Flushed from the pocket
Quarterbacks have been on the move in the offseason
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
NFL players are changing jerseys faster than high-speed Internet connections during this free-agency period.
Perhaps no other position has seen more dramatic changes than the high-profile position of quarterback. Because of free-agency, trades, injuries, or cuts, there could be at least 11 new opening-day starters at quarterback in 2006.
And that doesn’t include the upcoming draft, in which Texas’ Vince Young, Southern California’s Matt Leinart and Vanderbilt’s Jay Cutler are expected to be top-five picks and could influence a team’s depth chart.
Even clubs such as the Chiefs, who have stability with their starting quarterback, lost backups, forcing them to make moves for dependable backups.
The blockbuster trade of the offseason was Minnesota sending Daunte Culpepper — who is recovering from knee surgery — to Miami for a second-round draft choice. Another major move was San Diego’s allowing Drew Brees to sign as a free agent with New Orleans and casting the team’s fate with inexperienced Philip Rivers in a season in which coach Marty Schottenheimer’s job could be on the line.
So far, 19 quarterbacks, who made 99 starts last season, have left their teams, and more could be on the move before the draft.
