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If offseason moves make you woozy, we can help you out

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Posted: Sunday March 21, 1999 09:55 AM

Former Packer Doug Pederson, now the Eagles' starting QB, has thrown 32 passes in his eight-year NFL career. Tom Hauck/Allsport

ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Kerry Collins has been fired twice in the past six months. Now he's on the fast track to becoming the New York Giants' new starting quarterback. With a $5 million signing bonus in the works.

Some guy named Doug Pederson -- who never has started a game in an on-again, off-again career that began when he was picked by the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 1991 -- is the new starting quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. He's thrown 32 passes in his NFL life.

Rich Gannon, who has played backup way more than he's started in 11 years in the league, is the new starting gun for the Oakland Raiders. Trent Green, a new starter in Washington last season, is now the new starter with the St. Louis Rams.

Brad Johnson, the sometimes starter in Minnesota (when he wasn't hurt), is now the Redskins' new guy.

Warren Moon, a nine-time Pro Bowler, is looking for a new job. So is the obviously talented but often troublesome Jeff George. Ex-Giants starter Danny Kanell landed on his feet in Atlanta, and ex-Redskins starter Gus Frerotte found a home in Detroit.

Then there are former starters Bobby Hoying (Philadelphia) and Tony Banks, (St. Louis) who could be on the open market soon.

And this is the NFL's offseason.

Confused? You oughta be.

So we offer up this primer on the comings and goings of quarterbacks in a scrambled NFL offseason, with one bit of warning.

The charts below are subject to change. A lot.

AFC East Team Starter Backup Buffalo Bills Doug Flutie Rob Johnson The Scoop: Flutie bumped out expensive former starter Johnson and is now entrenched Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning Stoney Case The Scoop: Impressive rookie outing means '98 No. 1 pick will be here for years to come Miami Dolphins Dan Marino Craig Erickson The Scoop: '99 may be the last season for Marino; Dolphins still looking for his heir New England Patriots Drew Bledsoe Scott Zolak The Scoop: No. 1 pick in '93 solid No. 1 now; 3,600 yards, 20 TDs, 14 INTs in '98 New York Jets Vinny Testaverde Tom Tupa The Scoop: After years of looking, Jets have found their man, Vinny has found a home

AFC Central Team Starter Backup Baltimore Ravens Scott Mitchell Eric Zeier The Scoop: Mitchell is the man, and new coach Brian Billick wants to throw Cincinnati Bengals Jeff Blake Neil O'Donnell The Scoop: O'Donnell OK, but Bengals don't want a dinker; a QB with No. 3 pick? Cleveland Browns ????? Ty Detmer The Scoop: Tim Couch may be No. 1 pick; they've found a veteran in Detmer Jacksonville Jaguars Mark Brunell Jonathan Quinn The Scoop: Jags set with their solid (20 INTs, 9 INTs), daring starter Pittsburgh Steelers Kordell Stewart Mike Tomczak The Scoop: A bad '98 (11 TDs, 18 INTs) has Steelers wondering if Stewart can do the job Tennessee Oilers Steve McNair Dave Krieg The Scoop: A solid 3,200 yards, 15 TDs in '98 for McNair; backup Krieg is ancient

AFC West Team Starter Backup Denver Broncos John Elway Bubby Brister The Scoop: Unless he quits, Elway's it; Brister (10 TDs, 3 INTs, four starts), Brian Griese await Oakland Raiders Rich Gannon Wade Wilson The Scoop: First full-time job for Gannon; a $16 million deal lured ex-Chief to West rival Kansas City Chiefs Elvis Grbac Todd Collins The Scoop: Chiefs will play QB of the future now Gannon's gone; Elvis 5 TDs, 12 INTs in '98 San Diego Chargers Jim Harbaugh Ryan Leaf The Scoop: Leaf now has veteran Harbaugh to help him learn position Seattle Seahawks Jon Kitna Glenn Foley The Scoop: Kitna has 6 starts in career; now Moon's gone, he's the man

NFC East Team Starter Backup Arizona Cardinals Jake Plummer Dave Brown The Scoop: The next great NFL QB? 3,700 gambling yards in '98. Cards love Jake the Snake Dallas Cowboys Troy Aikman Jason Garrett The Scoop: Aikman getting older (33), missed five games with injury, but still can play New York Giants Kerry Collins Kent Graham The Scoop: Collins quit in Carolina, canned in NO; 14 TOs sealed fate in Big Easy Philadelphia Eagles Doug Pederson Koy Detmer The Scoop: Former backup in GB, Pederson knows coach Andy Reid, also an ex-Packer Washington Redskins Brad Johnson Casey Weldon The Scoop: Good but brittle ex-Viking missed 12 games in '98; 44 TDs, 29 INTs in career

NFC Central Team Starter Backup Chicago Bears Erik Kramer Moses Moreno The Scoop: Maybe the worst QB situation in the league; the Bears may go QB with No. 7 pick Detroit Lions Charlie Batch Gus Frerotte The Scoop: Batch unseated Mitchell in '98, 11 TDs, 6 INTs, 57% -- a solid future Green Bay Packers Brett Favre Rick Mirer The Scoop: No one's safer, more durable than Favre; 31 TDs, 4,212 yards in a "down" '98 Minnesota Vikings Randall Cunningham Jay Fiedler The Scoop: Cunningham had great '98, 34 TDs, 10 INTs; how long can nearly 36-year-old last? Tampa Bay Buccaneers Trent Dilfer Steve Walsh The Scoop: May not be the answer, but Dilfer's the man; 21 TDs, 15 INTs in lackluster '98

NFC West Team Starter Backup Atlanta Falcons Chris Chandler Danny Kanell The Scoop: Longtime journeyman proved worth in '98 with Pro Bowl year, Super Bowl date Carolina Panthers Steve Beuerlein Jeff Lewis The Scoop: Beuerlein picked up ball Collins dropped; Steve Bono also in mix New Orleans Saints Billy Joe Tolliver Billy Joe Hobert The Scoop: Ditka opted for them over Collins; Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel there, too St. Louis Rams Trent Green Kurt Warner The Scoop: Ex-Skin took over in Washington, finishing with 23 TDs, 11 INTs, 3,441 yards San Francisco 49ers Steve Young Jeff Garcia The Scoop: Nobody runs an offense better; 4,100 yards, 36 TDs, 12 INTs for Young in '98

 

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