TMQ: Year of the Vagabond Quarterback
Plus everyone is shocked, shocked to find out there is gambling
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It’s not even Halloween so a lot could change, but so far this is the Year of the Vagabond Quarterback.
Baker Mayfield, not that long ago first overall choice in the NFL draft, was given the boot by Cleveland, shown the door by Carolina and by the Rams. (Boot… door… that’s not a mixed metaphor, no sir.) Now he’s an MVP frontrunner.
Baker Mayfield. Photo courtesy Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Daniel Jones, not that long ago sixth overall choice in the draft, was run out of New York City on a rail -- for NFL purposes New York City is located in New Jersey – later let go by Minnesota. Now he’s another MVP frontrunner.
Former first round draft choice Mac Jones, thrown overboard by two NFL teams (boot… door… sea) has won games for the Forty Niners.
Former first round draft choice Joe Flacco, whom even some football aficionados thought retired years ago, is notching wins for his ninth team.
Aaron Rodgers, a first ballot Hall of Famer who’s been given cab fare to the airport by two NFL teams (boot… door… sea… sky), is winning with his third employer.
High first-round draft choice Sam Darnold, shot out of a cannon by four NFL teams (boot… door… sea...sky…cannon) is winning at his fifth, Seattle. Since the beginning of last season Darnold has thrown more touchdown passes than all but three NFL quarterbacks. Yet he’s a confirmed vagabond.
Marcus Mariota, who started last night for Washington on Monday Night Football, is a former second-overall draft choice now with his fifth NFL club. The first four didn’t trade him, merely let him walk.
Andy Dalton, who started Sunday for Carolina because Bryce Young is injured, isn’t a frontline quarterback anymore but has compiled an impressive resume in his second career as a vagabond, now with his fifth NFL team.
Sunday on the penultimate down of the first half versus Buffalo, Cats trailing 19-3, on the Buffalo 4 yard line and out of times-out, Dalton failed to throw the ball away, taking a sack that kept the clock moving. The field goal unit raced in for a short “fire drill” attempt, but the hurried kick missed. Ouch.
Don’t worry, somebody will sign Dalton for next year. Cap-friendly vagabond quarterbacks are valuable.
Even Carson Wentz has posted a couple victories at Minnesota.
Wentz is the King of the Vagabond Quarterbacks. Once second-overall choice in the draft, last month he became the first NFL signal-caller to start for six different teams in six consecutive seasons. Wentz just suffered a season-ending injury — expect him back next season, at a seventh team.
Vagabond quarterback notes:
After playing for two colleges, Joe Flacco is on his ninth NFL team. This counts as two his separate stints with the Browns. The football weight room at the University of Delaware is a gift of Flacco and wife Dana, who was his high-school sweetheart. Awww.
Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick also played for nine NFL teams.
Josh Johnson has been on 14 NFL rosters, though sometimes only the practice squad not the gameday varsity. Below is a TV commercial where Johnson pokes fun at the number of times he changed jerseys. He is an inspiration to vagabond quarterbacks everywhere!
There’s buzz about Baker Mayfield as MVP. If the vote were held today, the leading candidates would be Jonathan Taylor, Mayfield and Daniel Jones – the latter two vagabonds, between them run off five times.
After being chosen first overall in the 2018 draft, Mayfield was traded, then twice either released or not resigned.
The Cleveland Browns, who drafted Mayfield, have a four-alarm fire at quarterback. Had Cleveland simply held onto Mayfield and developed him, the Browns, who possess a power defense, might be an elite team today.
Instead they are… the Browns. Cleveland just lost its twelfth straight on the road.
Last week TMQ detailed how Jones found success as vagabond. How did Mayfield become a vagabond?
In 2018, when Mayfield was drafted, John Dorsey was Cleveland’s general manager. Two years later Dorsey was cashiered, replaced by Andrew Berry.
To the new Cleveland front office, Mayfield was Not Invented Here. New management wanted their own guy under center, and made the disastrous Deshaun Watson trade: combined with the disastrous Watson contract, worst transaction since the Herschel Walker deal. To get Mayfield out of the building, Berry sent him to Carolina for just a fifth-round pick.
Now Mayfield is in the MVP conversation. He has helped make the Bucs a contender. Last season City of Tampa won 10 games and gave the Commanders all they could handle in the playoffs. This season the Bucs are 6-2.
On the other hand Mayfield is 6-13 in primetime. For comparison, Patrick Mahomes is 29-12 in primetime. MVP voters say, “Big-time players must have big-time games.”
This December the Bucs face a primetime contest versus Atlanta. Mayfield’s performance in that game may be closely scrutinized.
As for John Dorsey, who had faith in Mayfield from the start: Today he runs player personnel for the Detroit Lions and is doing very very well.
How NFL Vagabond Quarterbacks change teams. Image courtesy Science Photo Library.
Unhappy Hour in Hell’s Sports Bar. Thursday the entire United States becomes Hell’s Sports Bar as the primetime contest is Dolphins versus Ravens, combined record 4-11.
Hell’s Sports Bar is packed with patrons – more arriving every day! It’s a long wait for a drink, but there’s no closing time since you can’t leave.
Taking into account trends in morality and personal behavior, the crowd at Hell’s Sports Bar will continue to expand.
This causes TMQ reader Howard Fischer to propose Hell’s Sports Bar open luxury boxes that require a Personal Seat License.
If you think PSLs at NFL games are expensive, wait till you see the price tag for a reserved seat in Hell’s Sports Bar. The Devil will present a contract that involves your eternal soul. Read the fine print before signing!
