10 NFL Veterans Looking over Their Shoulder

The NFL preseason is when coaches get a look at the new crop of talent that was brought to the team in the offseason.

It is also when coaches evaluate veteran talent and end up parting ways with many of them.

This time of year, NFL veterans need to be looking over their shoulders and giving it 110 percent or else they will be axed for the younger talent.

Here are 10 NFL veterans who need to be looking over their shoulder this preseason. 

Matt Hasselbeck

Hasselbeck was signed by the Tennessee Titans in the offseason to keep the quarterback position warm for eighth overall pick, Jake Locker, who is assumed to be the franchise quarterback of the future.

What the Titans didn't know, is that Locker would come in and perform right away.

In the first preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, Locker completed seven of 10 passed for 89 yards and a score, making a case for the starting job.

Hasselbeck, 35, may be forced to retire earlier than he wanted unless he wants to be the backup for the next big thing in Tennessee. 

Kevin Faulk

Like Hasselbeck, Faulk is also 35 years old with a younger early-round draft pick looking to take his spot on the field.

That player, third-round pick out of LSU, is Stevan Ridley. 

He has been spectacular in the preseason, posting two stellar games with over 100 yards from scrimmage in both, as well as three touchdowns. 

Faulk is currently on the active physically-unable-to-perform list, but could find his way to the reserve PUP list if the younger running backs keep performing the way they have.

When second-round pick Shane Vareen can find his way to the field, Kevin Faulk could very well be the next veteran casualty of the Patriots. 

David Garrard

David Garrard signed a six-year, $60 million contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008.

With their pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, Blaine Gabbert, it seems as though the Jags may be looking to move on.

Gabbert hasn't performed as well as the Jaguars may have hoped this preseason, but spending such a high pick on a quarterback means they will likely get a chance to play at some point in the near future.

If Garrard slips up at all this season, he could find himself out of a job.

Brandon Meriweather

Meriweather has been on Bill Belichick's list since last year, when he said that he was going to play his way and do what he wants, which is not the Patriot way.

The ultra talented Meriweather has landed in two Pro Bowls as a Patriot, but yet it seems like his job is in jeopardy every preseason.

This preseason, it may be in jeopardy more than ever, with James Sanders and Sergio Brown hungry for playing time.

If he wants to keep his starting job, he must play the game the right way and not defy his head coach.

Unlike the V.I.P., Meriweather does not have his starting job on SWOLE. 

Donovan McNabb

Donovan McNabb is probably one of the most disrespected men in sports today. He took the Eagles to three straight NFC Championship games as well as a Super Bowl, but still didn't get the credit he deserved.

McNabb, once again, will have to prove his worth on the field with his new team, the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings used their first-round pick on former Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder, before trading for McNabb.

Like many of the first-round quarterbacks, the Vikings will probably like to see what they'd have, so if McNabb's play is not up to par, he will find himself on the sidelines with a headset on. 

Kyle Orton

The run of quarterbacks with targets on their backs continues with Kyle Orton.

Orton is another player who doesn't get much respect when all he does is win. It looked like he was going to be traded early in the offseason and Tim Tebow was going to be named starter, but that didn't happen and head coach John Fox put Orton atop the depth chart.

Orton performed well in the second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills, 10-13 for 135 and a score, but Tebow fever could force him out of a starting job.

Orton is probably the guy on this list who should have the least to worry about, but the uber popularity of Tebow could force Fox to put him on the field, despite inferior talent. 

Fred Jackson

Fred Jackson has been a solid back for a couple years now for the Buffalo Bills, but with the explosive playmaker C.J. Spiller sitting behind him on the depth chart, he could soon be out of a job.

Spiller has seen limited action this preseason for a number of reasons, but he could provide the spark that the offense needs in Buffalo to finally get out of the cellar of the AFC East.

The sheer fact alone that Spiller could score anytime he touches the ball could force the Bills to play him more and more as time goes on which means Fred Jackson's carries will decline. 

Matt Light

Another New England Patriot on the list, is offensive tackle Matt Light.

For a while it was unclear whether Light would rejoin the Patriots for the 2011 season, but he ended up signing a new two-year deal to stay with the team.

In April, the Patriots drafted Nate Solder: offensive tackle out of Colorado and the future tackle who would protect Tom Brady's blindside.

Solder is a freakish 6'9" 315-pound monster who could play right away in the NFL, so if Light slacks off at all, he could find himself mentoring Solder from the sidelines rather than playing for one of the best teams in the NFL. 

Pierre Thomas

With Reggie Bush shipped out of town in July, it seemed like Pierre Thomas would become the feature back for the New Orleans Saints, and recent first-round pick Mark Ingram, would be his backup. 

But Ingram started the preseason off with a bang with a 14-yard touchdown in his first game as a pro. 

Thomas performed well in the second preseason game against the Houston Texans, rushing for 33 yards on six carries.

Still just 26 years old, Thomas shouldn't have to worry about being replaced—but if Ingram performs well, he will certainly lose carries to the first-round Alabama product. 

Ingram and Thomas could prove to be a dangerous two-headed monster for the Saints to go along with the high-speed passing attack led by Drew Brees. 

Alex Smith

With new head coach Jim Harbaugh, and newly drafted Colin Kaepernick, Alex Smith's time as the starting quarterback could be running out.

Smith, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2005, has never lived up to the hype coming out of college.

He has had six years to develop and seems to be in the same place he was on Day 1. There has been little-to-no progress.

Colin Kaepernick is certainly no start, but he could provide a breath of fresh air for the 49ers if he could play well enough to earn the starting job.

Neither quarterbacks have performed well enough to be named starter by Harbaugh yet, but in what seems to be another rough season for the 49ers, don't be surprised if he goes with the young gun Kaepernick, at quarterback.