Del Rio Choosing Garrard over Gabbert Shocks Nation and Alters Course of Human History

For whatever reason, entering this preseason Blaine Gabbert was in a supposed dead heat with 10-year veteran David Garrard.  Gabbert, a 2-year starter for the University of Missouri Tigers was once the top-rated pro-style quarterback in the nation but never achieved the greatness he was expected to deliver.  In his senior season, he led the Tigers to a 10-3 record and lost in an exciting comeback attempt against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 2010 Insight Bowl on a late-game interception that Gabbert wrote off as being “greedy”.  I would like to have been present for the berating head coach Gary Pinkel gave Gabbert after Gabbert shrugged off the game-ending interception as “greedy”.  I prefer my quarterbacks and team leaders “smart” or “savvy”.  Anyone who readily admits to being “greedy” without the slightest sense of regret or embarrassment is not a true competitor.  Try to imagine Aikman, Montana, or Steve Young lightheartedly writing off a loss on personal greed.  Doesn’t fit.  I wouldn’t want Gabbert feeling all that secure with my college football team much less with control of my NFL team.

So what was Jack Del Rio thinking when he made the football nation consider the Gabbert v. Garrard competition?  David Garrard was a 2009 Pro Bowl selection and has had a steady mid-60s completion percentage for the past 4 years.  He knows the Jacksonville offense and at 33 has a few dominant years left in him.  He will hold out for an inflated contract and respects the game like a true leader.  As Maurice Jones-Drew has emerged as one of the eminent rushers in the AFC the offense has become increasingly run-oriented and Garrard’s completions fell by 80 from 2009 to 2010.  But his efficiency soared increasing his TD completions by 8.  Perhaps there was some other motive in constructing the race.  Perhaps Del Rio was trying to light a fire under Garrard in his last few years with Jacksonville – to get their money’s worth from the veteran quarterback.  Nevertheless, Del Rio announced yesterday that Garrard would be the Jags starter entering 2011.  In so doing, Gabbert and his entire nuclear family were dismayed.  The rest of this football-loving country was encouraged.  No one was shocked.

Gabbert’s performance against the Falcons last week solidified Garrard’s starting position with the most choppy footwork I’ve seen since Dan Fouts and an acute inability to lead his receivers or throw the ball to them without it first bouncing on the turf.  At least he still has those beautiful locks.  Hey CFL, get ready for some Gabbert!