Doesn't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone?
By severing relationships with their franchise quarterbacks, the San Diego Chargers and the Minnesota Vikings have paved their paradise and put in a parking lot.
On one hand, there is an argument for replacing a paradise with a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot.
For San Diego, Drew Brees was commanding an annual eight-figure salary after suffering a serious shoulder injury, while Philip Rivers, a more affordable, burgeoning young stud, was waiting to blossom.
For Minnesota, their franchise face Daunte Culpepper was now a frowned upon figure after a season rife with on-field and off-field calamities. He is also recovering from a severe injury.
But even so, considering that the quarterback is the most important position on a football team and takes the longest to develop, one might question what exactly the Chargers and Vikings are doing.
When San Diego drafted Drew Brees with the first pick in the second round of the 2001 draft, they expected him to be their solution at quarterback. After three discouraging seasons, though, their expectations were lowered. His 29-31 TD-INT ratio and his sub-80.0 quarterback rating had the Chargers' front office so uncertain about his future that they used their highest pick in the 2004 draft on a quarterback.
But after three seasons of headaches for the Chargers, Brees finally blossomed into a Pro Bowl quarterback. In total, they invested five seasons worth of time and money into Brees hoping he would ripen into a viable franchise quarterback. And when he finally did, they let him walk.
The trepidations regarding Brees' injury come across as a weak excuse for letting him go, rather than a serious concern in regards to his future. He's damaged goods right now, but he will recover. What if Philip Rivers gets injured, does that mean the Chargers will quickly cut ties with him, as well?
What is more puzzling is the fact that Chargers were willing to part with Brees for no compensation whatsoever. Considering that by simply franchise tagging him, they could have landed a similar return as the Dolphins received for Culpepper (51st pick overall) or what the Jets are asking for defensive end John Abraham (late first-round pick).
At the very least, one can defend the Chargers by pointing to Rivers as a feasible prospect waiting in the wings, but the same cannot be said for the Vikings.
They will turn to stopgap quarterback Brad Johnson until they find someone they believe can eventually fill Culpepper's shoes.
But let me ask you this: what is the point of ridding yourself of a franchise quarterback, a known commodity that you have developed and supported for years, in hopes of finding yet another signal caller who you anticipate will eventually perform at a similar level?
There is no point.
The search for a legitimate quarterback is not a quick process. Just ask the Cincinnati Bengals or Chicago Bears, who have spent nearly a decade in the NFL basement mostly due to shoddy quarterbacking.
The Dolphins and the Saints, who have been limited by inconsistency at that position, will immediately gain from this sale and upgrade their status as contenders.
You would think a franchise like the Chargers, who spun through Craig Whelihan, Jim Harbaugh, Doug Flutie, and Ryan Leaf in a recent four-year span, would cling to anything or anyone that resembled competency, never mind someone who threw for 51 touchdowns in two seasons.
The Vikings have been quite comfortable at the position for the last decade, but will experience some turbulence going forward as they begin their search for a future prospect.
Even if they somehow land a top prospect like Vince Young or Jay Cutler in this year's draft, they are still at least 2-3 years away from being considered a threat in the NFC.
As for the Chargers, they drop from the ranks of being a Super Bowl contender who was only one or two players short of a serious run and will instead delay their championship hopes for at least one season — if not more — depending on how Rivers handles his bumps and bruises.
And for what?
The desire is that Rivers, and whoever becomes the Vikings' candidate, can achieve the superstar status at the position so that the team can try to lock them up with a lucrative long term contract.
But isn't that what they just had?
Sure, both quarterbacks experienced injuries last season, but can you expect a fragile position like the quarterback to be healthy every week of every season? It's not like the man in question is Chris Chandler, we're talking about Brees, who missed one game in two years as a full-time starter, and Culpepper, who had only missed two games in three years prior to last season.
Investing in a quarterback is like investing in a car: it is a long-term commitment. You don't toss it onto a scrapheap the first time the muffler kicks out.
The Green Bay Packers once had Mark Brunell, Matt Hasselbeck, and Aaron Brooks behind their stalwart starter Brett Favre, but they never went the cheaper, younger route.
They shipped away their sexy prospects and haven't looked back since.
The Vikings might be rebuilding and the Chargers might be retooling, but Brees and Culpepper should have been part of the solution.
Doesn't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone? The Vikings and Chargers have regressed for the time being and will realize that next year.
Big Yellow Taxi and the NFL offseason mix like Mondays and me.
"From the moment I picked your book up until I laid it down, I convulsed with laughter. Someday, I intend reading it." — Groucho Marx
March 21, 2006
Chad:
I trust Mr. Childress when he says that he say some T.O in Culpepper. A franchise quarterback is not a franchise quarterback unless he is speaking with his owner and his coach. Difficult to do that from Florida if you do not answer the phone.
Daunte is not a good leader and he is not willing to listen to the coach. We cannot be hung up on talent because even talent can blow up in your face (Eagles).
March 22, 2006
Robert:
I think the vikings would have been better served if they had traded Culpepper and kept Moss. Randy’s only problem was that culpepper would throw from 1 to 3 passes a game to Moss. Half the time defenders were flagged trying to stop him, but culpepper apparently did not like to gain yards by taking advantage of it. It became obvious to other teams that they did not have to defend Moss after the first half of the first quarter, because culpepper would not throw to him anyway.