Starting Rookie QB's

Filed in archive NFL on September 2, 2008

© Saquan Stimpson/monstershaq2000

The Baltimore Ravens have decided that Troy Smith (pictured) is still too sick, and Kyle Boller is too injured, so they will start rookie Joe Flacco at quarterback Week 1 in their game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Starting a rookie in Week 1 of the season at any position is a gamble, and that is especially true for quarterbacks. Let's take a look and see how some other early-round QB's fared in their first game of their rookie year.

Drew Brees: Playing for the San Diego Chargers in 2001, Brees took to the field for the only time in Week 8. He wasn't bad, throwing 27 times and completing 15 for 221 yards and one TD. Alas, his team was taken down by the Chiefs, 25-20.

David Carr: Like Flacco, Carr was thrown out in Week 1 of his rookie season. The Texans won that game, 19-10 over Dallas, and Carr went 10 of 22 for 145 yards, two TD's, and one INT.

Joey Harrington: Coincidentally, Harrington will be Flacco's backup in this game. Harrington was also thrown into the fire Week 1 of his rookie season in 2001, and it didn't go so well, as he completed 4 of 11 passes for 41 yards, as Miami blew out the Lions, 49-21.

Rex Grossman: In Week 15 during the 2003 campaign, Grossman went 13 for 30 for 157 yards in a Bears 13-10 win over the Vikings. Grossman didn't throw any TD's, but shockingly, he did not throw any INT's either.

Eli Manning: In a 2004 Week 1 loss to the Eagles, Manning saw some playing time and went 3 of 9 for 66 yards and was sacked once.

Ben Roethlisberger: Also in 2004, Big Ben suited up Week 2, and in a 30-13 Steelers loss to Baltimore, Roethlisberger was 12 of 20 for 176 yards, 2 TD's, and 2 INT's.

So it's not all doom and gloom for some of our selected examples, and it shouldn't be for Flacco, either. Clearly, he can have some success, though if past indicators are examples of how things play out in the future, the big righty probably won't be completing 50% of his passes.