QBs I like

I don't know why, but I tend to like QBs with strong arms more than those without. I guess I'm a sucker for a frozen rope from 30 yards (still can't get over that Stafford throw). And I say this knowing full well that arm strength is not the most important attribute for a QB. Accuracy, knowledge and instincts are much more important. And while people like Ron Jaworski will attempt to degrade arm strength completely, it of course does matter. A weak arm handicaps your offense, limiting the amount of field available for your passing game. And there are throws that need to be made that require zip. A weak throw across the middle between two defenders will get picked. So don't tell me it doesn't matter. But of course a strong arm that continually throws the ball in the dirt (I'm looking at you McNabb) isn't of much use either.

I like Carson Palmer more than I probably should. His performance in the Orange Bowl against Iowa sold me. I went into that game looking for weaknesses in his game, knowing full well he would be a high draft pick. I couldn't find many. His performance was great, and his skills looked top notch. He's had some really good seasons in the NFL, and if Kimo von Wilkes Booth, I mean von Olhoffen hadn't taken him out of that Bengals-Steelers playoff game, who knows how much differently his career could have gone. It's a shame he has to play for that horrid franchise. They just today signed Andre Smith to a contract. What was the point of that holdout? Couldn't they have just signed him a month ago and gotten him into the starting lineup as soon as possible? I have a feeling Palmer's career is mostly going to go to waste. Which is a shame because he's good enough to lead a Super Bowl team.

I like Tony Romo, even though he makes decisions with the football that should make me hate him. But I like the risks he's willing to take. I've had enough game managers in the mold of Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer to last me a lifetime. And I like his rapport with Jason Witten. Those two play as if they were separated at birth.

I never liked Jay Cutler until people started bad-mouthing him. Maybe he's a petulant child, maybe he isn't, I don't know. All I know is he has a great arm and he makes the Bears more dangerous than they've been in my lifetime. And I think his departure makes the Broncos much worse.

I liked Brady Quinn at Notre Dame so much that I'm actually kind of dreading the Vikings having to potentially beat him up on week 1. The guy gave me some great memories. In 2005 he led what should have been the game winning TD drive against USC in what I like to call the college football game of the century. He led a game winning drive in the final game against Stanford that put Notre Dame in the BCS. He led an unlikely comeback against Michigan St. in 2006 that pretty much sealed the fate of Spartans' head coach John L. Smith (sorry Big Ten). Notre Dame hadn't had a passing game in years until Quinn came along. I really hope he wins the Browns' starting QB job, but that would make for an awkward week 1; the Browns would have a QB I love while the Vikings would have a QB I hate. It almost makes me wish we could go back in time and have the Vikings draft Quinn #7 overall in 2007. Sure they took Adrian Peterson instead, and he's great, but do you see the bind I'm in here? I've hated the Vikings QB once before (Brad Johnson in 2006) and I don't want to do it again.