Second's Anyone? Tom Brady, Steve Young, and 8 Other Super Back-Ups

Not every team can draft a Peyton Manning, Troy Aikman, or Sam Bradford.  Some teams need to do things the old fashioned way.  Some teams need to draft a quarterback late in the draft and let him sit on the bench for a few years until an injury propels that player to the top of the depth chart.  Some teams need to make a trade for a current backup quarterback to be their starter.  Some teams need to go to the local grocery store to find their starting quarterback.  Some teams completely forget about the quarterback and are left with a choice between Derek Anderson, Max Hall, and John Skelton.  Here are the 10 greatest quarterbacks to spend time as a backup.  I'm sorry Chicago fans, but Caled Hanie will not be included on this list.

10. Matt Cassel

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 28: Matt Cassel #16 of the New England Patriots stands on the sidelines against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on December 28, 2008 in Orchard Park, New York. The Patriots won 13-0. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Ima

Career Stats: 9,986 yards, 66 touchdowns, 83.6 quarterback rating, one Pro Bowl

Biography:

     Matt Cassel makes it on the list for one major reason; until the 2008 season, he had been a career backup quarterback since high school.  At USC, he was the backup for both Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.  After being drafted in 2005, he was the backup for Tom Brady and Doug Flutie.  After a freak accident to Tom Brady in the opening season game in 2008 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Matt Cassel got his first start since high school against the New York Jets. He finished the season with 3,700 yards and 21 touchdowns. 

He was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in the off season and after a below average 2009 season, Cassel put in all together in 2010 to lead his team to the playoffs and an AFC West crown while earning himself a trip to his first Pro Bowl.  The future looks bright in Kansas City if Cassel continues to develop.

Why He's Super:

     The man never started a game in college!  Now he's going to Hawaii.  Unbelievable.

9. Aaron Rodgers

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Career Stats: 12,723 yards, 87 touchdowns, 98.4 quarterback rating, one Pro Bowl

Biography:

     Aaron Rodgers spent his first three years in the NFL as a backup to Brett Favre only playing in seven games.  After Favre retired in 2008, Rodgers was given the starting job and hasn't looked back since.  He is the only quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards in each of his first two starting seasons.  He has led the Packers to back-to-back playoff seasons and is making his debut in the Super Bowl this year.  Aaron Rodgers continues to rise in the rankings of the elite quarterbacks and a win on Super Bowl Sunday would only help to cement his status as one of the game's best players.

Why He's Super:

     He is unstoppable at times and one of the most elusive quarterbacks in the league.  He also looks just like Ryan from The Office.

8. Doug Williams

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SAN DIEGO - JANUARY 31: Quarterback Doug Williams #17 of the Washington Redskins looks to pass during Super Bowl XXII against the Denver Broncos at Jack Murphy Stadium on January 31, 1988 in San Diego, California. The Redskins won 42-10. (Photo by Bud

Career Stats: 16,998 yards, 100 touchdowns, 69.4 quarterback rating, one Super Bowl championship, one Super Bowl MVP

Biography:

     Doug Williams came into the league as a starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1978 and played for four years until a contract dispute sent him to the United States Football League.  When he came back in 1986, he was a backup for Jay Schroeder of the Washington Redskins.  The reason he makes this list is due to his amazing playoff run during the 1987-88 season.  Having only played in five games, and starting only two of those games, Williams was a surprise choice when named starter for the playoffs.  He played his best game in Super Bowl XXII beating the Denver Broncos and John Elway 42-10.  In that game, Williams threw for 340 yards and four touchdowns to be named Super Bowl MVP.

Why He's Super:

     He beat John Elway in the Super Bowl.  Wait, let me rephrase that.  He crushed John Elway in the Super Bowl.

7. Doug Flutie

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26 Nov 2000: Quarterback Doug Flutie #7 of the Buffalo Bills scarmbles with the ball during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Bills 31-17.Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /

Career Stats: 14,715 yards, 86 touchdowns, 76.3 quarterback rating, 1998 Comeback Player of the Year Award, one Pro Bowl, and a whole bunch of CFL awards

Biography:

     Doug Flutie is 5'10" and 180 pounds.  The average size of a NFL defensive lineman is 6'4" and 310 pounds.  The fact that Doug Flutie could come into games and stare down someone six inches taller and 130 pounds heavier and not be afraid is incredible.  In 1998, he made his first start since 1989, and led the Buffalo Bills to a 8-3 record as a starter.  The Bills made the playoffs, but Flutie was replaced by Rob Johnson and lost to the Tennessee Titans. 

Flutie was sent back to the bench, but posted a 4-1 record as a starter while Johnson was injured the following year.  He was then traded to the San Diego Chargers where he started a total of five games over three years and eventually ended his career as a backup to Tom Brady for the New England Patriots.  Flutie was always a joy to watch, and although his NFL career was less than stellar, he will always have the "Hail Flutie".

Why He's Super:

     Did you see that Doug Flutie is 5'10" and 180 pounds?  That makes anyone believe they could play in the NFL.

6. Jeff Hostetler

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TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 27: Quarterback Jeff Hostetler #15 of the New York Giants rolls out against the Buffalo Bills during Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium on January 27, 1991 in Tampa, Florida. The Giants defeated the Bills 20-19. (Photo by George Rose/Ge

Career Stats: 16,430 yards, 94 touchdowns, 80.5 quarterback rating, one Pro Bowl, one Super Bowl Championship

Biography:

     Jeff Hostetler was drafted in 1984 and became the backup to Phil Simms.  In his first five seasons, he rarely played, but in 1990 when Phil Simms went down with a broken foot, Jeff Hostetler was given the chance to play.  He led the Giants to victories in their final two regular season games and swept through the playoffs to win Super Bowl XXV.  After the 1992 season, Hostetler joined the Los Angeles Raiders where he made is lone Pro Bowl in 1994 where he threw for 3,300 yards and 20 touchdowns.  Hostetler finished his career in 1998 with the Washington Redskins.

Why He's Super:

     He stuck with it and finally won a starting job.  He was ranked as the 30th best Super Bowl performance by ESPN.  Not a bad list to be on.

5. Mark Brunell

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell scrambles for a first down in the first quarter Sunday, September 14, 2003, at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Career Stats: 32,045 yards, 184 touchdowns, 84 quarterback rating, three Pro Bowls, one Super Bowl Championship

Biography:    

     Mark Brunell was drafted by the Green Bay Packers and spent his time there as a backup to Brett Favre.  In 1995, he was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for their inaugural season.  Brunell was set to backup Steve Beuerlein, but quickly won the starting job and never looked back starting 13 games that season.  After a 4-12 season in 1995, Brunell led the Jaguars to the AFC Championship game in 1996. 

He made the Pro Bowl in three of the next four years while continuing his winning ways for the Jaguars.  He was benched after the third game during the 2003 season, which would end up being his last as a Jaguar.  He was sent off to the Washington Redskins in 2004 and after a few seasons there, he was the backup to Drew Brees on the New Orleans Saints during Super Bowl XLIV.  He is currently the backup quarterback for the New York Jets.

Why He's Super:

     Expansion teams generally don't win (look at the Houston Texans), but Mark Brunell made the Jaguars a winning team.  He is also left-handed.

4. Matt Hasselbeck

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks looks to throw the ball during pregame before taking on the Chicago Bears in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Soldier Field on January 16, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois.

Career Stats: 29,579 yards, 176 touchdowns, 82.2 quarterback rating, three Pro Bowls, one All Pro Team

Biography:

    Matt Hasselbeck was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1998 and was the backup to Brett Favre for the next three years.  In 2001, he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks to join his former coach Mike Holmgren.  He became the official starting quarterback in 2003 and instantly lead the Seahawks to the playoffs.  He had a fantastic year in 2005, throwing for 3,500 yards and 24 touchdowns as his team reached the Super Bowl.  He came up short against the Steelers in Super Bowl XL, but was voted to the All Pro Team that year.  He owns numerous Seahawks franchise records.

Why He's Super:

     I remember watching him during the preseason with the Packers and saying, "This guy is really good.  He should probably be starting somewhere."  I guess Mike Holmgren thought the same thing.  Hey, maybe I should be an NFL coach.

3. Kurt Warner

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DETROIT - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Kurt Warner #13 of the St. Louis Rams runs on the field during the game against the Detroit Lions on December 28, 2003 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions upset the Rams 30-20. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

Career Stats: 32,344 yards, 208 touchdowns, 93.7 quarterback rating, four Pro Bowls, two MVP Awards, two All Pro Teams, one Super Bowl Championship, one Super Bowl MVP, and Employee of the Month at Hy-Vee Grocery Store

Biography:

     Warner entered the NFL draft in 1994, but didn't make a team until he was picked up by the St. Louis Rams in 1998 where he served as third-string quarterback.  In 1999, he was set to backup Trent Green until Green tore his ACL in a preseason game.  Kurt Warner went on to throw for 4,300 yards and 41 touchdowns in his first year as a starter winning the MVP, Super Bowl, and Super Bowl MVP.  In 2007, he was sent back to the bench as a backup to Matt Leinart in Arizona.  He came off the bench in the third and fourth game that year and eventually became the starting quarterback going into week five.  He was once again set to be a backup Matt Leinart, but won the starting job before the season began and led the Arizona Cardinals to Super Bowl XLIII.

Why He's Super:

     Kurt Warner went from bagging groceries for $5.50/hour to winning MVP and the Super Bowl his first year starting.  He also seems like a pretty level headed dude for being so awesome at football.

2. Steve Young

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12 Sep 1999: Steve Young #8 of the San Francisco 49ers moves with the ball during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Alltell Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars defeated the 49ers 41-3. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport

Career Stats: 33,124 yards, 232 touchdowns, 96.8 quarterback rating, seven Pro Bowls, six All Pro Teams, two MVP's, three Super Bowl Championships, one Super Bowl MVP, 43 career rushing touchdowns

Biography:

     Steve Young's career in the NFL didn't start out very well with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he went 3-16 as a starter in two seasons.  He was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1987 to be the backup for Joe Montana.  In 1991, Steve Young had his opportunity to start for the 49ers following an injury to Joe Montana.  It wasn't until 1993 that Steve Young was the undisputed starter due to a trade that sent Joe Montana to the Kansas City Chiefs.  Young won back to back Super Bowls in 1994 and 1995 and added one more to give him a total of three.  Young's career was cut shorter than most due to numerous concussions.

Why He's Super:

     He was the first "dual threat" quarterback and still holds the record for career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.  Someone should have probably taught him how to slide though.

1. Tom Brady

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - FEBRUARY 6: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots holds up the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium on February 6, 2005 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Patriots def

Career Stats: 34,744 yards, 261 touchdowns, 95.2 quarterback rating, six Pro Bowls, three All Pro Teams, three Super Bowl Championships, two Super Bowl MVP's, one NFL MVP, one Male Athlete of the Year, one Supermodel wife

Biography:

     Tom Brady was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft by the New England Patriots and started the season as the fourth string quarterback.  He stepped in for an injured Drew Bledsoe in 2001 and went 11-3 as a starter.  The New England Patriots went to the Super Bowl that year and were 14 point underdogs to the high powered offense of Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams.  Brady played well all game and lead the Patriots on a last minute drive to win the game.  The legend of Tom Brady was born that night and he would win back-to-back Super Bowls in 2003 and 2004.  Brady had one of the greatest seasons ever in 2007 throwing for 4,800 yards and a record setting 50 touchdowns while leading his team to an undefeated regular season. 

Why He's Super:

     It was a toss-up between Tom Brady and Steve Young for the top spot, but any man that gets to go home to Gisele should probably be first on any list.