I have always favored redshirting franchise quarterbacks whenever possible. Joe Montana, Steve McNair, Michael Vick, Carson Palmer, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Colin Kaepernick, and Nick Foles - players who went on to have very successful careers - were all backups their rookie seasons. Peyton Manning's first season, he led the NFL in interceptions. John Elway's first season, he got benched after several bad games. People love to point to current starting quarterbacks who had great rookie seasons but their teams had quarterback emergencies and they were ready to be thrown into fires. Blake Bortles did not start four years like they did or have a position coach any of his three seasons. He only started two years. So it is pretty obvious he is not like other quarterbacks who immediately were named Day 1 starters and played like veterans when they were rookies.

 

If we do what the Bengals did after drafting Palmer, all of you should quit complaining. The Bengals went from 2-14 to 8-8 wiith Jon Kitna taking every snap. The next season, Palmer took oiver on Day 1 and led the Bengals to a division title. That means we are only 20 games and one more offseason away from the playoffs if we do what the Bengals did.

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