Joe Webb: Can This Long Shot Quarterback Save The Minnesota Vikings?

Joe Webb did it to the Philadelphia Eagles, didn't he?

Yes, Joe Webb, the same Tawhidul "Joe" Webb from Birmingham, the same guy who went uninvited to the 2010 NFL Combine, the same guy the Vikings drafted to play wide receiver.

Did anyone see Joe Webb coming? Did anyone see him directing his Vikings to that 24-14 stunning upset on the snowed-out Sunday night game that finally hatched on Tuesday? Would anyone have thought that Tawhidul Webb, the former UAB Blazer, would give Philly fits?

Did anyone honestly foresee that a fella named Tawhidul would end up with a higher quarterback rating than Michael Vick? Anyone foresee that he'd complete 17 of 26 passes for 195 yards then run for another 31, including that nifty, fast-foot number he produced from nine yards out?

Now when you think unknown quarterback, drafted in the sixth round, who comes to mind? Yes, that guy named Brady up in New England.

Tawhidul Webb may not be the second coming of Tom Brady, but this big guy's got to be a wonderful surprise for a Minnesota team that has seen nothing but bad news this season.

After watching the floundering carcass of Brett Favre concuss his way to retirement, it has to be so very eye-opening to see this 6'4'', 220-pound athletic man play as if he's been starting all season.

Could Tawhidul Webb be what Minnesota fans have been hoping for, longing for? Could this guy with the fast feet and the big arm be that once-in-a-lifetime diamond in the rough?

Stranger things have happened.

You see, Webb is about as close to the Rodney Dangerfield of football as it gets. Heck, he had to hang around at UAB and finally started the final two games of 2006 before he got a chance. In 2009, his senior year, the guy passed for 2,299 yards and rushed for 1,427. Huge numbers—Heisman numbers if you're playing at Alabama or Auburn or Ohio State or Notre Dame.

Then you'd at least think Webb would have earned an invite to the combine in Indy. Nope.

At UAB's pro day, here's what he came up with: a 42.5-inch vertical jump, nearly 11.5 feet in the broad jump, 21 bench reps at 225 pounds and get this, 4.43 in the 40. Those numbers were better than anyone at the wide receiver position at Indy.

Still, he waited until 198 players were chosen before the Vikings took him at 199, figuring they'd give him a shot at wide receiver.

Gotta give credit to Brad Childress. As bad as he was, Chilly saw this kid throwing the ball around at practice and the proverbial light went off and Tawhidul "Joe" Webb took his rightful place as the team's third quarterback behind Favre and the underachieving Tavarius Jackson.

This just could turn out to be one of those "Jed Clampett" moments for the Minnesota Vikings.

This poor old team that could barely keep its fans coming took a pot shot and up from the ground came bubbling—Joe Webb.

So what's next for this sixth-round draft choice, this rookie who simply didn't look like a rookie against Philly?

Well, as Keyshawn Johnson might be one to say: Just Give Him The Damn Ball!

The Vikes need to put the ball in Joe Webb's hands again next week and if this is not some sort of mid-winter's night dream, then lo-and-behold, perhaps, just perhaps they hit the long-shot of quarterback lottos and found themselves a starter.

Tawhidul Webb—that's a tongue twister.

Joe Webb—now that has a little Minnesotan ring to it, doesn't it?