The NFC North could be a quarterback soap opera this fall with major story lines developing in not only Minneapolis and Chicago, but Detroit and Green Bay, too.
The Lions, 0-16 last season and in worse shape than General Motors, appear headed for a showdown between former Viking Daunte Culpepper and rookie Matthew Stafford. Since 2005, Culpepper, 32, has played nothing like the Pro Bowl player who was outstanding here in the early years of this decade, but reportedly he’s been impressive during the off season. He will compete with Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL draft.
Watching over it all is new Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehean, the same guy who had that title with the Vikings when Culpepper was most productive (and healthy). While Linehan may favor starting Culpepper early in the season because of his experience, he’s impressed with Stafford.
“He gets it out so quick, and with so much velocity,” Linehan said in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune. “And he’s more accurate than I thought he was.”
In Green Bay, Aaron Rodgers is surrounded by the ghost of Brett Favre. Rodgers was last year, too, but in his first season as the Packers’ No. 1, Favre was based in New York with the Jets. If Favre decides not to retire and play for the Vikings (seems likely), he will be perched on the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, waiting to stir things up between two teams and zealous fans from both states.
The 2009 Packers and Vikings games could be historic events, not football games. The first game is Monday, October 5 in Minneapolis; the second on Sunday, November 1 in Green Bay. The value of tickets for those games will go up like the hottest of stocks the day Favre signs on with the Purple. The border war goes nuclear in interest and emotion.
It’s possible Favre and Rodgers will emerge from the season as heroes with their local fan bases. But then again, they might not even be welcomed back for another season. The only thing for sure is that Favre won’t be a god with many cheese-heads in Green Bay, and Rodgers will draw applause here only if he throws about four interceptions in each game.
And the happiest soap opera script in the division could be down in Chicago where new quarterback Jay Cutler just might be better than any of his rivals. The quarterback- poor Bears took a gamble with a big offering, acquiring Cutler by giving Denver two first round picks, a third round choice and quarterback Kyle Orton.
Cutler’s resume says he might be worth it. He made the AFC Pro Bowl roster after last season, his third in the NFL. Among his numbers: 4,526 yards passing and 25 touchdown passes. He joins a Bears offense that in past seasons has often looked like it was playing with 10 guys, not 11.