s out of the league. The former Viking and Dolphin was frustrated when no team was willing to offer him a starting job and announced his retirement in August. He wasn’t the same player after tearing up his knee in 2005, but he’s still better than most of the backup quarterbacks in the league. Eventually, a team desperate for an experienced signal caller will dial his number and I’m guessing the big guy will be receptive.

9. Kellen Clemens – New York Jets

I know, I know, Brett Favre’s started 257 consecutive games. But all streaks come to an end and I think Favre’s time may be coming. At 38 years old, he doesn’t shake off bumps, bruises and sprains like he did early in his career. Good ole #4 is also suiting up for a team that hasn’t had the ball bounce its way very much over the years. If the old gunslinger is sidelined by injury, third-year pro Clemens will be handed the keys to the offense.

8. Luke McCown – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It’s been a quarterback carousel in Tampa Bay since Jon Gruden arrived, and this season is no exception. After the Bucs’ offense struggled in Week 1 against an underwhelming Saints defense, Gruden benched Jeff Garcia in favor of Brian Griese. Griese’s since guided the team to three straight wins, but the former Bear has failed to produce on a consistent basis along every stop of his career. It’s only a matter of time before Gruden tires of the veteran and turns to McCown who was productive in three starts for the Bucs last season.

7. Sage Rosenfels – Houston Texans

Matt Schaub threw five interceptions and just one touchdown, in lopsided losses to the Steelers and Titans, though his receivers didn’t help by dropping two touchdown passes against the Titans. After that game, coach Kubiak fueled speculation that Schaub’s job was in jeopardy by stating he’d reevaluate every position on the field. The offense ran more smoothly this week against the Jaguars, and Kubiak will be reluctant to bench Schaub after the team signed him to a six-year, $48 million contract in 2007. However, the Texans were 4-1 last season in games Rosnefels started, and Kubiak may be forced to make a change if the offense continues to sputter.

6. Matt Leinart – Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals were hoping the Heisman Trophy winner would wrestle the starting job away from Kurt Warner in training camp, but Leinart wasn’t up to the task. Warner tossed eight touchdown passes during the team’s first four games and has strong chemistry with the dynamic receiving duo of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Arizona looks like a legitimate contender in the NFC West, and Warner gives them the best chance to win right now. However, the statuesque quarterback’s been injury prone throughout his career and it’s unlikely that, at 37-years old, he’ll make it through the season unscathed.

5. Drew Stanton – Detroit Lions

Stanton missed his entire rookie season after undergoing knee surgery in August of 2007, but after J.T. O’Sullivan signed with the 49ers this past offseason, he became the Lions’ backup quarterback. Through the first four weeks of the season, the Lions have been one of the worst teams in the league. Jon Kitna’s a sitting duck behind a porous offensive line, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s knocked out of a game by a bone-jarring hit. Even if he stays healthy, coach Rod Marinelli will probably give Stanton a shot late in the year.

4. Kevin Kolb – Philadelphia Eagles

Donovan McNabb’s still one of the best quarterbacks in the game when he’s healthy, but that hasn’t been the case very often over the past few seasons. He hasn’t played all 16 games since the 2003 season, and he no longer possesses the mobility to avoid crushing blows. Kolb attempted just nine passes last season after the Eagles selected him in the second round of the 2007 draft. This year, he’s second on the depth chart and if McNabb goes down, he’ll have an opportunity to show Philadelphia what he can do.

3. Chad Henne – Miami Dolphins

Pennington played well in the Dolphins’ shocking upset over the Patriots. He has the highest completion percentage in NFL history, protects the football and is an excellent role model for a very young Dolphins team, but ultimately, Pennington’s just a placeholder until the rookie out of Michigan, Chad Henne, is ready to run the show. The Dolphins are better than last season, but they’re still far from being a playoff contender and coach Tony Sporano will look to get Henne some experience towards of the end of the season.

2. Rex Grossman – Chicago Bears

The Bears have been searching for a quarterback since the Jim McMahon era came to an end. When they re-signed incumbent Rex Grossman during the offseason, it appeared he’d retain the starting job, but coach Lovie opted to entrust the offense to 2005 starter Kyle Orton. Orton’s more seasoned than the bright-eyed rookie the Bears threw out there a few years ago, but he’s still not starting material. The Bears’ offense has looked inept at times during their first four games and If they continue to struggle, Grossman will get another chance to lead the team.

1. Brady Quinn – Cleveland Browns

Cleveland’s offense has been awful thus far, and a lot of the blame falls on the shoulders of quarterback Derek Anderson. Anderson threw five interceptions and completed just 46.2 percent of his passes during the Browns’ first three games. Though the Browns won last weekend, he may not have done enough against a pathetic Bengals defense to save his job. Romeo Crennel told Quinn to be ready last week, and with the Browns just passing their bye week, this would be an ideal time to make a change. Don’t be surprised if Quinn makes his first NFL start against the Giants.