Has anyone else noticed that the AFC West has gone from the BRAVEHEART division to the DAYCARE division? The youngest group of starting quarterbacks in the NFL now resides in the AFC West. It's about time, the division is five years behind their counterparts.
Brodie Croyle is now the Chiefs starting quarterback and played admirably against the Colts. He gave his team a chance to win, didn't throw interceptions and his touchdown throw to Dwayne Bowe was hopefully the first of many to come.
Croyle is 24 years old and is a second year player in the NFL. What about the hated Denver Donkies....errr Broncos? Jay Cutler, the starting Bronco quarterback is 24 years old and is a second year player in the NFL. Does that description sound familar?
The grandpa of the young quarterbacks is San Diego starter Philip Rivers. Rivers is an age old 25 year old, fourth year player. However, he is really in his second year of playing fulltime after sitting for two years behind Drew Brees.
The Raiders quarterback situation is not far behind. Here he comes and get ready for the baby of the babies.....JeMarcus Russell, a 22 year old rookie who has been waiting and waiting on the Raider bench for a chance to play. It would be interesting indeed if he played this week for the Raiders against the Chiefs. Russell is "tight" with Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe and worked out with the Chiefs rookie while both were holding out during training camp.
The AFC West for years kept plugging in old, retread quarterbacks with the exception of John Elway who was brought up mostly in the Bronco system. That strategy belongs in the 1990's as much as cassette machines. The NFL has entered the digital age of drafting and developing young quarterbacks. Who is the best team in the NFL? New England drafted and developed Tom Brady. Who is next? Indianapolis drafted and developed Peyton Manning. Who is next?
Pittsburgh drafted and developed Ben Roethlisberger. Who is next? Dallas took an undrafted free agent WHO LOOKED AT KANSAS CITY by the name of Tony Romo and developed him. He was a 2003 free agent who was scouted by the Chiefs, but the Chiefs were not interested in looking at a young quarterback at the time.
It is a new era for the Kansas City Chiefs, and a new era for the AFC West. It was an era that the rest of the successful teams in the league started four to five years earlier. Vinny Testaverde need not apply...youth is being served in the AFC West.
