Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

When the Pittsburgh Steelers were without Ben Roethlisberger for the first four games of the season in 2010, they made do, going 3-1 in their star quarterback's absence.

They did this without backup Byron Leftwich and using a combination of Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon.

After Leftwich broke his left arm in Saturday's 34-16 preseason win over Atlanta, the Steelers may once again be in the same situation as last season if Roethlisberger doesn't stay healthy all year.

In that case, based on history, you would take 75 percent of the Steelers' games in 2011 and say that is how many games they would win if Roethlisberger suddenly went down.

Of course, we all know it's preposterous to think the Steelers would win 12 games with a tandem of Batch and Dixon under center.

That's why the Steelers should be worried about their backup situation at the moment. You can't just take their 3-1 start from last season and say that's how it would be if Roethlisberger went down.

Sure, any team that loses its starting quarterback is going to be hurting, but, certainly, some teams have better options under center.

The Steelers head into this season as the reigning AFC champions. But much has changed. The New England Patriots, for one, have jumped them in many NFL power rankings, and deservedly so. With signings such as receiver Chad Ochocinco and defensive end Shaun Ellis and a trade for former Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, the Patriots have a lot of talent this season.

Not only has the NFC dramatically improved this offseason, the Steelers have new challengers in the AFC (sorry Jets fans).

The loss of Roethlisberger would effectively shut down their Super Bowl chances. He's more important to the Steelers than their defense, and that's saying a lot.

Elsa/Getty Images

After receiver Wes Welker's neck injury in the New England Patriots' 34-10 preseason loss against the Detroit Lions on Saturday, the Patriots have deemed their leading receiver "questionable."

It's highly likely that Welker will be held out of the team's last preseason game against the New York Giants on Thursday, but the question is, is the injury serious, and what will the Patriots do if Welker is forced to miss significant time?

Welker has been a workhorse for the Patriots ever since coming to Boston from the Miami Dolphins, and rarely has he missed time, but the one critical game he missed (with an ACL and MCL tear) was the Patriots' matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round of the 2010 playoffs.

In that game, the Patriots lost, 33-14, and looked nothing like the powerhouse they've been known to be. Brady went 23-of-54 for only 154 yards, and tossed three interceptions in the process.

Keep in mind, this was the same year Randy Moss was still highly productive, garnering over 1,200 yards and 13 touchdowns that season. But it didn't matter. Welker's absence was notable.

Then again, the Patriots lost just two games last season after Welker's production dropped off. And they did so without Moss for the greater part of the season.

The truth is this has always been more of a football system than a football team. Sure, they have a lot of talent, there's no denying that, but Tom Brady and Co. has been able to deal with losses because the backups are always so prepared and everyone knows exactly what they have to do to contribute.

That said, I don't think the Patriots would be able to overcome Welker's loss without Chad Ochocinco, because you do need someone for Brady to throw the ball to.

But even if Welker was lost for an extended period of time, which doesn't seem likely, I'd still believe they could win the Super Bowl with what they have.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers got a big scare today when star center, Maurkice Pouncey and backup quarterback Byron Leftwich, suffered injuries in their preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. 

Pouncey, who has become one of the leaders of the Steelers' offensive line injured his ankle during the first quarter of the Steelers week three preseason game. It is still unclear as to the extent of the injury, but the center did not take any x-rays.

Byron Leftwich later left the game with an arm injury, which according to early reports didn't look good.

For the Steelers, the injuries could not have come at a worse time, with Pittsburgh already battling injury concerns at several key positions on the team, namely the offensive line.

Earlier this preseason, fellow offensive linemen, Jonathan Scott and Marcus Gilbert both suffered mild injuries, leading the team to add Trai Essex in free agency. 

However, even with the addition of Essex, the potential loss of Pouncey along with Scott and Gilbert could very well hurt the Steelers chances at getting back to the Superbowl.

Pittsburgh is a team that relies on a steady running game and defensive dominance for success, but without a solid offensive line, half of that formula is tough to live up to. 

Pouncey is not only the anchor and best player on the offensive line, but also the captain and vocal leader of the unit, making his absence extremely detrimental to the team.

With a beat up offense and only a couple weeks left until the start of the NFL regular season, the Steelers need to hope that they can get healthy... and fast.

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Truthfully, if this game against the Lions is any sort of a precursor to what Tom Brady’s year might look like, he’s going to be in for a long season.

Fortunately for Brady, I think that his third preseason game was more of a fluke game than anything.

Credit where credit is due though, the Detroit Lions came out and rushed him with a vengeance. For a while I wasn’t sure if it was a case of the Lions defense being phenomenal, or Brady’s offensive line being horrible.

In the end, it’s probably the safest bet to chalk it up to lack of motivation. Preseason or not, this was a big game for the Lions and their fans.

Like it or not, this was just another preseason game for Brady and the Patriots, and I think their lack of motivation and care really ended up hurting their quarterback in the end.

It’s something to work on and move on from, but they may have bigger issues facing them if a key injury from this game lingers on into the season.

Starting guard Dan Connolly left the game in Detroit on the Patriots second drive. Mike Reiss of ESPN writes about the injury:

Starting right guard Dan Connolly left tonight's game on the team's second offensive drive with an injured ankle. Connolly's return is questionable, the team announced.

Third-year player Rich Ohrnberger came into the game at right guard in place of Connolly. Members of the Patriots medical staff were working on Connolly's lower right leg on the sideline.

The Patriots are thin along the interior offensive line as another top backup, Ryan Wendell, has been out for most of the preseason with a calf injury.

It didn’t look like Connolly’s injury was that serious, and he was probably taken out more for precautionary reasons than anything, but the fact of the matter is that Tom Brady and the Patriots need Connolly if they have any shot at the Super Bowl this year.

Bill Belichick can’t be happy with the effort that he saw tonight against the Lions, and the offensive line was the biggest culprit.

Connolly is a huge piece of the puzzle on the line, and he is one of the biggest reasons Tom Brady can stay upright.

We say tonight what Brady looks like on his back. I dare say it was far too much for New England likings.

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Both the New England Patriots and the Detroit Lions are heading into the 2011 season with relatively high expectations, but don't be surprised if neither team lives up to them.

For the patriots, the expectations are pretty simple—win a Superbowl—but for the Lions it's a little more complicated.

After finishing 6-10 a season ago, the Lions used their high first round draft pick to take Nick Fairley, forming one of the best up and coming defensive line duo's in the NFL playing alongside Ndamukong Suh. 

The combination of a bunch of other young talent on the roster and finishing the regular season on a four game winning streak last year, many people are predicting the Lions to reach the playoffs.

While on the surface this prediction may seem attainable, realistically the Lions are at least a year away from being a playoff team. 

They are still arguably the third best team in their division, competing against the defending Superbowl champion Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Because they will likely have no chance at winning the division that has the Superbowl champion in it, the best Detroit can hope for is a wild card spot.

However, with only two wild card spots and six total playoff positions for plenty of competitive NFC teams, don't expect the Lions to be in position to earn of those two positions.

As for the Patriots, the expectations have been built off of their past success. 

With one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history on the team and three Superbowl titles in the past ten years, anything less than winning it all always seems like it will be a letdown. 

After being bumped out of the playoffs in the first round the last few years, it's pretty clear that the Patriots have lost touch with the dynasty they built just a few years ago.

Chad OchoCinco and Albert Haynesworth both signed with New England this offseason, raising the bar even more for the Patriots. 

Even though the Pats are definitely one of the most talented teams in the NFL, they are no longer able to dominate the rest of the competition as they were able to do during their Superbowl runs. 

Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and even the New York Jets in their own division are now on the same level as New England. Not only that, these teams have started to figure out Tom Brady and the Patriot offense and now the defense that was once riddled with veteran leadership seems to be in disarray.

While I do expect the Patriots to have a very successful season and to contend in their division as always, winning the Superbowl will likely be too lofty of a goal for this season. 

Bob Levey/Getty Images

The latest news is that Houston Texans running back Arian Foster has injured his hamstring once again.

Foster was forced out of tonight’s game against the San Francisco 49ers and apparently left holding the back of his leg near the hamstring.

Jason Lacanfora tweeted more on the injury to Foster:

Texans calling Arian Foster's injury a hamstring tweak for now. My hunch is don't expect to see him again til the season opener vs. Colts

Foster has already hurt his hamstring once during the preseason, which came during the Texans first practice.

Do we have to start assuming this may be a trend?

Many people expect that Foster should be one of the best backs in the league, but personally I’m having a hard time subscribing to that theory.

He did have a great season in 2010, but it’s hard for me to back up a guy with just one great year under his belt. He’s already dealt with the hamstring once this preseason, and with this latest news it’s hard not to lose more faith in the Texans’ star.

It’s so easy to find one year wonders at the running back position, and now Foster is in danger of putting himself into that category. Gregg Rosenthall of NBC sports has this to say about the injury moving forward:

Foster knew right away there was a problem.  After a nine-yard run, Foster angrily walked off the field and threw his helmet.  He finished with eight carries for 38 yards.

The third-year player has unquestioned talent, but he must show this year he can hold up physically after such a big workload last year. It’s too early to panic, but this month has been concerning for Texans fans.  (And Foster’s fantasy owners.)

Will this hamstring continue to be a problem moving forward in 2011, or is it just a nagging preseason injury that he can get over?

Personally, I think this may cause some issues for Foster.

While it’s not a knee issue or foot issue, obviously any injury to a running backs leg has got to be pretty disturbing.

This may end up being a very long and disappointing season for Arian Foster and the Texans.

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

It may not seem like a huge deal, but Donovan McNabb really needs to get in a good game against the Dallas Cowboys.

For all intents and purposes it looks like McNabb will be Minnesota’s starter heading into the regular season.

If that is indeed the case, he still has a lot of work to do if he wants to instill any amount of confidence in the Vikings offense.

Andy Benoit of the New York Times writes about McNabb’s future with the Vikings:

The fact that the Vikings traded for Donovan McNabb suggests they might be planning on making one last run in 2011. If so, they’re destined for disappointment. In the past two years, the 34-year-old McNabb has been dumped by Andy Reid and Mike Shanahan, two of the most respected offensive minds of this generation. His overall value, according to the trade, is that of two sixth-round picks. If any other team around the league thought McNabb was worth more than that, the Redskins would have traded him there.

Even if McNabb rebounds from an awful ’10 campaign, he is still inheriting a six-win team that has said goodbye to top receiving weapon Sidney Rice, immovable nose tackle Pat Williams, rock-solid linebacker Ben Leber and stalwart defensive end Ray Edwards.

I can’t say that a lot of people are feeling that confident about McNabb, and that’s why it is so important that he comes out swinging against the Cowboys.

He does have Adrian Peterson behind him, which has to be quite a boost of confidence, but I can’t say that many people are excited about the rest of the offensive weapons besides him.

If the Vikings are going to be successful on offense McNabb is going to have to be the catalyst. He’s going to actually have to make the people around him better, and I’m not sure if he’s able to do so anymore.

He still needs some time to get used to running the Vikings offense, but time is what is running out.

The chances of McNabb playing in the Vikings fourth preseason game are slim to none, so this is his chance to shine.

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

If I came right off the bat and told you that the Lions aren’t a much better team I would be an absolute liar.

The truth of the matter is that the Detroit Lions are a far better team than they used to be, which might not be saying much considering their 0-16 record of a few years ago.

Let me guarantee you, it does mean a lot.

The Lions went from 0-16 to a team that many are talking about having a shot at contending for the playoffs, which is a huge jump.

Their defense is much better and is being bolstered by the defending rookie of the year Ndamukong Suh.

Offensively the Lions boast one of the best receivers in the league in Calvin Johnson, and have a potentially good quarterback in Matthew Stafford.

Stafford has struggled with injuries for the duration of his career though, so it’s probably too early to make a judgment on him.

The Detroit Lions are a far better team, but they are still not on par with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

I see no reason why the Lions can’t be the feel good story of 2011. I see no reason why they can’t have a good year and give their fans a reason to hope for the future.

They take the field against the Patriots today in Detroit though, and some are saying that it is actually a big game.

First off, there is no way that you can ever call a preseason game big, but especially when you are playing against the Patriots.

Even if the Lions do beat the Patriots it will mean nothing considering that the starters will only be playing the first half.

You also have to factor in Tom Brady.

I have no doubt that Tom Brady is going to come out ready to play, and I have no doubt that he is going to eventually make the Lions look silly.

That is not a knock against Detroit; it’s just a testament as to how good Brady is.

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

On Saturday night the Dallas Cowboys (1-1) take on the Minnesota Vikings (1-1) at 8 p.m. EST. Here are four players to keep an eye on as you watch the game.

Felix Jones

With Marion Barber out of the picture and the other Dallas Cowboys struggling with injuries in the preseason Jones will get the majority of carries out of the Cowboys' backfield. 

Last year Jones got 185 touches for 800 yards and one touchdown. This season Jones should easily surpass 200 rushing attempts.

Watch Jones to monitor his endurance. It's too early to tell if he'll have the legs to last the entire 2011 season, but if he struggles at all with endurance in the preseason it would be an awful sign.

The Cowboys will need to have a high powered offense in 2011 to compensate for a mediocre defense, and Jones needs to be an integral part of that offense.

Donovan McNabb

McNabb is running an offense that isn't centered around him throwing, and that's new to him.

His major role this season will be to avoid making mistakes and to open the run game for Adrian Petersen. In his first appearance this preseason McNabb did just that, but only played in two series.

Tonight will be McNabb's first extended action of the preseason and it will be interesting to see if he can continue to thrive in his role.

It is also unclear what weapons McNabb will have available to him as Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe, and Greg Camarillo have all struggled with injuries this preseason.

Dez Bryant

Tony Romo is back at quarterback for the Cowboys after missing most of the 2010 season with an injury.

One of Romo's main targets will need to be Bryant, whose 2010 was also cut short by injury.

Bryant and Romo haven't had much of an opportunity to develop chemistry so it will be important to see how they interact in this year's final preseason games.

If Bryant and Romo have anything close to the success that Romo and Miles Austin have had then the Cowboys passing attack could be one of league's better ones.

Jared Allen

 This offseason the Vikings lost two of their front four on defense as Pat Williams and Ray Edwards departed.

How will that affect Allen who recorded 11 sacks and two interceptions in 2010?

Tonight should be the first opportunity to evaluate how Allen's new partners affect his production. So far this preseason Allen has only played one series, so keep an eye on him to see if he is able to create any pressure on the quarterback.

Last year Allen had a slow start to the season as he only record one of his 11 sacks in the first seven games. Getting off to fast start will be key for him in 2011. 

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

On Saturday night the Atlanta Falcons (0-2) take on the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) at 7:30 EST. Here are four players to watch during the game.

Marcus Gilbert

 Gilbert is getting thrown into the fire a bit earlier than expected due to the injury of left tackle Jonathan Scott.

Gilbert, a rookie out of the University of Florida, will line up against none other than Pro Bowler John Abraham.

This could be a potential train wreck for Gilbert and the Steelers, or it could be a sign of hope.

Any failure by Gilbert to stop Abraham is a chance for Ben Roethlisberger to get injured. However, Big Ben is one of the stronger quarterbacks in the NFL so that's not a major concern.

The potential upside is that if Gilbert fairs well then that is promising for the future of the Steelers offensive line. Its unclear Gilbert will have to fill in for Scott, but it's better that he be prepared to fill in for the long run just in case.

Matt Ryan

 The Steelers secondary is depleted right now with the injuries of Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden.

Obviously the Falcons want to see Ryan pick apart the Steelers, and he should be able to with Roddy White as his go to option.

What the Steelers need to see is their backups step up. The Steelers defense is aging, and that is beginning to show in the way of injuries. 

If the Steelers are going to have the defense they are known for it going to be reliant on new names stepping up. Ryan should provide the secondary with about as tough of a test as they can have. Watch how they react.

Ray Edwards

Tonight Edwards make his debut as an Atlanta Falcon after being signed in the offseason.

Edwards is a defensive end who recorded eight sacks last year and is expected to be a force on the Falcons line this season.

However, he is coming back from injury and the Falcons want to make sure they don't abuse him in the preseason. He may not play much, and he may not produce much, but at least it's a productive step towards getting him ready for week one.

For the Falcons defense to improve in 2011 Edwards will be a key piece.

Hines Ward

Hines Ward isn't getting any younger. 

Ward is now 35-years-old and is coming back from a thumb injury that required surgery in the offseason. The same offseason where Ward was charged with driving under the influence in Georgia.

So can Ward perform in 2011? So far this preseason he has only recorded one catch, which was a touchdown. The Steelers are going to need him to be productive to have a solid passing game, but his age is definitely a reason to be concerned with his injuries beginning to pile up.

Keep an eye on Ward to see how he performs in his final two preseason performances. 

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The Denver Broncos wouldn't cut ties with their dear Tim Tebow would they?

The Denver Broncos are clearly in a re-building phase right now and cutting Tebow would be a huge mistake. 

ESPN's Chris Mortensen stated that the Broncos just paid Tebow $6.7 million as part of his rookie contract, and cutting him would enrage the Denver Bronco faithful. 

Tim Tebow on the Denver Broncos is more than a win-win situation. It's actually a “win-win-win” situation. It’s a win from a public relations standpoint as Tebow is seemingly beloved across the country for his un-rivaled passion and charity work.  

If he steps in for Kyle Orton and is able to lead the Broncos to a winning record it’s another win. If Tebow fails miserably along with Orton and the rest of the team, it would result in a high draft-pick.

I'd say landing Andrew Luck would be a huge win for Denver.

Josh McDaniels is now with the St. Louis Rams and you'd have to believe he would push hard for Tebow if he was released. He did trade three draft picks to Baltimore for their No. 25 overall pick in the first-round so he could select Tebow.

If the Broncos are sure that Tebow is not their QB of the future than why not move him to fullback? He obviously is a threat running the ball, as six of the 11 touchdowns he racked up were rushing TD's.

Tebow is a winner plain and simple and he has once in a generation type leadership qualities. That is worth holding onto, no matter what Merril Hoge has to say.

Some people like Hoge believe that Tim Tebow caught the NFL off guard in 2010 and he will never be able to duplicate the type of success he had. Tebow may have a warrior mentality, but he was not brought in by the current management of the Denver Broncos.

John Fox and John Elway would love to move Tebow if they could get a decent draft-pick and stick with Orton and Brady Quinn. What these two men need to understand is that if you put Tim Tebow on the field, your team's chances at winning get better.

He was brilliant at the end of the season when he was given the opportunity to start in 2010. He has the rare ability to carry a team on his broad shoulders and will his team to victory. Cutting Tim Tebow would be a move that you'd expect of the Oakland Raiders but not the Denver Broncos.

John Fox, John Elway and Co. will regret cutting ties with Tim Tebow if they decide to do so.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is facing the prospect of missing the first six games of the 2011 regular season.

As horrible as that may sound to Colts fans, there is hope and there is a way out of that.

The Colts need to put Manning on the active roster in order to do so though. As of right now he is on the Physically Unable to Perform list, and if it stays that way into the regular season he will have to sit out the first six weeks.

The Associated Press via ESPN reports more on this situation:

League rules require players on the physically unable to perform list to be activated by the team's final cutdown, Sept. 3, or to sit out an additional six weeks.

Conventional wisdom suggests Manning will be activated soon, something coach Jim Caldwell acknowledged Friday night after a 24-21 loss to Green Bay.

"I would say that it's certainly a realistic possibility here and it could happen shortly," Caldwell said.

That's the closest Caldwell has come to say when Manning might return.

Indy's franchise quarterback has been on PUP since practice began Aug. 1, and Caldwell has repeatedly said Manning will practice only after the doctors clear him.

Last Saturday, Manning told reporters he would not play in the final two preseason games and that he needed the next two weeks to get healthy. While Colts officials continue to acknowledge that Manning's rehab is progressing well, there is only one preseason game left and time is running short.

"We've got a week and a half to make that decision," general manager Chris Polian told The Associated Press on Friday night.

While I understand that the Colts want to be careful with their franchise quarterback, I see no reason why they shouldn’t activate him.

Sure, that would mean one less spot on the roster for a player they can use, but what happens if Manning feels he is ready by week two?

He would be ready to play, but unable to do so, and the Colts season would be a waste.

Essentially by keeping Manning on the PUP the Colts are saying that they would rather keep Manning healthy and prepare the team for next season, rather than try to make a run this year.

I’m not sure what their chances are in 2011, but I know they aren’t as good as they have been in the past. Even with Manning playing the Colts defense has a ton of holes that present problems and I’m not yet sold on their running game.

That being said, without Manning they have absolutely no shot, so I think it is worth taking the risk, even if he’s not ready for a few weeks going into the season.

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

What other team did you expect Terrelle Pryor to be drafted by? The Oakland Raiders (for all the wrong reasons) make so much sense. The Raiders announced that they have signed the former Ohio State star to a four-year contract.

The Raiders took Pryor in the third round of the NFL supplemental draft, way earlier than anyone expected Pryor would go. Pryor ran a blistering 4.41 during his work-out for 17 teams in Pittsburgh, PA and it seemed obvious at that point that owner Al Davis would reach to take Pryor.

The Raiders have had a history of drafting the fastest or strongest players out of college under Al Davis and not necessarily valuing on-field production. Darrius Heyward-Bey was taken in the first-round out of Maryland way ahead of where he was projected to go.

Heyward-Bey's 40-yard dash time was too good to pass up though by the Raiders. Just like 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds Pryor running his 40-time was to much to pass up. 

Pryor's size, strength and speed could result in him being an elite QB or wide-receiver in the NFL.

Someday.

He would have benefited greatly from a team like the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers or New England Patriots who have a history of getting troubled players back on track. The Raiders are a team that has been the laughing stock of the league for years and things will continue to get worse before they get better.

They lost their three best players in Nnamdi Asomugha, Zach Miller and Robert Gallery and they do not have a second, third or fourth round pick in 2012. The Raiders have gone from one of the league's most storied franchises to one of the NFL's biggest jokes.

Speed is a necessary quality for any team in the NFL but it is not the only quality. You can not judge a players intelligence, heart or character at the combine. Someone needs to give Al Davis this message if he wants to win sometime this decade.

Pryor may very well turn out to be an excellent player in the NFL, it just won't happen with the Oakland Raiders.

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Could the biggest game of Tim Tebow’s career really come in week three of the 2011 NFL preseason?

Believe it or not, so far it looks like this is going to be it.

The young quarterback has caused quite a stir with the Denver Broncos, and there is no doubting that he is one of the most polarizing figures in the NFL right now.

In fact, he’s more like a lightning rod!

It seems like Broncos nation is absolutely torn when it comes to the Tebow situation. Some feel that he deserves to be the starter because of his winning ways at Florida, and the intangibles that he has as a leader. Others look at his throwing mechanics and overall poise as an NFL quarterback and see no reason that he should even step foot on the field and go under center.

There have been proposed position changes and different ways to get him on the field, but overall having Tebow at quarterback seems to be the hot button issue.

Last week it looked as if the situation had resolved itself though as the Broncos made  a bold statement by putting Tebow third on the depth chart behind presumed starter Kyle Orton and fellow backup Brady Quinn.

It looked like no matter what people thought, the Broncos had made up their mind on Tebow’s skills at quarterback. Jeff Legwold of the Denver Post reports that Tebow may get one last shot to prove his worth though:

Tim Tebow, who threw only two passes in limited duty against the Bills last Saturday, is likely to enter the game after Orton. Tebow and Brady Quinn split practice snaps with the starters after Orton left Thursday's workout early and split second-team duties for much of the past two weeks.

The Broncos appear to have closed out the week leaning a little more toward Tebow in that role. Fox had promised after the win over the Bills that Tebow would get more playing time in one of the final two preseason games.

Perhaps the Broncos are having a change of heart on Tebow after another week of practice, or maybe they are just doing their due diligence. Either way, there is no doubting that this is a huge game for Tebow.

If he comes out and plays well, then there is a chance that maybe he’ll indeed be the main backup, and even get consideration at starter if Orton struggles.

I don’t agree with Tebow being a starter at quarterback, but now he’s got a chance to prove all of his doubters wrong, again.

Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images

This offseason the Seattle Seahawks thought they had found their replacement to Matt Hasselbeck when they signed former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

As the preseason progresses it is starting to look more and more like Hasselbeck's replacement was already on the roster.

Last year Charlie Whitehurst filled in while Hasselbeck missed time with injury, and even helped lead the Seahawks to a playoff clinching victory. 

Through two preseason games Whitehurst has easily outplayed Jackson, and while coach Pete Carroll says Jackson is the starter, the fans want Whitehurst.

I'm going to side with the fans on this one. While Jackson has more experience that Whitehurst he hasn't exactly proved that he is one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks in that time. In his career he has only started more than half the games in a season once, and in that season he threw for nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

So why is Jackson being handed the job?

Mostly because the Seahawks are trying to prove that they didn't mess up by signing him. While I'm not ready to give up on Jackson yet, it would be a mistake not to give Whitehurst the job right now.

Last season he proved he was capable of winning a big game, a hump that many NFL quarterbacks never get over. This preseason he has shown he can be consistent and successful as the leader of the Seahawks.

Whitehurst deserves a chance at the job, and it's hard to envision a scenario where he won't be given a start this season. Either Jackson will lose the job with poor play, or Whitehurst will continue to push for it with strong outings. Once Whitehurst gets the job, don't expect him to relinquish it.