Len Pasquarelli (ESPN) on McCown

[dylanbw]

Not sure if anyone else posted this yet:

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McCown aces audition
One young quarterback who is going to get about a four-week audition because of the groin injury that sidelined Kurt Warner, and who figures to be on a lot of videotape for potential suitors as an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, took a step toward earning himself some substantial pesos on Sunday night. Arizona Cardinals backup Josh McCown, who started 13 games for the team in 2004 before coach Dennis Green decided to sign Warner to a one-year contract this spring, played well in a comeback victory at Mexico City.

Overcoming some real butchery at the outset of the game -- including his own fumble after a sack, returned for a touchdown, and another San Francisco touchdown on a bobble by tailback Marcel Shipp -- the fourth-year veteran completed 32 of 46 passes for 385 yards, with a couple of touchdown passes and no interceptions. McCown was sacked three times, actually far better than the ratio at which Warner has been going down, and showed real poise in rebounding from a 14-0 deficit just seven minutes into the landmark game at Azteca Stadium.

Once he settled into a rhythm, and discovered the outmanned and injury-ravaged San Francisco secondary was pretty easy pickings, McCown went to work, connecting time and again with wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, both of whom went over 100 yards, with each scoring a touchdown. In all, McCown did a passable job distributing the ball, with completions to eight different receivers. And although the Arizona running game again left a lot to be desired, McCown kept the offense moving, and mixed his plays pretty well.

None of this is meant to suggest that McCown, a former Sam Houston State star and a third-round choice in the 2002 draft, is a special player. He isn't. At least not yet. But for a franchise that might want to, or will perhaps be forced to make a quarterback change at the end of this season (pay attention here, New York Jets officials, because we're talking to you, among others), he might be an intriguing guy. McCown has good size (6-feet-4 and 217 pounds), a more-than-adequate arm, and just a hint of emerging presence.

As has been noted here in the past, it isn't easy to find a young quarterback with viable starting potential in the unrestricted free agent market, because teams tend to not allow them to get there. Early in the spring, we suggested that David Garrard of Jacksonville might be such a guy next spring, but then the Jaguars signed him to a four-year extension. The Cardinals signed McCown to just a one-year qualifying offer this spring as a restricted free agent, so unfettered freedom is only a little more than five months away. And, if he can string together a few more games like Sunday night's, before Warner returns, then a decent contract, and maybe a legitimate chance for McCown to start elsewhere, is in the offing as well. There will be several teams looking for quarterbacks and, as usual, not nearly enough of them to go around.
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Personally, I liked Josh's "Remember this feeling,..." quote in the huddle towards the end of the game.....shredding that High School secondary was not THAT impressive, but that emerging leadership quality is something that could really prove to be a key "intangible" for McCown....IMO

 

[john h]

Not sure if anyone else posted this yet:

___________________
McCown aces audition
One young quarterback who is going to get about a four-week audition because of the groin injury that sidelined Kurt Warner, and who figures to be on a lot of videotape for potential suitors as an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year, took a step toward earning himself some substantial pesos on Sunday night. Arizona Cardinals backup Josh McCown, who started 13 games for the team in 2004 before coach Dennis Green decided to sign Warner to a one-year contract this spring, played well in a comeback victory at Mexico City.

Overcoming some real butchery at the outset of the game -- including his own fumble after a sack, returned for a touchdown, and another San Francisco touchdown on a bobble by tailback Marcel Shipp -- the fourth-year veteran completed 32 of 46 passes for 385 yards, with a couple of touchdown passes and no interceptions. McCown was sacked three times, actually far better than the ratio at which Warner has been going down, and showed real poise in rebounding from a 14-0 deficit just seven minutes into the landmark game at Azteca Stadium.

Once he settled into a rhythm, and discovered the outmanned and injury-ravaged San Francisco secondary was pretty easy pickings, McCown went to work, connecting time and again with wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, both of whom went over 100 yards, with each scoring a touchdown. In all, McCown did a passable job distributing the ball, with completions to eight different receivers. And although the Arizona running game again left a lot to be desired, McCown kept the offense moving, and mixed his plays pretty well.

None of this is meant to suggest that McCown, a former Sam Houston State star and a third-round choice in the 2002 draft, is a special player. He isn't. At least not yet. But for a franchise that might want to, or will perhaps be forced to make a quarterback change at the end of this season (pay attention here, New York Jets officials, because we're talking to you, among others), he might be an intriguing guy. McCown has good size (6-feet-4 and 217 pounds), a more-than-adequate arm, and just a hint of emerging presence.

As has been noted here in the past, it isn't easy to find a young quarterback with viable starting potential in the unrestricted free agent market, because teams tend to not allow them to get there. Early in the spring, we suggested that David Garrard of Jacksonville might be such a guy next spring, but then the Jaguars signed him to a four-year extension. The Cardinals signed McCown to just a one-year qualifying offer this spring as a restricted free agent, so unfettered freedom is only a little more than five months away. And, if he can string together a few more games like Sunday night's, before Warner returns, then a decent contract, and maybe a legitimate chance for McCown to start elsewhere, is in the offing as well. There will be several teams looking for quarterbacks and, as usual, not nearly enough of them to go around.
______________

Personally, I liked Josh's "Remember this feeling,..." quote in the huddle towards the end of the game.....shredding that High School secondary was not THAT impressive, but that emerging leadership quality is something that could really prove to be a key "intangible" for McCown....IMO

Now this would be something that might drive me over the edge:McCown develops into a superstar and turns the Cards down to sign with the Jets and leads them to the superbowl. Anything is possible. Remember Babe Ruth and Lou Brock. Both were basically given away.

 

[Big D]

LOL, I don't think you have to worry about that happening.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Now this would be something that might drive me over the edge:McCown develops into a superstar and turns the Cards down to sign with the Jets and leads them to the superbowl. Anything is possible. Remember Babe Ruth and Lou Brock. Both were basically given away.

Yeah it would be the "Curse of the Bum-bino"

 

[BigRedArk]

This is surely premature but should the Cards consider extending Josh before the year is over? Granted the 49er secondary was sorry to say the least but maybe he is emerging? It certainly isn't impossible that he is. Give him credit for taking the advice from Warner and applying it on the playing field. If he hadn't everyone would be trashing him for not being smart enough to take advice from an ex-MVP and exploit the Niners depleted secondary too. He showed me that he is coachable too just from that little glimpse. That is a quality in a young QB that shouldn't be underestimated IMHO.

 

[Rats]

This is surely premature but should the Cards consider extending Josh before the year is over? Granted the 49er secondary was sorry to say the least but maybe he is emerging? It certainly isn't impossible that he is. Give him credit for taking the advice from Warner and applying it on the playing field. If he hadn't everyone would be trashing him for not being smart enough to take advice from an ex-MVP and exploit the Niners depleted secondary too. He showed me that he is coachable too just from that little glimpse. That is a quality in a young QB that shouldn't be underestimated IMHO.

We have no Qb for next year. Roll the dice or Extend? I said in another thread I think we should keep both of the guys we have and give them both 2.5 mil. Either one can start and if they are both on the same page either one can backup the other one. Then I would fix the OLINE so we have a running game. Josh has more upside but he listens to Kurt and Kurt would like to stay in the game for a couple of more years. 2.5 mil for two years each. I would do it this season and not wait until things turn around and we have to pay 3 and 5 mil for one season. These guys can take us into the new stadium. But not this OLINE.

 

[TheCardFan]

None of this is meant to suggest that McCown, a former Sam Houston State star and a third-round choice in the 2002 draft, is a special player. He isn't. At least not yet.

If he isn't special why would we want him as the starter...long term.

By "special", my definition is a franchise QB.

BTW, I don't care who the starter is Josh, Kurt, Navarre, or Davey. I just want to win.

Josh is very athletic, can't read defenses, and not very accurate with the long ball...might be a big tease, ala Plummer.

Kurt is not athletic, old, frail, a very solid field presence, very good at reading defenses, accurate with all his throws, but not the QB of the future.

Navarre seems to be a solid #3 who could develop into a #2.
Ditto with Davey.

3 of these guys are pure pocket passing QB's with big arms...1 is very athletic.

 

[BigRedArk]

We have no Qb for next year. Roll the dice or Extend? I said in another thread I think we should keep both of the guys we have and give them both 2.5 mil. Either one can start and if they are both on the same page either one can backup the other one. Then I would fix the OLINE so we have a running game. Josh has more upside but he listens to Kurt and Kurt would like to stay in the game for a couple of more years. 2.5 mil for two years each. I would do it this season and not wait until things turn around and we have to pay 3 and 5 mil for one season. These guys can take us into the new stadium. But not this OLINE.

Good point Rats especially considering the dearth of QB's out there as Len P mentions in his article. If the Cards come out pretty soon and make an offer like this they both might take it because Kurt wants to stay and finish his career here as he has made known and Josh I believe mentioned that he wanted to stay because of the new stadium and the fact that he doesn't want to move his young family around right now if he doesn't have to.

 

[blindseyed]

Yeah it would be the "Curse of the Bum-bino"

That was too funny

 

[Rats]

Good point Rats especially considering the dearth of QB's out there as Len P mentions in his article. If the Cards come out pretty soon and make an offer like this they both might take it because Kurt wants to stay and finish his career here as he has made known and Josh I believe mentioned that he wanted to stay because of the new stadium and the fact that he doesn't want to move his young family around right now if he doesn't have to.

I think another thing would be continuity at the most important position is a key. Especially going into a new stadium. If this team can find a way to get to 8-8 this season we wouldn't want to go into next season with a rookie QB. Warner and McCown could compliment each other and lead this team for a couple of more years if they play things right and don't let there egos into it. I think it could work and really wouldn't mind it happening. Both are quality players and teammates. The big test will be how Kurt handles Josh playing if he is doing well and Kurt is healthy. If we can side step that landmine I think we might have something. Of course this can only happen if we win some games.

 

[AnotherHOMER]

The big test will be how Kurt handles Josh playing if he is doing well and Kurt is healthy.

You mean how his WIFE handles it?

-****

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

What has Warner done for the last few seasons to deserve a contract extension? Unless you consider fumbling, leading inept offenses, and consistently getting injured good ground for a contract extension. And Josh tears up the worst defense in the NFL one week after looking absolutely horrific against Seattle so he deserves a contract extension too? Jeez, talk about kneejerk reaction. Here's an idea: wait and see if Josh or Kurt can put together any sort of consistently good performances behind center and then act accordingly. This is ludicrous, any GM who extended two QBs of a 1-3 team who are both in the bottom half of the NFL in passer rating would be run out of town everywhere except Arizona.

 

[coyotesareback]

Hello all I am new here (well read for sometime and decided to sign up and post some opinions).

On McCown I think he performed well in the final 3 quarters on sunday. He seem to really get the team fired up behind him as well. For some reason to me it seems they played much harder with McCown back there. Warner had his moments leading the team up and down the field but just could not seem to score. I think McCown has a chance to really prove himself the new few weeks until warner is healthy. To me it seems simple if he steps up and performs and the team wins their is no way you take him out. If he does not perform well Warner is back when healthy. I think last year when Green pulled him in favor of King he really damaged McCown somewhat on his confidence level I mean. He obviously has the physical abilities to be the best QB on the team if he can grasp the mental aspect of QB. Some are slow learners I guess I am hoping he has got it cause I don't know how much of warner getting hammered with his lack of mobility.

My two cents would be just see and hope he performs well for the coming weeks and get some wins. Warner can always be put in if he struggles once healthy. I just want to see this team pull it together and hopefully playoff bound. The defense will be solid just need to get the offense putting up 3 or 4 td's a game and think this season can be solid.

 

[BigRedArk]

What has Warner done for the last few seasons to deserve a contract extension? Unless you consider fumbling, leading inept offenses, and consistently getting injured good ground for a contract extension. And Josh tears up the worst defense in the NFL one week after looking absolutely horrific against Seattle so he deserves a contract extension too? Jeez, talk about kneejerk reaction. Here's an idea: wait and see if Josh or Kurt can put together any sort of consistently good performances behind center and then act accordingly. This is ludicrous, any GM who extended two QBs of a 1-3 team who are both in the bottom half of the NFL in passer rating would be run out of town everywhere except Arizona.

So who do you like at QB Mao? Another advantage to keeping them is that they know the system and have timing with receivers now. There won't be the pains of bringing in someone new who has to either learn the system or develop the timing or both.

 

[Duckjake]

So who do you like at QB Mao? Another advantage to keeping them is that they know the system and have timing with receivers now. There won't be the pains of bringing in someone new who has to either learn the system or develop the timing or both.

I'll extend any QB's contract who can get us some TD's instead of FG's.

We have a top five passing offense and are bottom ten in scoring TD's.