Saturday Thoughts: (Pre) Season of the Quarterback

Position Battles 

As expected, quarterback races across the landscape of the league have heated up throughout the 2015 NFL Preseason, with Brian Hoyer getting the nod over Ryan Mallett in Houston, Ryan Fitzpatrick being brought to the Big Apple, and EJ Manuel/Matt Cassel duking it out in Buffalo, with Tyrod Taylor even having a slight outside shot.


Johnny Football Done for Preseason
In a pivotal year for Johnny Manziel, it appears as if he's done playing NFL football... for now. Manziel was recently shut down for the rest of the preseason due to elbow soreness. Reportedly, Manziel has experienced soreness since his high school days, and it couldn't have flared up at a worse time. Coming off a year where we saw him struggle both on and off the field, Johnny Football was locked in a battle to become Cleveland's starting quarterback, and with his absence on the field, the job will ultimately shift in favor of Josh McCown.

Vick Receives New Contract, Old Haters 
With Bruce Gradkowski now on the IR list, Pittsburgh searched for an upgraded insurance policy for Ben Roethlisberger (Anybody but Landry Jones, please) and signed former first overall pick Michael Vick. Although Vick is certainly on the down-slope of his career, he adds another dimension at the quarterback position and is able to pick up an offense quickly, something needed for the Steelers with a mere two weeks until they travel to New England to open the season.

With the ink still wet on the contract, the "Michael Vick Haters Chorus" awoke from their slumber, and pegged Vick with the same old insults used almost a decade ago. Why some people decide to only dislike him for past mistakes when he makes headlines is another topic for another day, Michael is ready to do whatever he can to help Pittsburgh become a better team, and hopefully try to once again show people the new, changed person he is throughout that process.

RG3 Lacks Many Things, Except Confidence

"I feel like I'm the best quarterback in the league" is a quote you would expect to come out of the likes of a Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady or any established passer in this league. However, this quote came from Redskins signal-caller Robert Griffin III.

Now before this topic is discussed any further, you can't fault Griffin for being confident and believing in himself. Obviously, being asked how he felt in an interview, one wouldn't expect RG3 to degrade himself and be completely honest, that's a job for people such as myself.

Yet it's the simple fact those words were uttered out of Robert that took many people off-guard. After all, this is the same once rookie sensation turned injury-prone, inaccurate and shaky quarterback we're talking about, correct?  Props to Griffin for the confidence, but let's not lose a grip of reality. RG3 is well on his way to becoming one of the more notable of busts in recent memory, unless of course the prayers are finally answered in Washington and the Redskins deliver on the football field.