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Quarterback stability a reason Colts keep winning
02:32 AM CDT on Sunday, August 8, 2010
By RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
rgosselin@dallasnews.com
When Peyton Manning squared off against Dan Marino in his NFL debut in 1998, the Dolphins appeared to be in better hands at quarterback.
That day, maybe, but not for the future.
Manning threw three interceptions and was sacked four times as Marino and the Dolphins prevailed, 24-15. But that was the first of 192 consecutive starts by Manning. He has started every game for the Colts over the last 12 years.
That quarterbacking stability has delivered Indianapolis 131 victories, 10 playoff berths, seven division titles, two Super Bowl appearances and one Lombardi Trophy. No team in the NFL has won more games during that 12-year stretch.
Marino was the first of 15 quarterbacks the Dolphins have started over the last 12 years. The Baltimore Ravens also have started 15 different quarterbacks and the Chicago Bears a league-high 16.
Manning has taken all of his snaps for one team. During that same 12-year stretch, Gus Frerotte has started games for seven different teams (Cincinnati, Denver , Detroit, Miami, Minnesota, St. Louis and Washington). Kerry Collins and Brad Johnson have both started for five different teams since 1998, and Trent Dilfer , Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese four apiece.
Of all the quarterbacks who started on opening day in 1998, only four are still active – Manning, Pittsburgh backup Charlie Batch , NY Jets backup Mark Brunell and Brett Favre , whose future is still in limbo. Five of those quarterbacks are in the Hall of Fame – Troy Aikman , John Elway, Marino, Warren Moon and Steve Young – and Manning will one day join them.
Plenty to go around
Here's a list of the starting NFL quarterbacks in 1998 when Manning broke in and the number of starting quarterbacks each team has gone through since then:
Team 1998 Starter QBs
Arizona Jake Plummer 8
Atlanta Chris Chandler 12
Baltimore Jim Harbaugh 15
Buffalo Doug Flutie 9
Carolina Steve Beuerlein 10
Chicago Erik Kramer 16
Cincinnati Neil O'Donnell 9
Cleveland – 13
Cowboys *Troy Aikman 13
Denver *John Elway 12
Detroit Charlie Batch 14
Green Bay Brett Favre 2
Houston – 5
Indianapolis Peyton Manning –
Jacksonville Mark Brunell 7
Kansas City Rich Gannon 8
Miami *Dan Marino 15
Minnesota Randall Cunningham 11
New England Drew Bledsoe 4
New Orleans Billy Joe Tolliver 10
NY Giants Danny Kanell 6
NY Jets Vinny Testaverde 10
Oakland Donald Hollas 14
Philadelphia Bobby Hoying 9
Pittsburgh Kordell Stewart 7
St. Louis Tony Banks 13
San Diego Craig Whelihan 8
San Francisco *Steve Young 12
Seattle *Warren Moon 9
Tampa Bay Trent Dilfer 14
Tennessee Steve McNair 6
Washington Trent Green 12
* Hall of Famer
• • •
02:32 AM CDT on Sunday, August 8, 2010
By RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
rgosselin@dallasnews.com
When Peyton Manning squared off against Dan Marino in his NFL debut in 1998, the Dolphins appeared to be in better hands at quarterback.
That day, maybe, but not for the future.
Manning threw three interceptions and was sacked four times as Marino and the Dolphins prevailed, 24-15. But that was the first of 192 consecutive starts by Manning. He has started every game for the Colts over the last 12 years.
That quarterbacking stability has delivered Indianapolis 131 victories, 10 playoff berths, seven division titles, two Super Bowl appearances and one Lombardi Trophy. No team in the NFL has won more games during that 12-year stretch.
Marino was the first of 15 quarterbacks the Dolphins have started over the last 12 years. The Baltimore Ravens also have started 15 different quarterbacks and the Chicago Bears a league-high 16.
Manning has taken all of his snaps for one team. During that same 12-year stretch, Gus Frerotte has started games for seven different teams (Cincinnati, Denver , Detroit, Miami, Minnesota, St. Louis and Washington). Kerry Collins and Brad Johnson have both started for five different teams since 1998, and Trent Dilfer , Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese four apiece.
Of all the quarterbacks who started on opening day in 1998, only four are still active – Manning, Pittsburgh backup Charlie Batch , NY Jets backup Mark Brunell and Brett Favre , whose future is still in limbo. Five of those quarterbacks are in the Hall of Fame – Troy Aikman , John Elway, Marino, Warren Moon and Steve Young – and Manning will one day join them.
Plenty to go around
Here's a list of the starting NFL quarterbacks in 1998 when Manning broke in and the number of starting quarterbacks each team has gone through since then:
Team 1998 Starter QBs
Arizona Jake Plummer 8
Atlanta Chris Chandler 12
Baltimore Jim Harbaugh 15
Buffalo Doug Flutie 9
Carolina Steve Beuerlein 10
Chicago Erik Kramer 16
Cincinnati Neil O'Donnell 9
Cleveland – 13
Cowboys *Troy Aikman 13
Denver *John Elway 12
Detroit Charlie Batch 14
Green Bay Brett Favre 2
Houston – 5
Indianapolis Peyton Manning –
Jacksonville Mark Brunell 7
Kansas City Rich Gannon 8
Miami *Dan Marino 15
Minnesota Randall Cunningham 11
New England Drew Bledsoe 4
New Orleans Billy Joe Tolliver 10
NY Giants Danny Kanell 6
NY Jets Vinny Testaverde 10
Oakland Donald Hollas 14
Philadelphia Bobby Hoying 9
Pittsburgh Kordell Stewart 7
St. Louis Tony Banks 13
San Diego Craig Whelihan 8
San Francisco *Steve Young 12
Seattle *Warren Moon 9
Tampa Bay Trent Dilfer 14
Tennessee Steve McNair 6
Washington Trent Green 12
* Hall of Famer
• • •