As the QBs Turn

Here we are only three weeks into the NFL season and we already have two QB changes and another in question. Of the two teams making changes, Tampa Bay and Miami, one is due to ineffectiveness and the other to injury.

Tampa Bay head coach Raheem Morris announced that the Bucs are going to go a different direction at the position. Out is Byron Leftwich. Taking a glance at the stats, it's not a big surprise but the timing is. The Bucs are in a rebuilding mode and Leftwich was thought to be the bridge to get from this process to the Bucs first round pick in this past draft Josh Freeman. Apparently, the construction of that particular bridge was scrapped. A new bridge is being constructed, for now, with Josh Johnson. Morris says that Johnson gives the Bucs more options at the position. The fact that the Bucs performed miserably on offense most likely led to this quick decision. That and an 0-3 start. Within a week, Leftwich goes from starter to third string as Freeman will be the #2 behind Johnson. To think Leftwich left Pittsburgh for this.

Leftwich's stats tell a similar story as well. Of the 33 quarterbacks that have enough attempts to qualify, Leftwich is 27th of 33 QBs in QB rating with a 71.2. The QBs behind Leftwich are the Rams Marc Bulger, Titans Kerry Collins, Browns Brady Quinn, Lions Matthew Stafford, Panthers Jake Delhomme, and Raiders JaMarcus Russell. Leftwich has thrown for 4 TD and 3 INT but had been sacked only 2 times. His completion percentage of 54.2% was fourth worst of the 33 QBs.

Their counterparts to the southeast are in a different bind. Miami Dolphins QB Chad Pennington's season is most likely over, and possibly his career. In a 23-13 loss to the Chargers on Sunday, Pennington suffered yet another shoulder injury, his third of his career. Pennington will seek a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews as Andrews has performed two other procedures to Pennington's shoulder.

The winless Dolphins will go with Chad Henne who is in his second year out of Michigan. In a substitute role against the Chargers, Henne was only 10-19 for 92 yards and a pick. His QB rating was a lowly 44.2. But Henne will get the snaps at practice this week as Miami will play host to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The Dolphins selected Henne in the second round last year and passed on Matt Ryan to select Jake Long with last year's #1 overall pick. That move will be even more scrutinized if Henne cannot produce. Only time can tell us of that.

Here we go again with Browns head coach Eric Mangini and his QB choice. Brady Quinn was pulled at halftime of last week's drubbing at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. His first half stats: 6-8, 34 yards, 1 INT. Derek Anderson played the second half and was 11-19, 92 yards and 3 INT. How can you compare bad to worse? On one hand, Anderson was more successful passing the ball...for yardage. On the other hand, Quinn only threw one pick. I have a headache just thinking about this...again!

Mangini will most likely announce the starter Wednesday. Whoever it is, he better be ready for the visiting Cincinnati Bengals who are just a fluke play away from being 3-0.

One other QB injury was to the St. Louis Rams Marc Bulger. He sustained a bruised rotator cuff and his status is questionable going into this weeks game against the San Francisco 49ers. If Bulger can't go, former Raven Kyle Boller will most likely get the starting nod.