Gus Frerotte was ready to retire in late February after being cut by the Rams. Today, he’s the starting quarterback for the Vikings.
Welcome to the 2008 NFL season, the Year of the Backup Quarterback.
“I’ve been a traveling man in this league,” Frerotte said. “I guess journeyman is the term everyone uses. We’re like gypsies. You’d kind of like to settle down, but you never know where your next stop might be.”
Good thing Vikings coach Brad Childress talked Frerotte out of quitting. By Week 3, the 37-year-old Frerotte was starting ahead of struggling Tarvaris Jackson. Such is life in NFL ’08.
Another veteran backup, Brad Johnson, is starting by default in Dallas. A Harvard man, Ryan Fitzpatrick, is starting in Cincinnati. Matt Cassel, who didn’t start a game at Southern Cal, is trying to be a reasonable facsimile of Tom Brady in New England.
The list goes on and on. Twelve teams have used multiple starting quarterbacks, including the Seahawks and Chiefs, who’ve had three. Other than Kerry Collins’ 5-0 record and Frerotte’s and Cassel’s 3-2 marks, most are struggling to win a game, any game. Onward to Week 8 . . .
San Diego vs. New Orleans
11 a.m., Chargers by 3
Last meeting: Chargers won 43-17 at San Diego on Nov. 7, 2004
Who knew both teams would be under .500 when they landed in London? The loser drops lower than Churchill’s war bunker. . . . Philip Rivers leads the league in TD passes, passer rating and insults from Jay Cutler. . . . LaDainian Tomlinson on pace for yet another 1,000-yard season — barely. He’s on course for 1,019.
Prediction: Chargers 30, Saints 23
Oakland at Baltimore
11 a.m., Ravens by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Ravens won 28-6 at Baltimore on Sept. 17, 2006
The Ryan Bros., Rob and Rex, will square off in this one. Rex runs Ravens’ D, Rob Oakland’s. . . . Ravens have allowed 100 points in six games — 43 at home, 57 with pillow mints. . . . Balt S Ed Reed leads Not For Long with 35 INTs since ’02.
Prediction: Ravens 20, Raiders 16
Arizona at Carolina
11 a.m., Panthers by 4
Last meeting: Panthers won 25-10 at Arizona on Oct. 14, 2007
True, but strange: Seventh meeting in eight years between teams from different divisions. . . . Jake Delhomme 3-0 career vs. Cardinals. . . . Take away Mauling at the Meadowlands, where they gave up 56 points, and Cards have allowed six TD passes in five games. . . . Last time Cards were in first place this late, they lived under an arch.
Prediction: Panthers 27, Cardinals 20
Tampa Bay at Dallas
11 a.m., Cowboys by 2 1/2
Last meeting: Cowboys won 38-10 at Dallas on Nov. 23, 2006
Cowboys have Broncoitis: minus-6 in turnovers. . . . Bucs won Super Bowl 37. Their QB that year? Brad Johnson, Cowboys’ starter in this one. . . . Johnson completed four of first 12 passes vs. Rams. . . . ‘Boys LB De Marcus Ware has 13 sacks in past 10, leads league with nine.
Prediction: Cowboys 19, Buccaneers 16
Washington at Detroit
11 a.m., Washington by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Redskins won 34-3 at Washington on Oct. 7, 2007
Team with politically incorrect nickname has won 18 of past 20 in series. What’s that? You’re right. Hasn’t everyone vs. the Lions? . . . Motown QB Dan Orlovsky had never played in third quarter of an NFL game until Week 4. . . . Try some Red Bull already.
Prediction: Redskins 31, Lions 19
Buffalo at Miami
11 a.m., Bills by 1
Last meeting: Bills won 38-17 at Buffalo on Dec. 9, 2007
Bills’ 401(k)s getting beat up, but at least they own the Dolphins. Let’s Go 7-1 straight up, 8-0 vs. the point spread against Miami. . . . Trent Edwards in fourth Q: 29-for-38, three TDs, no pix. . . . So much for dinkin’ ‘n’ dunkin’. Lee Evans averaging 21.7 YPC on 24 grabs.
Prediction: Bills 26, Dolphins 18
St. Louis at New England
11 a.m., Patriots by 7 1/2
Last meeting: Patriots won 40-22 at St. Louis on Nov. 7, 2004
Break up the Rams! St. Looie 2-0 under interim coach Jim Haslett. . . . Pats have won 11 of past 12 homies in October. And let’s face it, that 41-7 dubya over the Broncos should count for two.
Prediction: Rams 23, Patriots 17
Kansas City at N.Y. Jets
11 a.m., Jets by 14
Last meeting: Jets won 13-10 (OT) at the Meadowlands on Dec. 30, 2007
Will the last Chiefs QB standing please turn out the lights on your season? The immortal, Canton-bound Tyler Thigpen will start for K.C. . . . This just in. Just so there won’t be any more of those stories, Brett Favre pitched his cellphone in the swamp across the Joisey Turnpike.
Prediction: Jets 26, Chiefs 5
Atlanta at Philadelphia
11 a.m., Eagles by 9
Last meeting: Eagles won 24-17 at Philadelphia on Dec. 31, 2006
World Series and an Eagles game on the same day? Rocky’s town will be rockin’. . . . Dirty Birds have gone sans a TD in two of their three roadies. . . . Matt Ryan a tale of two QBs: 43-for-61, three TDs, no picks at home, 50 outta 100, two TDs, three INTs on the road. . . . Eagles hoping to pick up where they left off before bye, when they hit Niners for 23 fourth Q pts.
Prediction: Eagles 31, Falcons 16
Cincinnati at Houston
2 p.m., Texans by 9 1/2
Last meeting: Bengals won 16-10 at Cincinnati on Oct. 2, 2005
Bengals’ offense uglier than Wall St.: 30th passing, 31st running, 32nd overall. . . . Fatigue factors here. Cincy facing third roadie in four weeks. . . . Texans have won two straight, six of past seven at home. . . . Rookie Steve Slaton gittin’ ‘er done: 423 rush yds., 4.8 per.
Prediction: Texans 41, Bengals 24
Cleveland at Jacksonville
2 p.m., Jaguars by 7
Last meeting: Jaguars won 20-14 at Cleveland on Dec. 4, 2005
News flash: Game could be canceled because Browns’ entire roster has a staph infection. . . . No Kellen Winslow, Jr. here. Suspended for talkin’ the talk about the front office. . . . Don’t look now, but Jags gettin’ healthy on Oh line.
Prediction: Jaguars 27, Browns 17
N.Y. Giants at Pittsburgh
2:15 p.m., Steelers by 3
Last meeting: Steelers won 33-30 at the Meadowlands on Dec. 18, 2004
Bad matchup here: G-Men’s boffo D- line vs. Stillers’ unit that ranks 28th in sacks allowed. . . . Oh, all right, we admit it. We thought Giants were a fluke. No such luck. They’re second in Oh, fourth on D. . . . Stillers have won nine straight homies vs. NFC.
Prediction: Giants 24, Steelers 23
Seattle at San Francisco
2:15 p.m., 49ers by 5 1/2
Last meeting: 49ers won 33-30 (OT) at Seattle on Sept. 14
Just wondering: With all those rumors out there, which team will Mike Holmgren be coaching? . . . Not that the season isn’t so young anymore, but this is the first rematch of ’08. . . . Head coaching debut for Mike Singletary, who’ll keep the gig if Niners show a pulse. . . . Turnovers tale: Seattle minus-6, SF minus-8.
Prediction: 49ers 37, Seahawks 31
Indianapolis at Tennessee
6:30 p.m. Monday, Titans by 4
Last meeting: Titans won 16-10 at Indianapolis on Dec. 30, 2007
Not that Colts have owned the AFC South, but this is the second time they’ve been underdogs in division game. . . . It’s easy to see why. Titans winning by an average of two TDs, 25-11. . . . Anyone seen Peyton Manning this season? Dude has eight TD tosses, seven INTs.
Prediction: Titans 26, Colts 20
Jimmy tracker
Season record: 64-38;
Record vs. the spread: 53-46-3
Highlight of the week: Steelers over the Bengals 31-13. Your final score from Cincy? That would be 38-10, Pittsburgh. Sorry for overrating the Men of Marvin. Won’t happen again.
