Top 10 NFL quarterbacks to watch this year
By: Kevin Dunleavy
Examiner Staff Writer
September 6, 2009
Ten quarterbacks, ten story lines. As the 2009 NFL season kicks off, several quarterbacks are under the gun. Here are the most intriguing who will be feeling the heat of heavy expectations:
10. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs
After he returns from a knee sprain — perhaps next week at Baltimore — it will be fascinating to see if Cassel can do it in Kansas City taking orders from rookie coach Todd Haley instead Bill Belichick.
9. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
No stranger to offseason controversy (motorcycle accident without a helmet), Roethlisberger will try to lead the defending champion Steelers back to the Super Bowl while fending off a civil suit for sexual assault.
8. Eli Manning, New York Giants
How much of the success of the Giants’ quarterback can be attributed to the long reach of Plaxico Burress? With Burress out at the end of last year, Manning and the Giants sputtered. Now they’ve had an offseason to adjust.
7. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
Now that he’s free of Terrell Owens and Jessica Simpson, Romo has considerably less drama in his life. Will the enormously gifted Cowboys quarterback finally play to his potential when it matters most?
6. Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills
How long will it take for Terrell Owens to get under the skin of the Buffalo quarterback? At previous stops, Owens kept it in check in his first year. But will that be possible with his skills declining and the end of his career in sight?
5. Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins
With Campbell in the final year of his contract, coach Jim Zorn’s future in the balance and the temperature of Redskins fans rising, there will be enormous pressure. Can the mild-mannered Campbell thrive in this atmosphere?
4. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles
It will be interesting to see if Eagles coach Andy Reid can incorporate Michael Vick into the offense and not ruffle the feathers of incumbent quarterback McNabb, whose ego seems to be increasingly fragile each year.
3. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
The entitled former Bronco doesn’t seem like a fit in Chicago. But in a city perpetually in search of a savior, Bears fans will overlook Cutler’s personality quirks if he can deliver the Bears some long-awaited offense.
2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Coming back after a devastating knee injury, and now a troublesome shoulder, can Brady regain his record-setting form of 2007, when he led the Patriots to 18 straight wins before their stunning loss to the Giants in the Super Bowl?
1. Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings
Watching the loaded Vikings sink or swim with the legendary quarterback, is the most compelling story line heading into the season. Hopefully Favre will still be under center in Week 8, when the Vikings travel to Lambeau Field.
