By
Will Korn
(Contributor)
on November 15, 2013
161
reads
Share
Tweet
Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories
Previous
1 of 8
Next
It's been a frustrating season, to say the least, for Eli Manning and the New York Giants
Andy Lyons/Getty Images

With each NFL regular season comes a glut of surprising and disappointing players—none more important than at the quarterback position.

I've decided I'm going to be critical today and survey the quarterbacks I think have been the most disappointing so far this season.

I made my selections based on three criteria:

How these quarterbacks have performed individually in comparison to their expectations for the season.

How their teams have performed, since it is generally accepted that the quarterback is the, or at least one of the most important pieces of a successful team.

Any general embarrassing and/or unexpected developments with the player.
Enjoy!
The Runner-Ups
Two of the Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks, Matt Cassel (L) and Josh Freeman (R).
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
1. Josh Freeman: Minnesota Vikings

Judging from that picture, Josh Freeman looks a tad bit surprised at his inclusion on this list.  Don't worry, sir—you didn't make the five most disappointing quarterbacks list.

Although his play certainly shouldn't have him feeling safe.
At all.

Per ESPN, his 52.6 passer rating is quite comical.  More picks than touchdowns.  Pathetic completion percentage with two teams—the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Minnesota Vikings—that are considered to have strong receiving cores.

The list goes on and on.  The worst part, though: He was cut by a winless team midseason and has not lived up to the hype of being a first-round draft pick.

Still, I'll give him a pass because many peoples' expectations for him weren't nearly as high as they were for others on this list.

2. Michael Vick: Philadelphia Eagles

When he's been healthy, he's been pretty good for the Philadelphia Eagles.  But that's the problem—he can't stay on the field.  Credit the Philly brass for negotiating its way out of that horrendous six-year, $100 million deal that Michael Vick signed in 2011.

But the $10 million the Eagles are paying him this season isn't going to good use.

Like Freeman, I'm giving Vick a pass here, mainly because it was expected that he would miss time with injury.

5. Eli Manning: New York Giants
Many thanks to JRSportBrief for the video.
Wow.  Take a listen at the 56-second mark of that video.
"He's led the team to basically an 0-6 record."
That's quite the compliment for a guy who's beaten Tom Brady in the Super Bowl twice.

But that's why he's low on this list—he's more than proved himself in his career, and the New York Giants are beginning to find their footing lately, having won three straight games.

While it's more than realistic to expect Eli Manning to pick up his play and lead the Giants into the playoff discussion, it's also difficult to ignore his underwhelming play so far this season.

Per ESPN, he's thrown 16 interceptions to just 11 touchdowns.  He's only completing 55.2 percent of his passes.

Aren't both Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks on this team?  Not many excuses for Manning right now, but again, I think he'll pick it up.

4. Brandon Weeden: Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden stretching during pregame.
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Weeden is lower on this list because he's another QB I didn't have high expectations for coming into this season.

But nevertheless, he's on this list because he was essentially made as the cornerstone of this franchise.

And to put it mildly, he's failed in that role.

His arrival booted out Colt McCoy, who, if he ever gets some regular playing time, could be a solid quarterback in the league.

Weeden has just been a big, fat disappointment for the Browns.

Per ESPN, he's only completed 52.8 percent of his passes this season.  He was heralded at Oklahama State for having a cannon, but also uncommon accuracy for such a strong arm.

I have yet to see those skills translate to the NFL.

Nobody expected Weeden to lead this team to the playoffs, but I think most people expected him to perform far better than he has in his short career.

3. Colin Kaepernick: San Francisco 49ers

That video is Colin Kaepernick's press conference following a San Francisco 49ers butt-kicking at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2.

Compare Kaepernick's confidence in this video to right before the Super Bowl last year.
There's definitely a noticeable difference.

With the exception of their Week 1 win against the Green Bay Packers, the 49ers have not shown they can hang with the league's best teams this season, and Kaepernick is a big reason why.

A 29-3 loss in Seattle to the Seahawks—a game many people thought they could win.
A 27-7 drubbing in Week 3 at home against the Indianapolis Colts.

Per ESPN, in those two games, Kaepernick was a combined 26-of-55 passing for 287 yards and no touchdowns. On the ground, he totaled 16 rushes for 107 yards and no touchdowns.

No touchdowns is the key phrase there.
Week 10? Kaepernick's 49ers couldn't even handle the Carolina Panthers in San Francisco.
Once again, the Nevada Wolf Pack product performed poorly.  Only 107 total yards and no touchdowns.

San Francisco should be in the playoffs, but it won't be going too far if Kaepernick can't produce better games than these three.

I'm starting to wonder if the 49ers are regretting letting go of Alex Smith.
2. Joe Flacco: Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco trying to avoid a sack.
Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

According to National Football Post's article, Flacco's new six-year, $120.6 million contract makes him the highest-paid player in NFL history.

I didn't think he ever even came close to deserving that kind of cash.

Yes, he was huge in the Ravens' Super Bowl win last season, but I can immediately think of at least five guys I'd rather have throwing the ball on my team.

Feel free to add more to this list: Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, possibly Tony Romo and, right now, possibly Andy Dalton of the Bengals.

Yes, I did mention Tony Romo in that list.

Now take a look at these numbers: 2,307 yards, 59 percent completion percentage, 12 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a quarterback rating of 49.6.

Now think about how good you are at your job, and what you are getting paid.
Injustice at its finest.

Not only do those numbers invalidate that albatross contract, but Flacco's Ravens are also just 4-5.

They have a chance at the playoffs only by the saving grace of their division rivals' pathetic play.

A guy making $20.1 million per year shouldn't have to rely on other teams to lose.
Right now, Flacco and his Ravens are.
1. Matt Schaub: Houston Texans
Thanks to ESPN for the wonderfully entertaining Mike and Mike segment.  Great stuff as always.

Have you ever tried the "Pick-Six Burger?" It's probably a Houston, Texas favorite right about now. I heard it was delicious.

I'm not too much of fan of burning jerseys, however.

The hole that Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub has dug himself into is literally unimaginable.

In this video, Mike Greenberg says that Schaub basically has to succumb to the overwhelming embarrassment he is facing and order a pick-six burger.  For Greenberg, that seems to be Schaub's only way out.

This Texans team was widely considered as a legitimate AFC contender coming into the season.  Schaub's putrid play by itself has nearly taken them to rock bottom.

The former Virginia Cavalier was never thought of as a clutch, winning quarterback. He has always been the closest thing to the AFC's version of Romo.

The defense is in place.  Houston allows the fewest passing yards per game in the league, and its rushing defense is good enough.  A team shouldn't be 2-7 if it has the Texans defense.

But enter Schaub throwing a game-changing pick-six in four straight weeks, and suddenly the Texans find themselves only one game ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have to be one of the worst teams in NFL history.

It's time to forget about this season, Texans fans.  Look to next year, and have fun with your Rockets.

Begin Slideshow
Keep Reading
Share
Tweet
G+
Flag Article
This article is
a duplicate
offensive
plagiarized
What is the duplicate article?
Why is this article offensive?
Where is this article plagiarized from?
Why is this article poorly edited?
Flag This Article
More Articles You'll Like
Teams That Could Go Worst-to-First in 2014
B/R Expert Consensus Week 11 Picks
Teams Sure to Lose in Week 11
or sign up