Best backup QB ever?

[Batman]

Lots of quarterback threads today, so here's another one. Who's the best backup quarterback of all-time? It's got to be a guy who spent at least a few years as a backup, came in and won games when he was put in there, and played well. Can't be somebody who was a backup for one or two seasons, then took over the full-time job for a long time. So Steve Young can barely make the cut, somebody like Tom Brady can't.

My vote goes to Earl Morrall. Was Unitas' backup in Baltimore, played in two Super Bowls, then went to Miami and quarterbacked them for half of the undefeated season.

 

[93Devil]

Don Strock

 

[Claws for Concern]

Morrall is a great choice.

Kurt Warner would have to be mentioned here since he took over for Trent Green who was injured in the preseason and took the Rams to the Super Bowl

 

[Claws for Concern]

Frank Reich. Just ask the old Houston Oilers.

 

[Batman]

Warner held down the starting job for three years after that, though. He kind of falls into the Brady group, where he was a backup at first and then won the starting job.

And Reich is a great choice. Even beyond the Oilers game (or the UM-Maryland game, for that matter), the Bills always played well when he was in there.

 

[didntdoit19]

Jeff Hostetler

 

[IU90]

Shouldn't this be on the Anything Goes board?

And it depends on the criteria. Should be limited only to accomplishments while a backup, not backups who went on to greater things after being named starters like Young and Brady.

Those that jump out are Hostetler, Reich, Strock. And 87 Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams, who was actually a backup most of that season until injury made him a starter.

 

[Kent_Dorfman]

Don Strock gets my vote as well. Plus, he had the best tan.

 

[Hammer Pants]

Steve Young.

 

[slappy4428]

Morrall, Strock and Reich are guys who are tough to beat off the bench,

 

[jgmacg]

Blanda.

 

[zeke12]

Flutie.

 

[Claws for Concern]

Steve DeBerg

 

[Batman]

I posted it on this board because several other QB-related threads were already going on here. If the powers-that-be feel the need to move it to Anything Goes, I won't argue. Not that it'd make a difference if I did.

My personal criteria for a great backup:
1) Could probably start for several teams in the league, but wouldn't be able to carry a ****ty team on his own.
2) CAN come off the bench to carry a good team to a win.
3) If the starter is out for an extended period, can lead the team for five or six games and do well. However, if he had to play a full a 16-game season things wouldn't turn out as well.
4) For the purposes of this discussion, must have been a backup for several years (like Young or Hostetler) or most of his career (like Morrall or Trent Dilfer). if you want to include some of the one-year guys, like Jeff Garcia last season, that's OK. But I was mostly thinking of guys who never went on to bigger and better things for extended periods.

 

[Hammer Pants]

I posted it on this board because several other QB-related threads were already going on here. If the powers-that-be feel the need to move it to Anything Goes, I won't argue. Not that it'd make a difference if I did.

My personal criteria for a great backup:
1) Could probably start for several teams in the league, but wouldn't be able to carry a ****ty team on his own.
2) CAN come off the bench to carry a good team to a win.
3) If the starter is out for an extended period, can lead the team for five or six games and do well. However, if he had to play a full a 16-game season things wouldn't turn out as well.
4) For the purposes of this discussion, must have been a backup for several years (like Young or Hostetler) or most of his career (like Morrall or Trent Dilfer). if you want to include some of the one-year guys, like Jeff Garcia last season, that's OK. But I was mostly thinking of guys who never went on to bigger and better things for extended periods.

Billy Volek is THAT guy right now.

 

[Saint Lou]

My first thought on this subject was Steve Young.

Kurt Warner would have to be mentioned here since he took over for Trent Green who was injured in the preseason and took the Rams to the Super Bowl

But this post made me remember that Warner was the back-up QB the year he led the Rams to the Super Bowl.

I'm not a Warner fan, but he also led them to the big game against the Patriots. That's not bad.

 

[93Devil]

I posted it on this board because several other QB-related threads were already going on here. If the powers-that-be feel the need to move it to Anything Goes, I won't argue. Not that it'd make a difference if I did.

My personal criteria for a great backup:
1) Could probably start for several teams in the league, but wouldn't be able to carry a ****ty team on his own.
2) CAN come off the bench to carry a good team to a win.
3) If the starter is out for an extended period, can lead the team for five or six games and do well. However, if he had to play a full a 16-game season things wouldn't turn out as well.
4) For the purposes of this discussion, must have been a backup for several years (like Young or Hostetler) or most of his career (like Morrall or Trent Dilfer). if you want to include some of the one-year guys, like Jeff Garcia last season, that's OK. But I was mostly thinking of guys who never went on to bigger and better things for extended periods.

Billy Volek is THAT guy right now.

Charlie Batch does not agree.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I'd have to vote for Steve Young...

 

[kingcreole]

Steve Young

 

[joe king]

Earl Morrall is the patron saint of backup quarterbacks. If there was a backup QBs hall of fame, his statue would be in front of it.

That said, this thread has touched on many excellent choices. Strock, Reich, Flutie, Blanda -- I remember a couple of his miracles for the Raiders when he was in his 40s. Steve DeBerg was best known as the caretaker QB who gave way to Joe Montana, John Elway, Steve Young and Vinny Testaverde.

And, in the vein of Kurt Warner, here's one -- Tom Brady. Remember the no-name sixth-round draft choice who replaced the injured Drew Bledsoe in 2001?