I think Skelton is the guy, but DA will have his shot. That said, I can still see ML the starter, but that is highly, highly unlikely imo. The writing was on the wall, it just added another few lines to it. It still hasn't come into official focus, so we'll have to wait and see. It's like the tombstone from Back to the Future III.
I don't think Max Hall would make it through waivers. I believe they value Skelton more and can't risk letting either one get away. But view both as a good possible way to the future. Whoever isn't, is future trade bait, and injury insurance. Thus I think one of the two vets is cut. If Hall hadn't played so well, perhaps our hand wouldn't of been forced. But I think it was. Even the announcers commented. Which ofc might turn out to mean nothing.
With no salary cap, this is also the best time to dump players. I wouldn't even be surprised to see Albert Haynesworth cut, but I still think he has one more year there, barring a major turnaround there.
I also believe that to better understand our team, regardless of who starts at QB, switching them around let's our coaches evaluate all positions better.
It does send a message to ML. His window is small but is still there. If he mopes, or is unresponsive, he probably isn't mentally strong enough, which has been a concern imo. We need a QB that is mentally ready Week 1 period.
If he bombs against 3rd tier defenders, imo he's gone.
If DA doesn't take the reigns, I wouldn't doubt the rooks getting a shot. But I can see DA not do well, and STILL be ahead of ML.
But maybe ML starts preseason week 4, and fails to impress again, which imo is the most likely scenario.
I don't think it will happen, but imo if it did, whiz would have both lit a fire, been able to see if it's still there, and set him up to succeed to potentially start positive momentum and get him out of a funk. He might get a potential rhythm going against backups, going into the preseason finale with Fitz in there and take off. Put him in the best possible chance to succeed. If he still fails.....
ML will either succeed or fail. Decision 2010 NFL style. This is the moment in his career. When people look back at what was the decision that stamped that label, it's most likely whatever happens in the next ~week. He's had enough time, the mold of the stamp has already been made. He either needs to produce in this show me league (what you've done lately), or doesn't. Rubber needs to meet road. If it doesn't his butt gets branded. If he does, perhaps the stamp mold changes. But make no mistake it's sitting there, and the fire is being stoked.
I think resolving this will be the key to the season. There is no sense starting ML (for the year) if he ain't the guy. Now we don't have to likely do this DURING the season, but PRESEASON. Much better for a change if you see it coming. Holding on too long to the obvious and then switching in the season rather than preseason WOULD be a reason to blame whiz. I think this decision was shrewd, and reiterates my faith that things have changed around here. I don't see us a team that if we have a bad season this year, we're a team that's toast.
While others see this as a start of something, I see it as a long continuation. I think ML is the reason we have 3 new QB's on this roster...err 2 additional ones besides the opening from Warner. Talk about Whitehurst, the trade for skelton. We picked guys, and I think they are pleasantly surprised in Hall. It was probably always ML against ML, but now we can say that AND say we can keep Max Hall if we get rid of him. Or DA. But I think ML is the one caught without a chair when the music stops.
But that only happens if DA doesn't take the reigns. He may not. But he's in the lead now imo. He may do enough to hold onto it, even if he doesn't play particularly well. Stats aren't everything. Football isn't numbers. (except wins) They want to see an NFL QB playing. You determine these things with your eyes, with what you can hear, and what you can feel when you close your eyes and take everything into account. There are not stats for this. No numbers or system of recognizing numbers or assigning patterns will ever show this.
If they keep DA, then they are projecting DA having a different fate, or potential one, and that potential is greater than the potential of ML in their heads. That his mistakes are coach able. Or better than the veteran alternative.
DA is HERE, not in CLE. Our coaches, our system, our talent surrounding him. More years, new system, etc. Doesn't mean he succeeds. Lord knows we'd see 50 complete misses this season out of him, most likely. But if it clicks, he's got the tools to get it done. Tools ML just doesn't have any room to spare in. The body language for me is key. The mental slowness I see out there.
I still wouldn't rule out Skelton starting by year's end. Perhaps even Hall. If Whiz thinks either are the best after the preseason games, I actually wouldn't be surprised to see one of the rooks starting the season. Unlike most rooks, these rooks seem mentally capable and quick. I'm a firm believer that those rookies tend to end up better when thrown to the fire (and generally turn out to be better NFL players in the long run). Plus with either ML or DA as a vet we'll be sitting pretty good.
Plus there will be other teams' cuts, so who knows. Overall I would say odds are DA starts the season, and either takes off, plays mediocre, or poorly enough that Skelton will get a chance down the stretch. I don't see DA starter in 2011 (if no lockout or economic collapse). But hey if he lights it up, you never know. This is HIS change of scenery.
I also think whis and the front office have been jockeying around for this possibility for awhile. It isn't his pick, it isn't his style of presumed QB, and right now ML in reality has two preseason games to fight for his NFL life.
He'll get another shot somewhere else, but Captain Checkdown is a name like a roach motel where once that's checked in, it doesn't check out. That's going to go viral amongst NFL players. They're all going to hear about that. (plus it's said about ML, they've all HEARD of him, so it's not like a player remembering something said about some no-name)
He'll be facing that every game forward from now on. (We all know how to beat it, throw deep, but he would have to do it, and do it consistently to break such a moniker). If he hasn't shown the ability to do it consistently without having one side stacked, I doubt it will happen. Plus this could lead to more 8 man fronts and that would be negatively synergistic for our run game.
Even at another place, the writing is on the wall. He could succeed, but I'd really doubt it. He'll have a shot though.
The thing that also has been sticking out like a pink elephant is the almost joke status ML is talked about. It's not just what they are saying, it's HOW they are saying it. I think the talking heads think he is a joke. Right or wrong, but they all see that just about, and if it is in line with what our coaches think, see ya. Normally when they are playing devil's advocate they say one way or the other, but it really seems to me they have honestly made up their minds about ML. Right or wrong, it's just another notch against ML. So after a suite of measures doesn't point you a certain way, but are all CONFIRMING your suspicions, about ML, you pull the trigger. Or shake things up, to give the guy another shot, in another way, but also ready the team for a change. That's GOOD leadership, not bad. So if true, it would also be a confirmation of the change in our front office.
Again, I could see ML starting (doubt it, and don't want it, but he has had a shot, and still has one no matter what anyone says), but feel DA is opening day starter, with rooks possibility anywhere from week 1-17 if DA falters, which he may or may not. If he doesn't grow or use our weapons, then probably, if he has in his new scenery, then he probably won't falter. How far along this continuum determines how fast the future comes. Best QB will play, and it's probably not ML. I don't think he is. We'll see. No matter what whiz will keep searching until he finds one.
I'm sure our division rivals are licking their chops. I wouldn't be so sure. I think we did what we needed to in order to have a BETTER shot this year. So if anything, our rivals lost the opportunity to catch us with our pants down...ha ha. We're moving forward now, even though it's just the churn phase.
So for all the QB's on the cards roster I say Carpe Diem. You could win the Superbowl this year. (or be mediocre)
