THE CAREER BACKUP QUARTERBACK

by wwtb?, Pacifist Viking

Chances are, he's been on your team. He's been on a lot of teams. He's knocked around the league mostly as a backup, but when you look back at his career, you probably see one or two successful years as a starter there somewhere. If you're good enough to kick around the league a long time, you're probably going to have some success at some point.

The names change, but the player doesn't. Gus Frerotte is Steve DeBerg is Trent Dilfer is Brian Griese is Steve Beuerlein is Steve Walsh. He plays a very long time because he doesn't really have to do much, and because when teams are looking for a backup quarterback, a recognizable name usually functions.

Some of those guys are still in the league. But let us look to a new generation of career backups. Someday, one of these guys could end up on your favorite team. Really, it will probably happen.

There's Josh McCown, 29 years old on opening day 2008, he'll be playing quarterback for his fourth team. When he's 39 years old, he'll probably be joining his 10th team. Somewhere during that time, he might have a Pro Bowl year, or he might take a team deep into the playoffs.

Joey Harrington has been a subpar quarterback for three teams now, and he's not yet 30. He'll keep getting work because at this point he's an "experienced veteran" and sometimes, whether you're a team with no quarterback plan at all, or you're a team with a young starting quarterback, all you really want is an "experienced veteran."

But be on the lookout: your team's young first round hot shot could soon turn into a career backup. Later you'll see him getting signed again and again by different teams and you'll feel your soul die every time you hear his name and you'll laugh at whatever sorry team thinks he can do anything. Then that player will have one good year and you'll slap your forehead in vexation.

And watch as your team signs the career backup. You'll be both disappointed and hopeful. The Vikings are probably signing Gus Frerotte...again. The Buccaneers got Brian Griese as a backup...again. And here's how you can recognize the career backup. If the Vikes got Griese and the Bucs got Frerotte, would either team's fans feel remotely different about it?