MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

However this may be flipside of the Watson injury. Be good to see Bridgewater back. Young guy with talent and upside

 

Bridgewater was never a good QB, and his ceiling was average, at absolute best. You could have confused him for Christian Ponder, quite a bit. He threw 28 TD's in 29 games, and turned the ball over 29 times. If your turnover ratio is at one per game, that's good. If your TD ratio is less than one per game, that's really bad.

He got a lot of hype because he was a young guy who wasn't an obvious bust, and had guys like Adrian Peterson around him. In a QB-starved town, he was a big deal. Anyone hanging their hopes that he'll come back and be a good QB, all of a sudden, had better hope that he was working overtime with a bum knee. If the Vikings bet on Ponder - I mean, Bridgewater - I don't see it going well.

 

Well, Teddy had absolutely no help from the offensive line either. He was a rookie who kept his head above water. I believe he had an outa site completion % also. 70% neighborhood.

I agree with the things you brought up, but AP wasn't all that either. Overall I think he did ok with what he had and all things considered. Many times you can plug an average QB into a well honed, sharp, executing team and things really gel and the team is successful. But , I think the whole team was average to begin with and like I mentioned, zero offensive line.

I hope the best of course, but hey, the will still have 'Keenum the great'!

 

He also increased his completion percentage, and QB rate from year one to year two while decreasing his interception rate. Sure he didn't set the world on fire like Watson but he is a QB that was on the up trend before his injury. Yes his overall number not quite where you want them to be but look at his last season in 2015.

First 8 games 64.22% completion with 6 TDs and 6 interceptions Rate 83.4 TD% 2.6 INT% 2.6
Last 8 games 66.51% completion with 8 TDs and 3 Interceptions Rate 94.4 TD% 3.4 INT% 1.4

The improvement is trending in the right direction. Is he there yet no but there are enough signs that as a fan of the Vikings you should be excited. Sure he is not going to be Tom Brady but being a top 15 QB is not out of the realm of possibility.

 

Wow. How can you base that off 1 year. Talk about a negative view. So is Goff the same as Ponder as well?

 

I'm hoping after this week (week 10) that Teddy gets a start. I'm curious as to what he can bring and I also think it would be a good idea to get him some time under center and get in a groove before the Playoffs get underway. I know its just a little early to put Minnesota in the Playoffs just yet, but if the wheels don't fall off like last season, Teddy could use a few games prior to get the kinks ironed out.

 

Philip Rivers in concussion protocol

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been placed in the league’s concussion protocol today.

Although Rivers played the entire game on Sunday with no indication of a concussion, Chargers coach Anthony Lynn announced today that Rivers is in the concussion protocol now.

It’s unclear when Rivers suffered a concussion. He threw 37 passes in Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars and was not sacked.

If Rivers can’t play on Sunday against the Bills, Kellen Clemens will start for the Chargers and Cardale Jones will be the backup.

 

Cam Newton becomes fourth quarterback with 4,000 career rushing yards

When Cam Newton ran through the Dolphins’ defense for a 69-yard gain on Thursday night, it was one of the best runs of his career — and put him in some exclusive company.

That run put Newton over 4,000 career rushing yards, making him just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to reach that mark.

Newton now has 4,002 career rushing yards. Only Michael Vick (6,109), Randall Cunningham (4,928) and Steve Young (4.239) have more.

The 28-year-old Newton is also the youngest quarterback to reach 4,000 rushing yards. Vick topped 4,000 yards in his age-30 season, Cunningham also did it at 30 and Young did it at 37. If Newton keeps playing the way he is now into his mid-30s, he should top Vick for the most rushing yards ever by a quarterback.

Newton’s 436 rushing yards this year are the most for any quarterback in the NFL, and he joins Vick and Cunningham as the only quarterbacks with six 400-yard rushing seasons. And Newton’s 5.9 yards per carry average is the best of his career.

Newton’s 95 yards last night were the fourth most in any game of his career, and his 86 yards last week against the Falcons were the fifth most. He’s running as well now as he ever has.

 

Case Keenum: In my head, I’m sure I’m the starter

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer will wait until tomorrow to say whether Case Keenum or Teddy Bridgewater is the starting quarterback. But Keenum says he feels he’s the guy.

Keenum said on the Dan Patrick Show that he’s approaching this week as if he’s starting against the Rams on Sunday.

“In my own head, I for sure am. That’s how I’ve approached it, that’s how I’ve answered it. I don’t know how else to answer it. That’s how I have to approach every week,” Keenum said.

It would be hard to justify benching Keenum, given that he’s been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL this year and has led the Vikings to the top of the NFC North — even though Bridgewater was the Vikings’ franchise quarterback before he got hurt in training camp last year.

Keenum has said repeatedly that he likes Bridgewater and is happy that he’s healthy enough to play again. But there’s little doubt that Keenum would be disappointed to lose his job now, after far exceeding expectations this season.

 

Drew Brees: I plan to be in New Orleans beyond 2017

With seven wins in a row, the Saints have every reason to be living in the moment right now and that’s just what quarterback Drew Brees says he’s doing.

Brees is in the final year of his contract, but said during an appearance on XTRA 1360 AM with former Chargers teammate Nick Hardwick and Judson Richards that he’ll “handle 2018 when 2018 gets here.” Brees did make it clear that his desire is to remain in New Orleans.

“I feel like we’ve got a great opportunity ahead of us and I don’t plan on leaving New Orleans ever,” Brees said. “Hopefully, I know all of that stuff takes care of itself when it’s supposed to. I have not approached them about any contract. We just have a great understanding here. Listen, we’re going to go through this season and we’ll revisit it in the offseason. For right now, I’m in the moment.”

The Saints have built a powerful run game with Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara and their defense has been as good as any in the league since the first two weeks of the season, which means they are less reliant on Brees to win games than they’ve been at an other point in his time with the team.

That would seem to be a good direction to take with a quarterback closing in on his 39th birthday. It is also one that could create a difference of opinion about how much Brees should make in 2018 and beyond, although that will have to be balanced against who else they might be able to plug into the offense. Based on the timeline Brees laid out, it will be some time before we get a sense of how both sides see things. (PFT)

 

If I know Brees he's not signing for anything less than what Matt Stafford got (27M per). The guy has earned $194,000,000 over his career. You'd think at this point he'd consider trying to pay some other guys and build a team.

 

Ben Roethlisberger on his play: Wins are all that matter

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is on track for his lowest passer rating, touchdown percentage and completion percentage since 2008, but he said on Tuesday that he’s not paying attention to anything other than the final score of games.

Roethlisberger was specifically talking about last Sunday’s 20-17 win over the Colts, which saw him struggle through the first half before rallying to lead the Steelers back from 17-3 down in the final two quarters, but the message he sent could apply to every week of the season.

“I couldn’t tell you what I did,” Roethlisberger said, via Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I know I threw an interception. I know I threw for two touchdowns. That’s it. But I know we won the game. Honestly, isn’t that all that matters? Whether it’s pretty or ugly, don’t championship teams find a way to win the game no matter what? We’ve talked in the past that we haven’t found a way to win those games against teams that, on paper, we’re supposed to beat. Well, we won this one.”

Four straight wins and a 7-2 record that has the Steelers comfortably ahead in the AFC North makes it a lot easier to focus on the destination rather than the journey. Should they keep it going against the Titans on Thursday, they’ll have an extended break to continue sending those messages before they have to try to run the streak to six. (PFT)

 

Cam Newton is the NFC offensive player of the week...

 

Bills bench Tyrod Taylor, will start Nathan Peterman

The struggling Bills have made a change at quarterback.

Bills‏ head coach Sean McDermott announced this morning that Nathan Peterman will start at quarterback on Sunday and Tyrod Taylor will go to the bench.

“We are in the playoff hunt and we are always focused on becoming the best team possible. We were made for better than 5-4,” McDermott said.

McDermott benched Taylor for Peterman late in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Saints, and Peterman played reasonably well, although that was in garbage time, and after the game McDermott said he was sticking with Taylor. Apparently a few days of thought led to McDermott changing his mind.

The Bills got off to a hot start this season but have been blown out two weeks in a row, first to the Jets and then on Sunday to the Saints. Taylor has hardly been to blame for all of it — the Bills’ defense has struggled mightily as well — but he bears enough of the blame that McDermott wants to see what the young backup can do. On Sunday in Los Angeles, Peterman will start against the Chargers. (PFT)

 

Vikings stick with Case Keenum at starting quarterback

Minnesota is staying the course with Case Keenum under center.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer told reporters in a press conference Wednesday that he will not bench Keenum for Teddy Bridgewater this week against the Los Angeles Rams, instead sticking with the journeyman quarterback who has led Minnesota to a 7-2 start.

Keenum wasn't the Vikings starter coming into this season, but he has developed into one of their most consistent and reliable signal-callers under center in recent memory. He has led the Vikings to five straight victories, since taking the starting role over for the injured Sam Bradford, and is coming off of his best performance yet -- a four-touchdown onslaught in D.C.

Why would a team bench a quarterback coming off of a four-TD day and in the midst of a five-game winning streak? Well, the return of Teddy Bridgewater to the active roster has something to do with it.

Bridgewater was active for the first time in 672 days on Sunday and theoretically provides Minnesota with a higher ceiling this season. But the Vikes haven't seen him play, or throw in a game situation, since their wild-card loss to the Seahawks in January of 2016.

For now, they'll stick with Keenum and hope his stellar run of play continues. But with Bridgewater healthy, the leash on the journeyman quarterback is as short as ever. (NFL.com)

 

If its not broken...

 

Chargers coach believes Philip Rivers will play Sunday

It appears the ironman of the Los Angeles Chargers will be playing Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said Thursday he believes quarterback Philip Rivers will be out of the league's concussion protocol before Sunday and eligible to play.

We think he'll play, but that's up to the doctors," Lynn said, per ESPN. "That's not my decision."

The veteran quarterback must be cleared by an independent neurologist before he's allowed to play again.

Rivers was placed into concussion protocol Monday following the Chargers' overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. It's unclear on which play Rivers sustained the concussion, but he was listed as a full participant in practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday.

Rivers, 35, hasn't missed a game since taking over the Chargers' starting role from Drew Brees in 2006. He has started 185 consecutive games, the second-best active streak behind draft mate Eli Manning (208) and the fourth-best all-time.

If he can't go, backup Kellen Clemens is set to get the start with former Bills signal-caller Cardale Jones also on the roster.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that the Chargers were encouraged by the progress Rivers had made under protocol and there was optimism he would play Sunday. For a 3-6 team on the edge of falling into the abyss of another failed playoff bid, having Rivers under center could be vital for preserving the Chargers' postseason hopes.
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Hasnt missed a game since 2006... that's amazing!

 

Marcus Mariota shoulders blame for four INTs against Steelers

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota had never thrown more than two interceptions in a game prior to Thursday night’s game in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers managed to pick off Mariota four times in a 40-17 victory of the Titans.

“I mean those are on me. When it comes down to it I’m the one that makes the decision to throw it. Just bad decisions,” Mariota said.

Mike Hilton, Coty Sensabaugh, Robert Golden and Sean Davis each intercepted Mariota on the night. While the Steelers only converted the interceptions into three field goals, it’s exceedingly difficult to win games in the NFL losing the turnover battle 4-0.

“I’ve got to do a better job of if it’s not there of either tucking it away or throwing it out-of-bounds,” Mariota said.

The first two interceptions to Hilton and Sensabaugh were particularly poor for Matriota. An overthrow of Rishard Matthews led to Hilton’s interception and a late throw while staring down Corey Davis was picked by Sensabaugh. Tennessee weathered the early mistakes and closed the gap to 16-14 on the first play of the third quarter before the Steelers offense began to move easily down the field against the Tennessee defense.

The Titans offense couldn’t keep up. (PFT)

 

NFL investigating Jameis Winston for allegedly groping an Uber driver

An allegation that Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston groped an Uber driver in March 2016 is under review by the NFL.

Talal Ansari of BuzzFeed News reported on Friday that the driver received a letter from NFL special counsel for investigations Lisa Friel informing her that the league has heard about the allegations and “opened an investigation into this matter.” A spokesperson for the NFL told PFT on Friday that the matter is under review and that the NFL has reached out to Uber to request any information they may have.

The driver, identified only as Kate, says that she picked up Winston around 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 13 in Scottsdale, Arizona and that Winston sat in the front passenger seat next to her. She says Winston asked to get food at a drive-thru restaurant and, per the driver, Winston “reached over and he just grabbed my crotch” while they were waiting for it to be delivered. She claims Winston held his hand there for three to five seconds.

She reported the incident to Uber, but told Ansari she did not go to police because she was afraid of negative backlash if she went that route. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, a spokesperson for Uber said “the rider was permanently removed from the app shortly after we learned of the incident.”

 

Jameis Winston ruled out for Week 12

Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston‘s been in the news for off-field reasons of late and that will continue to be the only area of activity for Winston this week.

Winston has missed the team’s last two games with a right shoulder injury and Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter announced on Monday that he’ll miss a third when the Bucs face the Falcons. Koetter said Winston went for another evaluation of the injury on Monday that ended without clearance to throw, which leaves Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm of the offense.

Fitzpatrick was 22-of-37 for 275 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-20 victory over the Dolphins. That makes two wins in a row for the Buccaneers, who are now 4-6 on the season.