I Got Your Back

Everyone loves a backup quarterback. When their favorite team is down and the team's starting QB is stuggling mightily, the backup QB automatically becomes the most popular guy in town. There's a reason these guys aren't starting, but when the starter looks more like the real-life Christopher Reeve instead of his fictional Superman, fans believe that the benchwarmer could come out of the bullpen and lead their team to victory. I have my favorites, for all sorts of different reasons...

Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals

Matt Leinart is pretty. Pretty hot, and pretty sucky. He can bang any chick he wants, but he can't complete a 10-yard out to save his life. His game on the field may be weak, but his game off the field sure isn't. He won a Heisman at USC, but it hasn't translated to success in the NFL, where as a guy like Matt Cassel took his zero career starts at Southern Cal and turned it into a pretty solid season for the Pats this year. I guess playing with numerous future NFL stars in college does a pretty good job of masking how inadequate he is at playing quarterback in the pros, but I'd probably still pay to sniff his fingers.

Vince Young, Tennessee Titans
Three years ago this guy was the talk of the town. Fresh off the National Title victory over the aformentioned Matt Leinart, VY was expected to be the #1 overall pick by his hometown Houston Texans. They passed, and VY slipped to the Titans at #3. A freak of nature, VY was expected to lead the Titans to the promised land. Instead, he couldn't even beat out Kerry Collins, who was just cut by the Oakland freakin' Raiders a couple years back. VY took his demotion like a man. I'm fairly convinced that I could complete more passes in a 7-on-7 drill than VY, even though I'm a decade removed from playing organized football, and I wasn't even a quarterback then. You would think guys like Tavaris Jackson and Terrelle Pryor would take a look at VY's NFL career and realize that just because you can run like a gazelle and throw a football 100 mph, it doesn't make completing a 5-yard hook any easier. I still love having the guy around, not because of his on-the-field prowess, but because it gives a guy like Pryor a glimpse into his future.

Charlie Batch, Pittsburgh Steelers.
Chuck Batch is the best backup quarterback in the NFL. He may be the best backup quarterback in the history of the NFL. All because of one tell-tale fact...he has two rings. Ok I kid, but I do like Chuck. He's a local product who escaped the horrors of Detroit, swallowed his pride and took a backup position to be back home, where he has helped the Steelers win two championships. Chuck has had countless opportunities to leave Pittsburgh and get another opportunity at a starting position and fame, but instead he's stayed home, contributed even though he was on IR all season, and has made countless charitable contributions to his hometown. A class act, and a pretty good football player to boot.