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Tim Tebow lived up to expectations; Sam Bradford just managed to live; and Dennis Dixon may have found a new life.
All in all it wasn’t a bad first weekend to be young, starry-eyed and auditioning to be an NFL quarterback.
Tebow lived up to his reputation as a “can-do” kid — someone with all the mechanics of a plumber trying to put a screw on backwards but someone who somehow just gets the job done.
Despite being harassed, hurried and chased, there is every reason to believe he will supplant Kyle Orton as the starter in Denver — if not this season, then in 2011. Destined to begin the season as the third-stringer, he has been better in every facet, except maybe clipboard holding, than current No. 2 backup Brady Quinn, who seemed tentative completing six of 16 passes and throwing an interception.
When his turn came, Tebow completed eight of 13 passes for 105 yards in a 33-24 loss to the Bengals. That included an intrepid TD-run on the final play. Like most rookies, he must get acclimated to the speed of the NFL and Orton has had a good camp and is the unquestioned No. 1. But with Orton’s contract scheduled to run out after this season, Tebow, not Quinn, is the future.
Bradford, the can’t-miss prospect and No. 1 draft pick of the Rams, got run over more often than the welcome mat at a truck stop against the Vikings but also showed the raw talent that left scouts drooling.
Bradford got a standing ovation when he came into the game. Of course, it’s St. Louis, where other than the guy delivering the beer there hasn’t been anyone to cheer. Anyway, he completed four of his first five passes.
Then reality hit. This is a team that won only one game on merit last year so Bradford finished with a passer rating of just 58.8, completing 6-of-13 throws for 57 yards, But three of his incompletions were throwaways due to pressure, and another was dropped by a receiver.
He hit on only two of his last eight passes, got sacked four times and was battered by the Vikings’ second-team defence. The Rams had only 150 yards total offence and lost 28-7, but Bradford did show signs he’ll become a fine quarterback in the NFL one day.
That is assuming, much like Matthew Stafford in Detroit, this team can find some talent with which to surround him before NFL defences send him to the meat cutters once too often.
Finally, there is Dixon, who has emerged as the potential starter in Pittsburgh until Ben Roethlisberger returns from exile.
Dixon, from whom the least was expected, may have made the biggest gains. Byron Leftwich, acquired from Tampa, was supposed to fill in as the Steelers’ No. 1 quarterback but his performances have been less than pedestrian.
Against the Lions on Saturday, Leftwich was six-for-10 and 43 yards. Dixon rang up a perfect passer rating of 158.3, completing 6-of-7 passes for 128 yards that included a short pass to rookie Antonio Brown who turned it into a 68-yard touchdown. Plus, unlike the immobile Leftwich, Dixon ran six times for a TD (even though it was called back) and another 31 yards.
The safe choice for coach Mike Tomlin opening day would be the veteran Leftwich, but the best choice is looking more like Dixon.
Being Krafty
It’s difficult to understand what is happening with Tom Brady and a potential contract extention.
Every week there is speculation it will happen, that a deal is imminent. Brady says he wants to finish his career with the Patriots and that he doesn’t care if he earns more, or less, than Peyton Manning.
So, if everything is sweet and rosy, how come nothing ever happens? And, how come there are always whispers that when the camera lights go down and Tom is home with no microphones around that he isn’t nearly so happy at being left hanging?
Yesterday, he acknowledged that things don’t always work out even for Hall of Famers. “Joe Montana got traded, and Jerry Rice did, guys I loved watching out there that really were the best players to ever play at their positions,” Brady told the Boston Globe. “It’s hard to think if those guys are not playing for a team, why should I ever be excluded from that?”
Last year Brady returned from his 2008 knee-ligament injury and didn’t produce anything close to his spectacular ’07 numbers. Brady had his second-best passing yardage season and completed an enviable 65.7% of his throws.
But maybe owner Robert Kraft is looking at a couple other stats. Like the one that says Brady is 33, in his 11th season. Maybe Kraft is wondering if someone with perhaps his best stats behind him, is worth a $60--$70 million investment.
Reverse play
It seems the Vikings aren’t sure what to think either about Brett Favre. So, they’re window shopping.
Reports indicate that the club has contacted Jeff Garcia, who signed with the UFL’s Omaha Nighthawks when it seemed his NFL days might be over.
Meantime, the longer Favre stays away the better Sage Rosenfels is looking. The 32-year-old was outstanding, throwing for 310 yards and three touchdowns against the Rams. Tarvaris Jackson is Favre’s designated replacement but took just six snaps on the opening series while going 2-of-4 for 11 yards.
Quick hits
The 49ers shored up their running game by signing Brian Westbrook, to a one-year contract ... The Panthers have activated receiver Steve Smith and he caught passes Monday in non-contact drills for the first time since breaking his arm. Smith is expected to be ready to play in the season opener ... Aaron Schobel yesterday told the Houston Chronicle he would retire rather than join the Houston Texans. Schobel said he is “tired of dieting to weigh in the 240s” when his normal non-playing weight is about 270 ... Receiver Percy Harvin has rejoined the Vikings ... Matt Bryant has won the job as the Falcons’ kicker ... The 49ers traded Kentwan Balmer to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick. Balmer left camp last week. He’d been unhappy with his playing time in San Francisco and Seattle needs help on the d-line ... Texans placed RB Ben Tate, scheduled for ankle surgery today, on injured reserve, ending his season ... Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald will miss the rest of preseason with a ligament strain.