With just two more weeks of pre-season football most teams have identified their starters as they prepare for the final two pre-season games to be dress rehearsals for the real deal in September. About a month ago I gave my predictions and thoughts on the QB battles that were getting underway at camps. This is how things panned out...
Buffalo Bills - It appears that it is going to be E.J. Manuel for week 1, assuming that he is healthy and ready to go. Manuel recently had his knee scoped and is expected to miss the rest of the pre-season. If he isn't ready to go week one, he will still be the starter in Buffalo when he is ready to go. As I said before, you don't draft a guy in the first round at quarterback to sit him on the bench. (Despite earlier reports Manuel will in fact be ready to go and will start week 1)
Miami Dolphins - It is without a doubt Tannehill in Dolphin country.
New York Jets - Who the hell knows yet. (The Jets recently named Geno smith the starter for week 1.)
Cleveland Browns - It is going to be Weeden in Cleveland once again. No surprise here. Don't be shocked either if Campbell has to take over when Weeden isn't getting it done.
Jacksonville Jaguars - Blaine Gabbert has won the starting job down in Florida. This team is a mess. Don't be surprised if this changes throughout the year either.
Kansas City Chiefs - Alex Smith! There was no competition.
Oakland Raiders - It's going to be Matt Flynn. Although Flynn has not looked sharp thus far in the pre-season. (It appears Flynn has lost another job to a read option QB. For the second year in a row on a second team it was Flynn's job to lose and he promptly did just that.)
Philadelphia Eagles - Fresh off the wire, the Eagles have selected Mike Vick to be their starter. As I said, I still feel that a change needed to be made but they stuck with Vick as I figured they would. But watch out, if the Eagles play like they did next year, it will be a short season for Vick.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - There wasn't a competition but like I said there should have been. Mike Glennon can play the game and Josh Freeman is not a starting caliber NFL signal caller.
Minnesota Vikings - It's CP7 time! There was no competition.
Arizona Cardinals - It's Carson Palmer hands down no contest. There was never a question.
Results? Well, you have to exclude all of the slots where there was no real competition, which leaves Philly, Cleveland, Jacksonville, New York, and Buffalo. For these teams I went 4-5 on picking their starting quarterback with the one not correct pick being due to the Jets not naming a starter yet. Knowing the Jets and their propensity for butt-fumbles they might very well wait until after the season starts to name a definitive starter. Eesh. Stay tuned for an update on that situation, followed by me boasting about accurately picking all 5 major QB competitions. You're all welcome. (My arrogance has been my downfall. I spoke too soon about the Jets and the Raiders. The Raiders shocked me by going with Pryor and the Jets didn't surprise me by going with Smith but I figured it would end up being Sanchez. All in all I was 3 for 5 with my predictions.)
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