Is There a Better No. 2 than Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen?

by Joel Thorman on Jul 10, 2009 3:43 PM CDT in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Offseason

It's interesting how the biggest position of need heading into the 2008 season now may be the biggest position of depth heading into the 2009 season. The Kansas City Chiefs certainly don't have any definitive answers at the QB position but there are two players to feel pretty good about it: Matt Cassel and Tyler Thigpen.

With Cassel the unofficially the starter heading into '09, the Chiefs might have the best back up quarterback in the NFL when factors like age and money are considered. Clark Judge of CBS Sports (via stagsdp in the FanShots) said Thigpen would be a fine starter for the Chiefs.

Had the Chiefs not gone out and signed Cassel, I'd be fine with Thigpen as the club's starter. I don't know how much you win with him, but I do know he can make things happen.

The oft pointed out stat of Thigpen's career thus far, one win, doen't matter to Judge. As he points out, Tony Gonzalez said it would be a "disgrace" if Thigpen wasn't given a chance to be the team's starter.

I don't care that he won one game. Eli Manning won one game his first year as a starter, too. Thigpen threw 161 passes without an interception and played well enough to win three or four more.

So, let's look at the backup quarterbacks to see how Thigpen stacks up. The candidates for best backup quarterback in the NFL listed after the jump have a few downsides that Thigpen doesn't possess including age (Garcia, Kitna) and money due to them (Leinart).

The Candidates

From this list, the only other backup that I might pick over Thigpen is Matt Leinart. They're both young with some experience (11 starts for Thigpen, 16 starts for Leinart). The difference? Money.

The money paid out to Thigpen in his rookie contract is minimal, at best. Excluding a minuscule signing bonus, he's played for $285,000 (2007) and $370,000 (2008). He's signed on for two more years at base salaries of $460,000 (2009) and $550,000 (2010).

The money being paid out to Leinart is much, much different. In 2007, as part of a six year, $50,8 million contract, he received a $2.76 million base salary and in 2008 a $735,000 base salary. Those numbers will jump up to $1.11 million (2009) and $2.485 million (2010). Not to mention the $7.36 million base salary in 2011.

Thigpen's total deal is worth $1.665 million over four years. Worst case scenario? He doesn't see the field in 2009 and still retains a fairly high trade value because of the position he plays. We're sitting in a very, very good spot with Thigpen. Despite not winning games in 2008, we're sitting in a very good spot with Tyler Thigpen.

Poll

Is Tyler Thigpen the best backup quarterback in the NFL?

Yes

698 votes

No

294 votes

992 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 37 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I think the best backup QB on that list is Garcia

But Thigpen is the best value (by far) IMO….

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Jul 10, 2009 3:49 PM CDT reply actions

I would agree

Garcia is a scrappy kind, makes for a good step in QB to keep the team running.

"stuck in Dallas"

by johnnyo_99 on Jul 10, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions

my thoughts exactly

by KCScuba on Jul 10, 2009 10:31 PM CDT up reply actions

My thoughts exactly. Garcia just wins wherever goes.

by kcchiefdan on Jul 10, 2009 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions

That's Who I Would Say

Although I don’t think it’s going to be true for long…I think Garcia will be the starter in Oakland by the midway point. The story you continuously hear leaked out of Oakland is that Russell is lazy and has a bad attitude. That guy is not long for the league.

Predictions for 2009

1. Todd Haley's going to struggle with managing his staff in his rookie year as head coach.
2. The Lions will draft Matt Stafford, the Rams will draft Jason Smith, and the Chiefs will draft either Aaron Curry or Eugene Monroe.
3. Maurice Carthon will be the most hated man on the Chiefs' coaching staff within two years.
4. Larry Johnson has already played his last meaningful game for the Kansas City Chiefs. He's gone before the 2009 season starts.
5. Larry Johnson will gain 0 yards rushing for the 2009 Kansas City Chiefs.

by UCrawford on Jul 11, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree wholeheartedly.

Kitna is pretty good too. Noone can dispute our depth at the QB position though. Croyle is a pretty good #3 even with his injury history. he is still a good QB.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Jul 10, 2009 4:17 PM CDT reply actions

I would put anyone in there ahead of Croyle

Anyone that can stay healthy.

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Jul 10, 2009 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions

I still say...

Give Croyle a year to heal up completely before pulling the plug. Some injuries take time – I separated my shoulder las Aug, and it still gets sore & weak. Granted, I’m in my 40s and don’t have the build or the NFL-level medical, but I also don’t have the constant pounding and grinding that Croyle had.

And I’m not a fan of BC at all. He doesn’t strike me as being cool under pressure, or have the stuff to be a good decision-maker, but I’m not sold on his “fragility” quite yet.

Cassel vs. Thigpen in Camp should improve the play of both.
Next on the need list: linebacker, and both lines

by Bleedingredandgold on Jul 12, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions

When the hell did Rex Grossman sign with the Texans?

That was a terrible signing. With Schaub being injury prone, they should have signed someone more reliable than Rex. They could be good this year.

Happiness is a long walk with a putter in your hand.

by craig in calgary on Jul 10, 2009 4:30 PM CDT reply actions

Like who?

Rosenfels is gone so their options were pretty limited.

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Jul 10, 2009 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't know

David Carr? Hehe

Happiness is a long walk with a putter in your hand.

by craig in calgary on Jul 10, 2009 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Isn't he still on the NYG?

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Jul 10, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh probably

I love calling out other peoples moves without actually thinking them through or god forbid offering better solutions.

Happiness is a long walk with a putter in your hand.

by craig in calgary on Jul 10, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL

That should be someone’s tag line.

by sunny D on Jul 11, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions

I would take Thigpen

Just because he is young and mobile. Plus Garcia will likely be the starter soon anyway…

by Skrappy on Jul 10, 2009 4:33 PM CDT reply actions

I hope Garcia is not the starter until after we beat the raiders in week 2.

In fact, I will bet we clown on Oakland so bad that they pull Russell and start Garcia in his place.
Then Russell will become the next Ryan Leaf and end up in prison for carjacking or selling crack or whatever it is that old raiders do to survive.

by Chiefsfan1970 on Jul 10, 2009 4:39 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

+1

The offseason is making me sleepy.

by Spiderwomn69 on Jul 10, 2009 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Garcia, hands down.

Love Thig-daddy but he can’t rally the troops like Jeff Garcia can. Dudes just dangerous, esspecially off the bench.

Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.

by BigRedChief on Jul 10, 2009 5:22 PM CDT reply actions

He is one of the best

The best thing about Thigpen is that he is young and has a mind for molding. He could develop into a pretty good QB.

Fans stuck in the 80's are lame. Respect the past, live in the now.

by maveric_87 on Jul 10, 2009 6:14 PM CDT reply actions

Backups

It’s difficult to evaluate backups due to the limited amount of time we get to see them. Even with the older guys, we don’t know how much they are of what they once were. So, I would like to say that I have no input.

Thank you.

by LarryDoggyDog on Jul 10, 2009 6:44 PM CDT reply actions

"The oft pointed out stat of Thigpen's career thus far, zero wins"

Didn’t he get a W against the Raiders in Oakland last year?

Also, I don’t doubt there are better backup QBs than Thiggy, but I doubt there are many that are more fun to watch. He single-handedly made the Chiefs interesting last year.

by cvigz on Jul 10, 2009 7:51 PM CDT reply actions

+1

by CPT.Caveman on Jul 10, 2009 8:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks, cvigz

I actually thought I had gone back and changed that. It was supposed to be part of my editing process.

And fun doesn’t matter a whole lot to me. Winning is fun. Thigpen has yet to demonstrate that (albeit with a poor supporting cast).

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Jul 10, 2009 9:30 PM CDT up reply actions

+ 1a

by dinomight on Jul 11, 2009 4:10 AM CDT up reply actions

What Thigpen should have done.

With the small schools Thigpen went to you know he didn’t have a great QB coach and being our 3rd string QB last year you know he didn’t get a lot of coaching then either but even with all that against him he still came out and played very well, if we had any kind of a defense he would have won more games. So as soon as the season ended he should have found someone to help him get better, I know there are retired QB’s that have helped out other QB’s. If he had the skills to do what he did last year with the training he had just think if he had someone good to help him, he might have gave Cassel more of a run for the starting job.

Herm is gone things are better with that one move!!

by bringbacktheglory on Jul 10, 2009 9:06 PM CDT reply actions

Billy Volek

No, I’m serious. He had a great outing in the playoffs in the 2007 season; he should have made the list at the least. Garcia was tough in Tampa against the Chargers; he was bleeding like crazy and stayed in the game.

I happened to catch Thigpen against the Dolphins on the NFL channel the other night. He reminded me of Rivers in 2007; he seemed to lack just a bit of arm strength to really make the stretch play work. Receivers kept having to come back to the ball. Did anyone else think that? Even so, I thought Thigpen and your secondary were the two best things about the Chiefs last year.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Jul 10, 2009 9:19 PM CDT reply actions

Welcome to AP

Happy for more input :)

Let's Kick some ASS in 09 or Die trying

by Steve_Chiefs on Jul 10, 2009 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one to see that. Thiggy just doesn’t have that arm. Every pass looked like a struggle. Duck hunting would have been great at arrowhead last year. Don’t get me wrong I like him and I think Haley/Gailey need to find a way to get him on the field like at the slot, just not QB in passing plays

by kcchiefdan on Jul 10, 2009 11:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Short and medium looked fine to me, but the deep routes seemed like a strain, particularly near the sidelines. That can sometimes be corrected with better mechanics/conditioning; it might be a year as backup to tune those deep throws would be just the ticket.

"Football is a physical sport, sometimes you have a disagreement on what's going on, and you have a discussion about it." Kris Dielman

by Brian (DaBolts) on Jul 11, 2009 12:03 AM CDT up reply actions

Seneca Wallace?

I could get more sacks with my sack

by ArrowSpread on Jul 10, 2009 9:31 PM CDT reply actions

Derrick Anderson

won 10 games with the Browns. 10 games, one short of Cassel, with the Pats. Just saying. Many say Anderson isnt a starter…if he isnt he is better than Thigpen.

D-Bowe, Mark Bradley, Bobby Engram and Turtle. Four Chiefs WRers. 4 Pro Bowlers.

by Patrick Allen on Jul 10, 2009 9:57 PM CDT reply actions

Quinn and Anderson in Cleveland

by chiefs82 on Jul 11, 2009 10:57 AM CDT reply actions

Todd Collins isn't #1 probably, but he's gotta be up there

by Kevin Ewoldt on Jul 11, 2009 11:25 AM CDT reply actions

What?

Can we please just rename this site Thiggy-Pride.com and get it over with?

I’m finding all of this continued infatuation with the backup QB who is lucky to even be on any NFL team very strange. If all Cassel has to do to get this kind of respect in KC is win one game then he’s golden.

And anyone who is content with Tyler Thigpen as their starting quarterback frankly doesn’t have a winning frame of mind..or just doesn’t expect much.Winners don’t settle.

I think my favorite post was the guy who said something like ‘thigpen may not win a lot but he’s fun to watch’. What???

Let’s start thinking like champions guys! Winners don’t glorify their backup QBs and play coulda woulda shoulda all day. To even put Thigpen in the same sentence with respected quarterbacks like Garcia is shameful.

I want a winner (Cassel) behind center not a loser (insert losers name here).

Lol sorry I know that pissed off like 80% of this site and ill probably get a vicious backlash but I just really want to start winning again. I’m a loyal KC fan.

I’m missing that sweet taste of victory on Sundays. I know you all are too!

by chiefnyc on Jul 11, 2009 12:24 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

I agree Cassel is the better QB

but he did work behind one of the best QB for years so he should be better. But if you look back a lot of really good QB’s they didn’t win much more than Thigpen in their first year.

As you said (To even put Thigpen in the same sentence with respected quarterbacks like Garcia is shameful) but guess what Garcia only won 2 games his first year and he was on the 49rs a team that hadn’t won less than 10 games a year for 16 years before that.

Cassel should be our QB but i am glad to have someone like Thigpen as our backup. For being a third stringer to play as well as he did behind a not very good line and no defense or special teams says something about the guy.

Herm is gone things are better with that one move!!

by bringbacktheglory on Jul 11, 2009 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Thiggy showed me something

Love the focus on winning and your against-the-flow comments, NYC! However, my rebuttal…

The QB has more influence on a team’s wins and losses than anyone else. BUT, I believe fans (actually media, mostly) attribute too much of a team’s record to the QB. Hey…after the Atlanta game and even a little longer, I thought Thigpen was atrocious and had no future in the NFL. In way over his head. However, once Chan convinced Herm that part of an offense’s job is to score and not just play keep away so we could kick a field goal at the end for a 3-0 win, Thigpen did some pretty good things. Some people may think it was all smoke and mirrors because we ran a relatively novel “spread,” but I began to believe he could lead the offense to score — as long as Herm would let go of the psychological leash.

Thiggy’s no Montana or Manning or Brady. But he’s had less than a year to be a starting QB. In that time he’s shown some winning characteristics of heart, never-say-die enthusiasm, scrambling to do what it takes attitude and was able to connect for decent passing numbers with less than an ideal supporting cast of offensive players. He earned his decent reputation in my book. And if I were a fantasy team manager, Thigpen would be near the top of my list of back-ups to consider acquiring if one ever had to go down that far in the pecking order.

by sunny D on Jul 13, 2009 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions

I think what Thigpen did last year was amazing, but i think as far as the best backup in football I dont know. I like Todd Collins, but his age is a factor, I like the fact that he can make things happen in the right offense suited for his talents. Let me know what you guys think

by lar11667 on Jul 12, 2009 8:55 AM CDT reply actions