New Year's Resolution for Each NFL Starting Quarterback

In the NFL, as in life, everyone has a New Year's resolution. It has become part of the American culture. Once the ball drops at midnight, many of us realize that a new era has begun and that whatever happened in the previous year is no longer important.

Of course, this is a bit foolhardy considering that New Year's Day is just another day on the calendar, but it makes us feel better nonetheless.

The NFL is no different. Many quarterbacks have had tremendous success this season, and some have had their fair share of ups and downs. For some, the 2011 season hasn't turned out like they had originally hoped. Some quarterbacks who have had tremendous success in the past failed to translate that to 2011. Others who have not had much success in the past have taken their game to a previously unforeseen level.

Today I am going to focus on a New Year's resolution for every starting quarterback in the NFL.

Injured or Currently Not Starting

Peyton Manning: Make a commitment to sign with a contender and finish off one of the greatest careers in the history of the NFL.

Donovan McNabb: Call it quits and start a second career as a broadcaster.

Matt Schaub: Get healthy and prove to the Texans that the T.J. Yates era is still years away.

Matt Cassel: Work on the fundamentals of your game and come back strong in 2012.

Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals

Resolution: Prove you're worth the money and the bounty of picks it took to acquire your services.

John Skelton has been more valuable to the Arizona Cardinals this season than Kevin Kolb. That is not a good sign for a franchise that hedged its bets that Kolb was going to be its franchise cornerstone.

I understand that Kolb cannot dictate what happens on the injury front, but he can show something of substance when actually on the field.

It remains to be seen what direction Arizona is going to go over the course of the final three games. The Cardinals still have an outside shot for a playoff spot and will play the quarterback who gives them the best chance to win in the game. It will be telling if that man is Skelton, not Kolb.

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Resolution: Show more consistency and become a team leader.

We are past the point of calling Matt Ryan a young quarterback. He has now made over 40 career starts and seems to be as inconsistent as he was early in the season and even in 2010.

My primary issues are with Ryan's performance on the road. While he is one of the most successful and winningest quarterbacks at home, Ryan and the Falcons struggle greatly on the road.

With New Orleans set to win the NFC South, Atlanta will have to go on the road for the playoffs. This pretty much spells doom for its hopes of contending for a Super Bowl. Whether it is going into what has quickly become a hostile environment in San Francisco or traveling to New York, I am not confident in Ryan's ability to lead the Falcons to victory.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens

Resolution: Stop holding back the Baltimore Ravens offense and become part of their success.

I am not saying that Joe Flacco is holding back the Ravens offense...wait, yes, I am. Flacco follows up performances that remind us why he was a first-round pick with a horrendous showing the following week. This has been a continual theme throughout his short career.

Look, the Ravens have tons of talent on offense. They boast one of the best offensive lines, a dual threat at running back, two really good young tight ends and multiple outside options at receiver. Any quarterback would be excited to play with all that talent. Still, it hasn't enhanced Flacco's ability to become a better quarterback.

His resolution should be to start becoming the reason why the Ravens offense is successful and stop holding them back. I am pretty sure that if Baltimore's offense at least shows some resemblance of success in the playoffs, this team will be a player in the race to the Super Bowl. If not, it is back to the drawing board for Flacco and co.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills

Resolution: Prove that your contract extension wasn't a mistake.

Since signing his contract extension at the end of October, the Bills have lost six of seven games and fallen completely out of the playoff race.

During that span Ryan Fitzpatrick has 10 interceptions compared to just eight touchdowns. His accuracy has decreased, and as a result he has become a much less successful quarterback. Buffalo invested money and time into giving Fitzpatrick an extension that some deemed him unworthy of.

I understand that Buffalo's defense has let the team down a great deal. After all, the Bills are yielding 32.8 points per game during their six-game losing streak. Still, it doesn't help out that Fitzpatrick has taken that step back towards mediocrity.

It is time for him to live up to that extension and work hard at becoming a more consistently good quarterback as 2011 draws to a conclusion and the offseason begins.

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers

Resolution: Mix electrifying play with better decisions on the field.

Cam Newton has made his fair share of mistakes as a rookie, and that is to be expected from such a young quarterback.

He has, however, been one of the most electrifying rookies to ever put on a football uniform on Sundays. From drilling a 50-yard pass between the numbers to Steve Smith downfield to escaping the pocket for a 20-yard run, Newton continues to leave many of us in awe.

Carolina is going to be a team that has to be taken seriously in the not-so-distant future. Now that Newton is finishing up his rookie season, it is time that he takes that step from rookie quarterback to seasoned professional. He has the ability and talent to do so; it is just up to whether or not he can now begin to limit those mistakes that will cost Carolina close games in the future.

Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Resolution: Get healthy and continue to prove your importance.

While I agree that Matt Forte is as valuable to his team as any player in the entire NFL, Jay Cutler has to be mentioned in that group.

Just look at what has happened to this team since Cutler went down to injury against the San Diego Chargers a few weeks back. He was playing inspiring football in 2011 and limiting the mistakes that had held him back in previous seasons.

Now, Cutler needs to get healthy and be ready for the 2012 season. He has apparently taken that next step from marginal starting quarterback to above-average status. I am pretty sure he is prepared to continue this growth and become one of the best second-tier quarterbacks in the league.

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

Resolution: Continue progression as a fundamentally sound starting quarterback.

Fundamentally sound quarterback is a term that many scouts use when they describe a marginal starting-quarterback prospect in the draft. That said, it is a term that has come to define successful quarterbacks in the NFL. Too often talent is wasted because quarterbacks leave college without the right mechanics and fundamentals to translate to the next level.

This did not happen with Andy Dalton at TCU.

Instead, coach Gary Patterson instilled into Dalton the necessity to be fundamentally sound and limit mistakes. The TCU coach understood that his pupil wasn't the most talented pro prospect in the draft, so he had to make up for it elsewhere.

This is why Dalton has had major success as a rookie and looks to have a bright future. It is time that Dalton continues that progression and the good feelings of a successful rookie season into the offseason.

Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns

Resolution: Show that you are capable of starting in the NFL.

There are rumblings, however unfair, that the Cleveland Browns are going to look the quarterback route in April's draft. Personally, I believe that they have a lot more to worry about than to find an “upgrade” for McCoy. Still, he hasn't given anyone much confidence that he is going to be an above-average quarterback in the league.

Rather, I am getting the following from McCoy's performance in 2011. He can lead a marginal offense to limited success throughout a season and win a few games here and there. Really, there isn't much more I see from McCoy. In reality, he has played like nothing more than a really good backup quarterback this season.

For this to change, the Browns have to get more talent on the offensive side of the ball. However, the blame cannot just sit there. McCoy needs to make better throws, hold on to the ball less and read defenses better. We all understand his physical limitations, but these are mechanical issues that need to be fixed.

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys

Resolution: Prove skeptics wrong and lead the Dallas Cowboys to postseason success.

I am in the minority in believing that Tony Romo may not return to the Dallas Cowboys if they fail to make the playoffs this season. The Cowboys have a heralded history of success at the quarterback position and on the field as a team. This success has not translated to Romo's tenure, as they have taken part in multiple late-season and postseason meltdowns.

Even if Jerry Jones is hell-bent on giving Romo another opportunity past the 2011 season, he needs to prove his worth as the year draws to an end and the team hopes to make a late-season push to the playoffs. If Dallas fails in that, you will see a lot of fans and media calling for Romo's ouster.

In short, Romo needs to lead the Cowboys into the playoffs and have success in January. It will probably come down to the New Year's Day season finale against the New York Giants. How's that for a New Year's resolution?

Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos

Resolution: Continue to improve as a passing quarterback.

Whether the Denver Broncos make the playoffs in 2011 is really immaterial in regards to Tebow's future as their quarterback. John Elway has an ideology as to what a NFL quarterback should be, and Tebow doesn't fit that.

That said, you cannot deny the fact that mighty man Tebow is winning games and doing it the unconventional way. The Broncos are going to have a decision to make in determining whether this success can be sustained throughout an entire season.

In this, Tebow needs to continue his progression as a passing quarterback in the NFL. Over the course of Tebow's first 11 NFL starts, he has thrown 11 touchdowns compared to just five interceptions and has a quarterback rating in the mid-80s.

Still, he isn't even averaging 120 passing yards per game in 2011. This has changed to an extent in his last couple outings. He has increased his yardage output in each of his last four starts, compiling over 200 in the last two games.

Expect him to work on this aspect of the game and bring a much better passing game into the 2012 season.

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Resolution: Take next step towards elite status.

Matthew Stafford has put up the numbers in 2011 that reflect an elite quarterback. He has also led the Detroit Lions to a somewhat surprising 8-5 record.

Still, you have to wonder whether or not he is an elite quarterback at this point. Stafford has failed in multiple late-game situations thus far in 2011 and has also put up some real stinkers.

We have not seen this happen with the likes of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers or even Eli Manning in 2011.

So, the question begs to be asked: Is Matthew Stafford an elite quarterback? Will he ever be one? My answer is no and yes. He is not currently an elite quarterback but will be one in rather short order.

What Stafford needs to work on in the offseason is making better reads down the field, not relying on Calvin Johnson so much and looking for check-down receivers. These are things that can be learned, and I believe you will see an improvement in these regards once the 2012 season starts.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Resolution: Continue to rise to the ranks of one of the best quarterbacks ever to play.

The numbers are just mind-numbing for Aaron Rodgers over the duration of his last 44 starts.

These numbers put him right up there with some of the best quarterbacks ever to play the game. This doesn't even take into account what Rodgers has done over his last 20 starts. I decided to focus on a larger example to give you an idea as to where Rodgers is right now.

If the Green Bay Packers finish undefeated and win their second consecutive Super Bowl, it will be etched in stone that Rodgers has had one of the greatest two-year runs in the history of the league. I really don't even think that is debatable.

You also have to keep in mind that he just turned 28 at the start of this month, so Rodgers has many years of success ahead of him.

T.J. Yates, Houston Texans

Resolution: Show the Houston Texans that they have a quarterback of the future.

The Houston Texans have won all three of T.J. Yates' starts since Matt Schaub went down to a season-ending injury in November. Over the duration of those starts, the rookie quarterback has improved each game.

As much talent as Yates has, we still should be surprised by his performance at such a young age. His game-winning drive last week was something for the books and ended in the Texans clinching their first-ever playoff appearance.

Now that the Texans are headed for January, Yates will have an opportunity to prove to everybody that he can be the franchise quarterback moving forward. Keep in mind that Matt Schaub is 30 years old, and Yates could conceivably take over within the next two or three seasons if he proves his worth.

Dan Orlovsky, Indianapolis Colts

Resolution: Make sure that Canadian Football League teams have you on their radar.

I don't want to come off as sounding cold here, but there is absolutely no reason why Orlovsky is in the National Football League.

Let's just take a look at what he has accomplished so far in the league.

He managed to lose seven of the Lions' 16 games in 2008 when they became the first 0-16 team ever. Not finding many more opportunities out there, Orlovsky decided to sign with the Indianapolis Colts and is now in the midst of starting for a team that is on its way to matching the Lions in single-season futility. 

One thing has come out of this: If you are a marginal football team, it is probably not a good idea to sign the former Connecticut quarterback.

That said, he might have a future as a starting quarterback in the Canadian Football League. Maybe Toronto should come calling.

Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars

Resolution: Actually make some progression as a quarterback.

Blaine Gabbert has probably been one of the least impressive rookie quarterbacks this season, while the likes of Cam Newton and Andy Dalton have continued to progress as quarterbacks, and T.J. Yates as well as Christian Ponder show promise. Gabbert is stuck in preseason form and hasn't progressed as a quarterback.

He has thrown 10 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions but is just completing barely over 50 percent of his passes and throwing for a paltry 148 yards per game.

Additionally, the Jaguars have watered down their playbook with the full understanding that Gabbert isn't ready to utilize it all. This has caused Maurice Jones-Drew to struggle more than in the past and the Jaguars offense to continue its poor play.

He needs to show improvement over the last three games and in the offseason for the Jaguars' new owner and new coach to have any confidence that he is a franchise quarterback.

Kyle Orton, Kansas City Chiefs

Resolution: Up your stock in free agency prior to the end of the season.

Entering the 2011 season, most people had Kyle Orton pegged as the best possible free agent entering this offseason. After all, he has had a tremendous amount of success over the course of the last three seasons or so.

You are looking at a quarterback that threw 26 more touchdowns than interceptions over the course of the previous three seasons and compiled a quarterback rating in the mid to high 80s.

Then the 2011 season came. Orton was on the trade block throughout the preseason, as the Denver Broncos never showed confidence in him to lead them out of the division cellar. Tebow mania came, and Orton was thrown out of Mile High City.

Since joining the Kansas City Chiefs, Orton hasn't played but a couple snaps. Interim head coach Romeo Crennel has named him the starting quarterback for their upcoming game against the undefeated Green Bay Packers.

This is Orton's opportunity to prove that he can come in and be a solid starting quarterback for a team in need of some consistency at that position. He has three games to show what he is worth to an intrigued NFL audience.

Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins

Resolution: Make Jeff Ireland's decision easy for him.

Matt Moore has impressed the Miami Dolphins front office so much that they are actually considering retaining his services as the starting quarterback for 2012. Now this all depends on how he performs over the course of the final three games and what happens with the Dolphins' coaching situation.

Moore is completing over 60 percent of his passes and nearly has a 2:1 touchdown-interception ratio this season. For all intents and purposes, Moore is nothing more than a game manager, but he does that part of the game extremely well.

I think there is a strong possibility that Jeff Ireland and co. are comparing Matt Moore to Chad Henne too much. This could be disastrous for the franchise because they will have an opportunity to draft one of the elite quarterback prospects in April's draft.

Either way, Moore has proven himself to be a capable quarterback, and this offseason will be telling as to what is going to happen in Miami.

Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings

Resolution: Don't let team's lack of success get you down.

I have been extremely impressed by the play of Christian Ponder during his rookie season. I understand that he hasn't put up the greatest statistics and has made a lot of mistakes during specific situations. This is to be expected from a rookie quarterback learning a new system and without much talent on offense.

What I like most about Ponder is that he has proven he can make every throw on the football field. He also gets rid of the ball relatively quickly and trusts his first assumption.

The issues that need to be fixed include reading defenses better, making better decisions as to where to throw the ball and understanding defensive schemes at the line. All of those will come in time.

He just needs to take the team's lack of success with a grain of salt at this point. The Minnesota Vikings are in the first season of a major rebuilding process. No one outside of Minnesota expected them to contend in 2011.

This team has a nice amount of young talent and should have a bright future. Ponder just needs to do what he can to be a major reason that this rebuilding process doesn't take too long.

He is off to a good start.

Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Resolution: Retake reins as the league's best quarterback.

Short of making a run at the Super Bowl and defeating the Green Bay Packers, which is still a possibility, there is no reason to even consider Tom Brady the best quarterback in the NFL.

At this point he is a distant second. It has nothing to do with Brady's performance. It is just that Aaron Rodgers is so far beyond anybody else at this point you cannot even mention anyone else in the same sentence.

So what can Brady do?

Well, he can do what he does best: continue to win games, put up alarmingly amazing statistics and not worry about how Rodgers is doing in the NFC.

The future Hall of Fame quarterback isn't going to lie down and let Rodgers take that best quarterback award away from him without a fight. You can expect him to attempt and succeed in taking the Patriots to the next level and challenging for the AFC title.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Resolution: Get the money you deserve.

Drew Brees has done more for the city of New Orleans and the Saints franchise than any player has done in the history of the league. I don't think I am overestimating the impact that Brees has had in the Bayou.

He has been such a team player for the organization and came to the city immediately following the hurricane that literally devastated the city and community.

Now it is time for him to collect on that and get what he deserves. I have no doubt that New Orleans will take care of the future Hall of Fame quarterback, but I am somewhat surprised that an extension has not yet been worked out.

Please, New Orleans, do yourself a favor and reward this great individual.

Eli Manning, New York Giants

Resolution: Continue progression towards elite status.

Eli Manning's single-handed performance on Sunday night that put the New York Giants back in first place is just another chapter in a season that has pushed him towards the status of an elite quarterback in the league.

Without much help from the rest of the Giants roster, Manning is proving himself to be just as valuable as his older brother. This is an amazing accomplishment by itself.

Listen, I do not expect the New York Giants to contend for a Super Bowl this season. They appear to be a step behind the Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers, but Manning cannot be at fault for that.

I look for Manning to continue this improvement as the regular season draws to a close and to make a marked effort during the offseason to get even better. At 30 years old, Manning is hitting his prime and ready to become one of the best quarterbacks in the entire league.

This is a far cry from a 2010 season that saw him throw a whopping 25 interceptions.

Mark Sanchez, New York Jets

Resolution: Stop holding the New York Jets back.

As an outsider I am probably as hard on Mark Sanchez as any diehard New York Jets fan. Although he has improved in every major statistical category each season, I just don't see him ever becoming an elite quarterback in the NFL.

His completion percentage is still stuck in the mid-50s, and the former USC star continues to be unimpressive in important situations.

Still, he has the New York Jets targeting another late-season run to the playoffs. That said, this isn't good enough for a fanbase that expects more from the talented team.

It is time that Sanchez takes that next step and becomes the reason the New York Jets challenge for an AFC championship. It probably won't happen in 2011, but he had better make sure he is ready come next season.

Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders

Resolution: Show that you can return to previous form.

The statistics are just astounding so far in 2011 for the former Cincinnati Bengal, who came to Oakland at midseason. Palmer has struggled a great deal since coming West and continues to make mistakes on a level I have not seen before.

He is throwing one interception for every 17 pass attempts. These numbers indicate a player that is making poor on-field decisions and holding back what could be a dynamic offense.

There is no questioning the talent Palmer possesses, but he needs to start being the veteran influence that the Raiders hoped they traded for.

If not, it is going to set back this franchise while it should be in the midst of AFC West domination.

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles

Resolution: Prove to the Philadelphia Eagles that your second $100 million contract wasn't as dumb as your first.

Statistically speaking, Michael Vick is having the worst season of an already successful career. He has had as many interceptions as touchdowns in 2011 and owns a quarterback rating of under 80. If this were baseball, he would currently be below replacement level. That isn't what you expect from a quarterback that just signed a $100 million contract.

Vick needs to work with his Eagles teammates during the offseason and make an effort to become a more fundamentally sound quarterback. If this doesn't happen, the huge contract that Philadelphia forked over will be just as bad as the one Atlanta signed Vick to prior to his off-field issues.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers

Resolution: Stay alive.

I really wanted to insert a video of the Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta movie here but refrained from doing that out of respect to Big Ben.

Seriously, it is a major surprise to me that he has not had a limb or extremity fall off at this point. Roethlisberger continues to be pounded to the ground because of a poor offensive line. He isn't the most mobile quarterback in the world, but this is just getting pretty crazy.

His New Year's resolution should be to recruit as many offensive linemen as possible to the Steel City. In fact, he should pay for their trip out to Western PA and house them while negotiations take place. Accordingly, Big Ben might even want to act as their agent.

If this doesn't happen, I have a hard time believing that Big Ben is going to have as fruitful of an NFL career as was possible just three years ago.

Protect the man, for God's sake!

Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers

Resolution: Return to 2010 form.

Philip Rivers has taken a step to returning to 2010 form over the course of the last two games, as he is leading the Chargers on yet another late-season run. It is truly amazing to see him perform up to this level when it counts the most.

Still, he needs to pick it up a notch with tough games remaining on the schedule and the team still two games behind the division-leading Denver Broncos.

One thing is for sure: Rivers has a moxie that is nearly unmatched in the NFL.

Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers

Resolution: Prove to Jim Harbaugh and co. that you are more than a game manager in the playoffs.

Imagine this for a second if you will. Alex Smith has thrown just six interceptions over the course of his last 522 pass attempts. That is one interception per every 87 pass attempts. This ranks even better than Aaron Rodgers, who has thrown one interception every 73 passes.

Of course I am not comparing the two. I am just stating that Alex Smith has been the ultimate game manager for the San Francisco 49ers this season.

He is going to have to do more than that if the 49ers hope to do damage in the playoffs. He will have to become a reason why their offense takes the next step.

If this doesn't happen, San Francisco might be one-and-done in January.

Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks

Resolution: Make the Seattle Seahawks' 2012 quarterback decision more difficult.

Seattle Seahawks fans better hope that this decision is easier than what some people expect it to be right now. Tarvaris Jackson is not a consistently good starting quarterback in the NFL and shouldn't be counted on as anything more than a good backup.

Still, I have a gut feeling that the powers to be in Seattle like him a great deal and may decide to look somewhere else in the draft.

This would be a huge mistake.

For Jackson's part, he needs to make this decision more difficult and follow up a great Thursday night performance with three more solid outings. If he does this, Pete Carroll and co. may decide that he is the man to lead the team in 2012.

Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams

Resolution: Show that your sophomore slump was nothing more than a fluke.

Sam Bradford's regression from 2010 to 2011 is downright alarming. He has taken a step back in nearly every statistical category from his rookie season.

You are looking at a player that has thrown just six touchdowns in nearly 360 passing attempts, by far the worst in the NFL. His impotence at the quarterback position has led some to believe that Bradford will never be an above-average NFL quarterback.

I don't see it that way.

It has been a perfect storm of sorts for Bradford this season. He had to learn a new offense on the fly, their coaches aren't doing a good job of putting him in a situation to succeed and the Rams are without the necessary playmakers on offense.

Still, some of the blame has to go to Bradford himself.

He needs to work hard on the mechanical aspect of the game this offseason and work with the Rams' young wide receivers to find more continuity in the passing game. If he continues to regress in 2012, you will start hearing the all-too-familiar "bust" label broken out again.

Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Resolution: Make better decisions on the football field.

Wow, I couldn't have been more wrong when I predicted Josh Freeman to have a Pro Bowl season in 2011. He has regressed to a level that I have not recently seen in the NFL. The former first-round pick has seen his quarterback rating drop 20 points, has thrown three times more interceptions this season in 33 fewer pass attempts and is presiding over a collapse of epic proportions.

Freeman needs to start making better decisions on the field He throws the ball into coverage way too much, doesn't read the defense well and has horrible pocket presence.

It is hard to imagine a player dropping off as much as Freeman has this season. He needs to get it together in relatively short order before an avalanche of failures buries what was a promising career.

Matt Hasselbeck, Tennessee Titans

Resolution: Continue to keep the Titans in contention while grooming Jake Locker.

Surprisingly, the Tennessee Titans are actually in the middle of a playoff race in the AFC. I really didn't expect this to be the case when the season began. The reason for this is inspired play from the defense and a solid veteran quarterback in the form of Matt Hasselbeck.

Whether the Titans make the playoffs or not isn't my point. Hasselbeck has done a great job keeping the seat warm for Jake Locker and has lent his leadership abilities to help groom the first-round pick.

I sure hope that Tennessee retains the services of Hasselbeck beyond the 2011 season and allows him to continue grooming Locker for one more year. If this happens, Hasselbeck will go down with having a reputation for being the ultimate team player, and Jake Locker will be much better off for it.

What better way to end what has been an extremely successful career for an all-around good guy?

Rex Grossman, Washington Redskins

Resolution: Get hired on as quarterbacks coach at your alma mater.

It might be a little harsh, but I believe that Rex Grossman should just call it a career. Sure, he could continue playing as a backup for the next five seasons or so. But what would be the point?

Grossman is an intelligent quarterback and would be much more useful as a coach at his relatively young age. It seems that he translates real well to the college ranks for that and could help out a myriad of young quarterbacks in the future.

We have seen marginal quarterbacks do this in the past, and it seems like this would be a great career path for him.