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Backup QBs can turn into heroes: Other thoughts

Submitted by SHNS on Wed, 09/10/2008 - 13:24

A look at this and that from the world of sports.BACKUP TO BREAK OUTNew England Patriots fans, don't dismay. Just because quarterback Tom Brady is out for the season doesn't mean the season is lost. Even with unknown Matt Cassel, who has never started a game at QB in the NFL or college, taking over.Here are five stories of inspiration, five little-used, practically unknown backup quarterbacks who took over for injured starters and had success:-- 1. Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams.When Trent Green was injured and lost for the season in a 1999 preseason game, Rams coach Dick Vermeil cried, probably because he had to turn to the former Arena and NFL Europe QB. Warner had one of the best seasons in NFL history, throwing 41 touchdowns and for more than 4,300 yards. He was the league MVP, the Super Bowl MVP after leading the Rams to a 23-16 victory over Tennessee in Super Bowl XXXIV.-- 2. Jeff Hostetler, New York Giants.He had thrown only 155 passes over five seasons with the Giants while serving as backup to Phil Simms. But in mid-December of 1990, Simms broke his foot. Hostetler won the final two regular-season games then led the Giants into Super Bowl XXV in Tampa. Hostetler went 20-for-32 for 222 yards and a TD. The Giants won, 20-19, when Buffalo's Scott Norwood missed a kick at the final gun.-- 3. Vince Ferragamo, Los Angeles Rams.The Rams starter in 1979 was Pat Haden, but Haden broke his finger midway through the season and Ferragamo took over, going 4-1 to get Los Angeles into the playoffs. Ferragamo led the Rams to playoff victories at Dallas and Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship Game then nearly pulled off a shocking upset of the Steelers in Super Bowl XIV.-- 4. Mike Kruczek, Pittsburgh Steelers.He had to take over the two-time defending Super Bowl champs midway through the 1976 season when Terry Bradshaw was injured. Kruczek, with loads of help from a defense that allowed a mere 28 points and two touchdowns in the final nine games, went 6-0 to help the Steelers, who started that season 1-4, get into the playoffs.-- 5. Tom Brady, New England Patriots. One of the best quarterbacks of all time -- and the guy who inspired this list -- only got his chance because of an injury. Brady took over as Pats QB in the second game of the 2001 season when Drew Bledsoe was injured. And the rest, as they say, is history.WHINERS OF THE DAYDid you hear Georgia football coach Mark Richt and some Bulldogs fans are whining because one of their team's plays wasn't featured on ESPN's SportsCenter?This isn't a joke. Richt and the Georgia faithful, already moaning about dropping from No. 1 to No. 2 in the polls, are ticked at the World Wide Leader because a run by running back Knowshon Moreno did not make the highlights. Moreno's run was for a whole 29 yards against Central Michigan, for crying out loud, and apparently was a big deal because he hurdled a defender before falling down.Richt said, "Yeah. They missed the boat or didn't do their homework or whatever.'' Oh, it gets better. One Georgia blogger even called ESPN to get an official explanation.ESPN said something about not getting highlights from Fox Sports Net, which broadcast the game, in time for SportsCenter. A better response would've been: "Why don't you Georgia fans change your diapers and call us back when you start eating solid food.''THREE THINGS THAT POPPED INTO MY HEAD-- 1. I've had just about enough of Michael Phelps.-- 2. Florida QB Tim Tebow can defend Gators coach Urban Meyer all he wants, but kicking a field goal with 25 seconds left and a 20-point lead over Miami Saturday night was a lousy thing to do. And aren't these the same Gators who complained about Georgia storming the field after scoring a touchdown last year?-- 3. Notre Dame might not be as bad as it was last season. The Irish might be worse. Their record will be better only because of a softer schedule.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service www.scrippsnews.com)