Whose Preseason Stats Still Won't Be Enough to Boost Them into Starting Role

No matter what these NFL players do in the preseason, they won't be starters during the regular season.

Whether it be because of the depth at the position or because they simply can't produce wins, players like Tavaris Jackson are destined to be backups. 

Jackson has yet to lead a team his team to a playoff victory because he's a mediocre quarterback at best. Along with Jackson, these are players that won't have starting roles in the NFL next season. 

Colt McCoy

Colt McCoy's days as sheriff of Cleveland were short-lived. 

With the Cleveland Browns drafting Brandon Weeden in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft and general manager Tom Heckert publicly saying that he expects Weeden to be the starter, it doesn't look so well for McCoy all of a sudden.

In his second season in the league, McCoy completed 57 percent of his passes, threw for 14 touchdowns and had 11 interceptions. You can't blame a 4-12 season solely on the quarterback, but as his numbers suggest, he didn't exactly help.

Like McCoy, Weeden's riding a pedigree of a tremendous amount of success in college, and the fact that he represents something new might be the very reason Heckert is putting so much confidence in him. It's hard to change a losing culture, but with a new face at quarterback in 2012, maybe Weeden can turn things around. At least that seems to be the perception. 

Stephen Hill

Stephen Hill is a star in the making, but he's not ready to be a starter in 2012.

Like fellow former Georgia Tech star Calvin Johnson, Hill has the athleticism, size and speed to be a dominant wide receiver in the NFL.

But due to the option offense that the Yellow Jackets run, Hill will need to develop his route running before he becomes a proverbial starter.

Add in the fact that the New York Jets already have wide receivers like Santonio Holmes and Chaz Schilens, and Hill's chances of becoming a starter his rookie season diminish. 

Chase Daniel

Though Chase Daniel has impressed this offseason, he'll never start over Drew Brees.

The Times Picayune reported that coaches have praised Daniel for his performance and ability to step up in a leading position. Having said that, he's no Brees. But then again, who is? 

Even if the New Orleans Saints and Brees never reach a deal before the season, I don't believe Brees will hold out. He's just not that type of guy. And though rumors are floating around about Brees getting close to a deal, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted the following:

"

 

In regards to a report that Drew Brees' deal could be done Monday, a person close to the talks texted ESPN's Ed Werder, "i highly doubt it."

"

"— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 7, 2012"

Signed to a long deal or not, Brees will be the starter in 2012.

Lamar Miller

Lamar Miller has too steep a mountain to climb to be the Miami Dolphins starter.

Not only would he have to outperform Reggie Bush, who is coming off his best season yet, he'd have to surpass Daniel Thomas. 

Last season was Bush's breakout season, as he rushed for over 1,000 yards in the first time of his career and had seven total touchdowns. 

Bush is riding that momentum into the preseason, while Thomas will have a year of experience under his belt going into 2012. Miller might receive some playing time with the offense, but for him to be a starter would take multiple jaw-dropping performances in the preseason. 

John Skelton

Is there really a future with John Skelton as your quarterback?

But at the same time, fans of the Arizona Cardinals are starting to doubt if there's a future with Kevin Kolb leading the team. 

However, as bad as Kolb was last season, Skelton was worse. Kolb only had nine touchdowns to go with eight interceptions, while Skelton threw 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. 

Furthermore, Kolb has proven in the past that he is capable of being a prominent starter, and the Cardinals organization knows this. While taking over for Mike Vick in Philadelphia, Kolb showed glimpses of that, as he threw for seven touchdowns and over 1,000 yards. 

This should be a tight quarterback race, but at the end of the day, Kolb's the one with the $65 million contract and more potential moving forward. 

LaMichael James

Expect LaMichael James to be used as a Darren Sproles-type back in the NFL.

With a stable of running backs, James' chances of starting are borderline one percent. The San Francisco 49ers have Frank Gore, Brandon Jacobs and Kendall Hunter all ready and capable.

So simply finding playing time will be a tough chore for James. But with that said, James' speed shouldn't be taken lightly. 

With his ability to spread the field and cut on a dime, I expect the 49ers to try and use him the same way that the New Orleans Saints use Sproles in their offense. 

Matt Hasselbeck

Father Time is catching up to ol' Matt Hasselbeck.

At 36 years old, he's looking less likely to remain the starter with the Tennessee Titans, especially with Jake Locker's young arm competing against him.

In the five games he played last season, Locker showed an incredible amount of poise as a rookie with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. 

No one's doubting Hasselbeck's ability to quarterback the Titans in 2012, but you'd be a fool to think Locker's progression as a quarterback will find him behind the 36-year-old. 

Shaun Phillips

Could Shaun Phillips really not be a starter in 2012?

The San Diego Chargers are stacked with defensive ends, and if Melvin Ingram is going to be as good as everyone thinks, Phillips might be the odd man out.

Antwan Barnes has solidified his spot at one of the end positions with his 11 sacks in 2011. So that brings up the question as to whether or not Ingram really is good enough to beat Phillips out. 

At 6'2", 276 pounds, Ingram ruled the SEC last year with his game-changing defensive plays. Ingram had 48 tackles, 10 sacks and two interceptions, and if he can translate that kind of success in the preseason, he'll beat Phillips out for the other starting position. 

Tim Tebow

A strong preseason performance from Tim Tebow won't earn him the starting role over Mark Sanchez.

Not unless the sky is falling with Sanchez throwing multiple interceptions game-in and game-out will Tebow be called upon to save the day.

As far as Tebow's job description goes in New York, he's a role player. That's what everyone in the New York Jets' organization will swear up and down until their face turns blue. 

Though Sanchez might not have the leadership abilities of Tebow, he is a better quarterback, and the success of the Jets in 2012 will ride on his back. 

Tavaris Jackson

A Tavaris Jackson-led Seattle Seahawks club will only get so far.

As a starter last season, Jackson threw for 3,091 yards, 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. What matters most, though, is the Seahawks' 7-9 record. Enter Matt Flynn.

The Seahawks spent $26 million on the former Green Bay Packers backup, and don't think for a second that they brought in a backup quarterback for that much dough.

Though Pete Carroll has the reps split three ways between Jackson, Flynn and Russell Wilson, you don't have to be a psychic to see Flynn as the starter at the beginning of the season.