I have always wondered if being a back up quarterback in the NFL is a sweet deal. Some franchises, the back up QB is the most popular guy on the team. Usually that means the starter is not doing well. Guys like Jordan Love for the Packers, a first round draft pick, will finally get his chance if the Packers can successfully move Aaron Rodgers. What about veterans who were once upon a time starters in the league that melt away on some bench with clip board waiting for some injury to occur instead of a mop up role? Some quarterbacks are meant to be back ups and some can make that gig like they are specialists to be called upon duty to come in after an injury or steer the ship for a few games & then go back to holding the clip board. What about aging quarterbacks that want one more act in their book of life? With Spring leagues like the XFL or the USFL, you think you get more guys taking their talents to these Spring leagues. One quarterback did give up that nice cushy office job in the quarterback room to take less money to play in the XFL. Former Bengals & Raiders quarterback A.J McCarron is playing for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL so his kids will get to see him play on the gridiron. I think for McCarron and surprised by others playing the game again as a starter is an itch that you can finally be scratch. McCarron gave up more money in the NFL to play in the XFL.

A.J McCarron now is 32 years old and has played in the NFL for six seasons. McCarron was a hot commodity his rookie season as he saw action for the injured Andy Dalton. In seven games in 2015 in which three of them were starts, McCarron threw for 854 yards with 6 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. McCarron won 2 of the three starts he had in his rookie campaign. After 2015, his next start came with Houston in 2019 after three years in Cincinnati and one season in Oakland. McCarron’s NFL career he has played in only 17 games and is 2-2 in just 4 starts as he threw all six touchdown passes his first season. The last two seasons McCarron has not played as his last action came in a Texans uniform in 2020 where he made 1 pass attempt and completed it for 20 yards. Before signing with the Battlehawks of the XFL, an NFL team had offered McCarron more money to be a back up quarterback.

When the original USFL started in the 1980’s, they found ways to pay young players big money especially at the quarterback position. Guys like Jim Kelly, Steve Young, Doug Williams, and Doug Flutie flourished in the USFL before ending up in the NFL. Back then the NFL lost back up quarterbacks that went on and did well in the USFL like A.J McCarron is having a very good season in St. Louis. The Philadelphia Stars were the New England Patriots of the USFL as they had Chuck Fusina, a long time veteran of the NFL leading the team. The Fusina Stars won two championships as they made it there all three seasons. Chuck Stoudt, former Pittsburgh Steeler, threw for over 6,000 yards for the Birmingham Stallions back in the 1980’s USFL. Stoudt threw 60 touchdown passes and had 14 rushing touchdowns. Brian Sipe, a long time Cleveland Brown in the NFL, played two seasons in the USFL with New Jersey Generals and Jacksonville Bulls and threw 21 touchdown passes while racking up over 3,000 passing yards. These guys wanted to step on the field and play the game of football, not watch from the sideline and fetch the coaching staff coffee.

How many NFL quarterbacks are like Chase Daniel? Daniel has played for 13 years in the NFL and has made 41 million dollars as back up and started only 5 games.

When the Bears had Jonathan Quinn as their back up quarterback, he was stealing money & such a fraud. Quinn never played in Kansas City but knew the system though. Years on the bench until he was thrown to the wolves when the Bears needed him to play for QB 1 who went down with an injury. Horrific. But they are millionaires. Some of these quarterbacks should use the XFL or USFL just to get back to the NFL. Cam soft Newton says no way 30 current NFL starters could be better than him. What has Cam Newton done in the last few years besides throw interceptions. Then Colin Kapernick is another fraud living the life as an activist but the far fetched fish story tales of how he was one best quarterbacks in the NFL and one point and the league took it away. Then quit blaming your adopted parents for the hand you’ve been dealt and prove you’re that quarterback that you never were. These Spring leagues discover guys like P.J Walker, former Roughneck of the XFL reboot in 2020. The Spring leagues are good for developing younger talent not drafted. Playing for the love of the game. Playing for your kids. That’s what it’s all about. How about playing for yourself? A.J McCarron is having fun. His family is loving watching him play again. I know it’s tough giving up millions of dollars. To be in the game again is something better than money. Playing the game is why you became a professional.