Apr 13, 2013; College Station, TX, USA; Texas A

Don’t look now but the 2014 NFL draft is closer than you think and may contain a quarterback better than Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts, Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks—and his name is Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M.

At least, that’s the word coming from some NFL general managers. A quote obtained by Mike Freeman of CBS from an anonymous general manager makes it sound as if Manziel is the next big thing, to say the least:

One general manager said Manziel, the first freshman to win the Heisman, will be better than the current crop of young athletic quarterbacks. He will rival or be better than Robert Griffin III or Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson. This, to me, sounds patently insane. But this general manager was not alone.

Another said almost the same thing. “He could end up being a more accurate passer than any of those three,” said the GM.

The jury is obviously still on on Manziel. In fact, other sources in Freeman’s report state that Manziel could have issues staying in the league and may be headed to Canada to continue his football career.

In other words, no one really has any idea.

That said, the fact some of the big breass in the NFL are ready to make such serious comparisons to guys like Luck, RGIII and Wilson say one thing—the talent for Manziel is certainly there, as is his untapped potential.

Keep a close eye on Manziel next year. If he’s anything like the three one general manager compared him to, another bidding war as the NFL draft approaches will ensue.

Follow me on Twitter for more NFL news and analysis @Chris_Roling

Dec 24, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (7) passes the ball during the 2nd half against the San Francisco 49ers at CenturyLink Field. San Francisco defeated Seattle 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

After one uneventful season with the Buffalo Bills, it looks as if quarterback Tarvaris Jackson could be making his way back to the Seattle Seahawks.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Jackson is expected to sign a 1 year contract with the Seattle Seahawks which would give him a second stint with the team, his last being in 2011. Although Jackson was a captain in his first season as a Seattle Seahawk, it is pretty clear that the leadership role now belongs to starting quarterback Russell Wilson.

After losing his starting position job to Wilson last season, he was traded to the Buffalo Bills but never had the opportunity to start as Buffalo continued to roll with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Darrell Bevell, the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks is a big supporter of Jackson.

He went 7-7 in his first and only year so far as a Seahawk, putting up a career high 14 touchdown passes and 3,091 yards. It is unknown what this could possibly mean for back up Brady Quinn  who was brought in from Kansas City, but bringing in Jackson is definitely an upgrade.

In my opinion, this move could work out pretty well for the Seahawks as he is familiar with their system and players on their roster. A mobile quarterback who was traded from this team to Buffalo, could have something to prove after not having a shot with the Bills. If something were to happen to Russell Wilson during the season, he is the best option to have as their replacement starter.

We all know he will not win his starting position back, but could be put to good use this season.

Jackson Smith

Now I dedicated this article to a little boy named Jackson Smith and his family. Jackson is currently going through something a child should never go through, but since we have no control over these types of things, he is. A very good friend of mine has a friend who is currently going through this battle along side with his little boy. A boy who one day, may want to throw on pads and a helmet and one day run onto a field on a team of his own. Here is a little back story on Jackson’s situation.

 ”Almost 2 years ago a beautiful little baby Jackson was born into the world to the greatest mother and father, our cousin and her husband.  Almost one week ago, our lives changed unexpectedly when we found out baby Jackson had a tumor on his brain stem.  The following day he had successful brain surgery to remove the tumor later to find out after the biopsy came back, it turned out to be an aggressive form of cancer.  We are all waiting to hear back from the doctors at St. Jude’s hospital on the next plan of attack.  We have never been more proud of our cousin, her husband, and their son Jackson for being so strong!  We will all beat this together.”

If you or anybody you know would like to donate to help little Jackson Smith and his family, they would deeply appreciate it. If you can’t, remember that’s alright. All we could do is help spread the word and get this family to the goal they need. If you are interested in donating, there should be a widget below where you can help out. Any amount is appreciated.

May 23, 2013; Ashburn, VA, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) throws the ball during organized team activities at Redskins Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

I can easily see how one would point to Griffin with him coming off a knee injury and that severely cutting down on what makes him the player he is.  I would argue that the knee injury will ultimately make him a better quarterback.  Not a better player, but a better quarterback.  Forcing him to sit in the pocket, read defenses and get rid of the ball quickly instead of extending plays with his legs which could extend his career and make him an even better QB.  One of the biggest positives for RGIII is the return of Alfred Morris in the backfield next to him.  Morris should be able to take pressure off of Griffin and help keep him healthy in 2013.  The Redskins (or whatever they will be named) sported the #1 running game in the NFL last season.  This was in large part due to Griffin’s contribution of 815 yards at a 6.8 average per carry.  Its easy to feel confident that Griffin will see those numbers go down.  You have to protect the franchise QB and one of the new young faces of the NFL.  However, I don’t see the Redskins running game taking a big hit with RGIII being more cautious in the running game.  I see an up-tick in Griffins passing attempts and the Redskins being more reliant on the legs of Alfred Morris.

December 30, 2012; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris (46) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half in of the Washington Redskins game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Lets look at Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks to see if we see a potential for a second year drop off.  Wilson, with his unwavering confidence and “it” factor overload won the starting job from Matt Flynn as a 3rd round pick in 2012.  Many people want to point to the fact that Wilson was a 3rd round pick and use that as a case that he had the best season of the rookie trio.  The whole Luck and Griffin were expected to perform at this level, Wilson was overlooked and came from no where to lead the Seahawks to the playoffs idea.  I will give it to them that it was less expected, but Wilson was on a dynamite team.  He had a very good running game led by Marshawn Lynch and a stellar defense featuring the breakout season of Richard Sherman with his 8 INT’s.  Wilson never seemed phased by the transition to the NFL and credit the coaching staff of the Seahawks for slowly opening up the playbook so he wasn’t overwhelmed.  Wilson will continue to be sheltered by the running game and the defense in Seattle and will surely be helped by the addition of Percy Harvin who is a YAC machine.  Unless the whole team is busted for Adderall I don’t see how they could fall far in 2013.  Wilson and the Seahawks trail only the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots as odds on favorites to win the 2014 Super Bowl with 8-1 odds (as of June 4th).

May 20, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) participates in organized team activities at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Finally, the golden boy of the 2012 draft, Andrew Luck.  I heard Luck being compared with Ben Roethlisberger the other day and I really liked that comparison.  He was often compared to former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning due to him taking over for the legend but I see a lot of Big Ben’s traits when watching Luck.  His ability to avoid the rush and make plays saved the Colts last season and helped lead them to the playoffs.  The addition of Darrius Heyward-Bey will add a vertical dimension to the Colts passing game.  I also believe we will see bigger things from Colby Fleener at tight end this season and I love me some T.Y. Hilton.  What scares me about the Colts is their lack of running game (ranked 22nd in YPG in 2012) and their lack of defensive ability to stop the run or the pass.  I like the addition of Bjoern Werner to the defensive line and consider him an upgrade over the worn out Dwight Freeney who is now with the Chargers, but there are still plenty of holes in the defense to be concerned.  Of the three I see Luck and the Colts as the most possible to have a drop off in production.  Vick Ballard is a solid running back but is hardly going to scare teams into playing the run.  His 3.9 average on 211 carries for 814 yards isn’t striking fear into defensive coordinators across the league.  When you have no fear of a running game you can tee off on the pass rush.  Scary situation for Luck and the Colts.  The AFC South poses little threat as only the Houston Texans are legitimate so the Colts should remain competitive in the division but I think they will be competing for a Wild Card spot.

May 22, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) throws a pass during organized team activities at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

If I were picking a team to have a drop off and in turn a QB to seem to have a second year slump it would be the Indianapolis Colts and Andrew Luck.  This isn’t to say Andrew Luck is the worst of the three or HE will have a “sophomore slump”.  I just see the Colts as the most likely to see a drop off due to their overall team production.  Andrew Luck is every bit as good as everyone thought he was (in my best Denny Green voice) but the Colts seem like they are still in a bit of a rebuilding mode and this makes them/him vulnerable to a drop off.  I do offer this bit of good news for Colts fans, the Colts have the easiest schedule of the trio.

Aug 30, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn (15) warms up prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

For some reason I had a feeling that the Seattle Seahawks were going to shop Matt Flynn since it looks like Russell Wilson pretty much has the starting position on lock.

The Oakland Raiders have acquired quarterback Matt Flynn for a 2014 and 2015 draft pick.

Flynn who started off his career in Green Bay, backed up Aaron Rodgers but didn’t get much playing time during the regular season unless it was a comfortable lead and the starters were pulled, or it was the last game of the season. In my opinion, Matt has what it takes to be a starter in the league, I mean he was behind Aaron Rodgers so he had 4 seasons to watch, listen and learn the mechanics to be a good quarterback.

When I heard that Matt Flynn decided to leave Green Bay and search for a team that he had a chance to start on, I was pretty excited for the kid. Even though I am a Bears fan, the things I seen from him as a fan of the game, were pretty good. I remember when he stepped in for Aaron Rodgers against the New England Patriots and nearly beat Tom Brady. I remember he threw for 3 touchdown passes and 1 interception, 1 touchdown pass being a long connection with James Jones. It was an awesome game to watch and I was pulling for Flynn and the Packers even though they are the enemy. But I couldn’t help but pull for the underdog, especially one who hasn’t had much time to play and of course, he put up good numbers against the New England Patriots.

So when Flynn decided to sign with the Seattle Seahawks for 3 years, $26 million dollars, I was pretty pumped. I don’t really like the Seattle Seahawks either, but I had a feeling that Matt could go into Seattle and do something special, well that was until Russell Wilson took the spotlight and put Matt Flynn on the back burner once again. I always thought, that the Seattle Seahawks were Matt Flynn’s team, a guy who spent 4 seasons behind a great quarterback, finally got the big break he was looking for and had a team he could call his. But obviously things don’t work like this, your job is never safe unless you are an elite quarterback.

I don’t know about anybody else, I mean no disrespect to quarterbacks who are dual threats, but I’m more of a pocket quarterback type fan. I can understand the occasional scramble away from pursuing players when the line falls apart and you have to turn a negative player into a positive play, but scrambling around the way some quarterbacks do these days are a good way to get yourselves seriously injured. Look at RG3, what happen to him last season. He had the ability to stay in the pocket, but of course being a mobile quarterback he had some option plays and took off, then he hurt his knee against the Baltimore Ravens and damaged it even more in the playoffs.

Right now he is on the road to recovery and should think about staying in the pocket more and limiting himself to scrambling around on designed quarterback keep plays. This is why each team has half backs. Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of RG3, I was a fan his Heisman season, although I am a Texas Longhorns fan, so I respect this man a lot.

With Matt Flynn on the move once again, the Oakland Raiders are in talks with the Arizona Cardinals about veteran Carson Palmer, as written by fellow colleague Joe Soriano.

So that answers my question on what is Oakland going to do with Carson Palmer now that Matt Flynn is a Raider. Just like Seattle, I am excited to see Matt under center and calling out the plays for the Raiders, a team who may not be a playoff contender, but could use a young pocket quarterback like himself. So I guess you could say I am a Matt Flynn fan, weird saying that considering he started his career with the Green Bay Packers, but this kid could be something special if all goes well health wise.

So going from a solid Seattle Seahawks team to a team who isn’t as stacked, should be somewhat of a challenge but not an impossible one. Add the talent around him and this team could actually go from the ‘Black Hole’, to the top of the conference. I don’t really see anybody coming into Oakland and taking the starting position away from him, unless there is another Russell Wilson out there. Oakland Raiders fans across the country and globe, should be excited with this trade, I know I am and I’m a Chicago Bears fan.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

But it seems like Seattle is his favorite place, and who could blame him? The Seahawks took Wilson in the third round of the draft, and he sure was a steal for the Seahawks. Those who watched him closely at Wisconsin aren’t surprised to see the fact that Wilson is having success in the NFL, but I’m sure nobody could have seen this coming.

Wilson helped lead the Seahawks to a terrific season with efficient passing, and he proved doubters, who pointed to his short stature, like Michael Lombardi wrong. Wilson accumulated several awards as a rookie, such as a Pro Bowl berth, the VIZIO Top Value Performer Award, and he won the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year Award.

He tweeted out early this morning that he loves the city of Seattle and offered up an interesting challenge to his fans.

I don’t think there is possibly a guy or girl who loves Seattle more than I do. What do you think!? Do I have any takers?

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) March 26, 2013

He almost certainly loves Seattle because of the success he’s had there, but I’m sure most of us can agree that Seattle is a beautiful city. They also have notoriously good coffee, and the best music on the planet. Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Mother Love Bone, and Screaming Trees are just some of the awesome grunge bands to hail from Seattle.

I’m sure Seattle loves Wilson just as much Wilson loves the city, and I’m sure he’ll love it more if the Super Bowl favorites are able to bring the title to the northwest.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates and analysis @SorianoJoe.

Jan 6, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Leon Washington (33) carries the ball against the Washington Redskins during the NFC Wild Card playoff game at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks have released Running Back and return specialist Leon Washington.

I think this move could have been decided when the Seattle Seahawks acquired wide-receiver and return specialist Percy Harvin from the Minnesota Vikings. He has gotten up there in age, 30 years to be exact,(shout out to new writer Justin Dade) it makes sense they have decided to move forward.

Although he is up there in age, Leon Washington should have no problem finding a new team and look to help carry the load where ever they need him to. He is a good player and will fit perfect with whatever team decides to bring him on board.

The good thing about this decision, is he won’t have to wait weeks or months, he could possibly sign within this week, if not soon. Still a threat when it comes to the return game so I think the Cleveland Browns would be a perfect fit for him.

One player on the other hand, didnt take this news lightly. These guys unite and become a brotherhood, so when Earl Thomas and Russell Wilson found out Leon Washington was released, these tweets were posted.

Can’t believe we let Leon go..that’s some bull …this league is cut throat !!!

— Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) March 12, 2013

The man is the best to ever do it!!!…..@leon_washington

— Earl Thomas (@Earl_Thomas) March 12, 2013

@leon_washington I’m going to miss you man. You are a first class act. A true pro. Thanks for teaching me and inspiring me.

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) March 12, 2013

Jan 13, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) throws a pass in the fourth quarter of the NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 30-28. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

There, I said it. It’s about as bold a prediction as one could make, but it’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it – for now, at least.

In case you missed the news, the Seahawks just completed a traded with the Minnesota Vikings to acquire the services of wide receiver, Percy Harvin. The move looks set to cost the Seahawks their 2013 first round draft pick, but I’d be happy with that, no matter what people think of Harvin as a player. Yes, he’s had his problems in terms of injuries, but when he’s healthy, he has shown that he can be one of the better receivers in the league.

But it’s not just the signing of Harvin that has led me to believe that Seattle will be the next world champions. I felt good about them last year, especially when rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson began to let everyone know there was another freshman QB to take notice of, apart from Andrew Luck and RG3.

Russell Wilson is the real deal. He took care of business right from the start last season, beating out Matt Flynn (who the Seahawks paid a lot money) to win the starting job. And once he got over a shaky start, he showed poise beyond his years, and proved he had the ability to make plays with his feet as well as his arm; something that will continue to be the trend for a few more years at least. Teams are hungry for a versatile and athletic dual-threat quarterback, and Seattle have their man in Wilson.

In running back Marshawn Lynch, the Seahawks have one of the best in the business. He runs hard and gains a lot of yards after initial contact, finishing last season third overall in rushing yards, behind Alfred Morris and Adrian Peterson. Expect more of the same from Lynch this time round.

We can’t pretend that Seattle have elite wide receivers, but Sidney Rice and Golden Tate have enough skills to keep opposing defense honest, at least. Now with the addition of Percy Harvin, they could have one of the most solid receiving corps in the NFL. Zach Miller at tight end is again not one of the best at his position, but there is room for improvement and he has enough speed to get down field.

It’s on the defensive side of the ball where Seattle truly excel. Last season, their defense finished fourth in total yards allowed, and were also fourth in yards allowed per game, giving up just over 300 yards each game. They are slightly stronger when defending the pass as opposed to the run, but gaining yards on Seattle is no mean feat. Neither is scoring points – the Seahawks ranked first amongst NFL teams, allowing just 15.3 points per game. Now, that’s impressive.

For me, it looks like the NFC West will again be a two horse race between the Seahawks and this year’s Super Bowl runners up, the San Francisco 49ers, but Seattle have every chance of clinching the division. Wilson will be entering his second year, and it would be fair to assume we will see some improvement, given that he now has one full year of pro football under his belt. I think he will throw the ball more this year, so we shall see if that leads to more mistakes, but there’s no real reason to think it will. Wilson is an intelligent player who threw only 10 interceptions last year.

It’s not going to be easy for Seattle. The NFC have several teams who you could make a case for when it comes to winning the Super Bowl. But barring any disasters, they should find themselves in the mix. Nothing less than a playoff berth will be expected once the season begins. Last year, they narrowly missed out on getting to the NFC conference championship game, but they have every opportunity to make it this time round.

So, am I wrong? Any reason why you think the Seahawks can’t win the Super Bowl? Let us know your thoughts.

Jan 6, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) runs the ball for nine yards during the second half of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks at FedEx Field. The Seahawks won 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

What a great year it has been in terms of rookie performances in the NFL, especially quarterbacks. Five rookies ended up as starting quarterbacks, and three of those five are nominees for this year’s NFL rookie of the year award.

The five players in the running for the award are Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, Alfred Morris and Doug Martin. And in my book, it’s a close call, but I truly believe that RG3 deserves to get the award. But only just.

Like I said, it’s been an amazing year for rookie passers. Okay, Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden didn’t exactly light it up like the other three, but we never expected them to. But both those players have shown enough in their first season to give hope to their fans and to their respective clubs.

Of the two running backs involved, Alfred Morris just about edges it for me over Buccaneers rusher, Doug Martin. Both have had excellent years (remember Martin’s monster 251 yard game against Oakland), but Morris led all rookies in rushing yards and finished second overall amongst all running backs.

For a while it looked like the race for rookie of the year would be between RG3 and Colts QB, Andrew Luck. But as things stand now, I think Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson has muscled in on the scene and should be Griffin’s main contender for the title. Although Wilson started the year poorly, he really turned things round and impressed everyone with his poise in the pocket, and ability to stay cool under pressure. Let’s not forget his ability to make plays on the ground, which has served Seattle well this season.

The Seahawks paid a lot of money to gain the service of former Packer QB, Matt Flynn, but head coach Pete Carroll decided to have a good old fashioned contest to see who would win the starting job. Wilson impressed enough in the pre season to get the nod, and the rest is history. We could possibly be saying the same thing about Flynn’s career in Seattle. Wilson is clearly who the Seahawks want to move forward with, and Flynn is good enough win another starting job for another team.

So why does RG3 deserve to be this year’s NFL rookie of the year? Just like Andrew Luck in Indianapolis, Griffin has pretty much been the heart and soul of his team. Yes, Alfred Morris was a pleasant surprise, but without Griffin, Washington would have got nowhere near the 10-6 record they ended up with, which was enough to clinch the NFC East title.

In his first season, the rookie out of Baylor threw for 3200 yards and 20 touchdowns, leaving him with an impressive 102.4 passer rating. He protected the ball well, throwing just five interceptions all season. But it was on the ground that he really excelled, rushing for 815 yards and seven touchdowns.

With Griffin, and to a lesser extent Wilson and Luck, we are seeing the future of the quarterback position. Players who can pretty much run as well as they can throw, making them legitimate dual threats and a nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators. Griffin must be careful though – he has already suffered a concussion and is currently in rehab after undergoing knee surgery.

He might not be the same player next year. Will he be able to bounce back from his knee injury in the same way we saw Vikings RB, Adrian Peterson manage to do this season? That remains to be seen, but for now, he gets my vote as the NFL rookie of the year. But it’s a close one.

Jan 6, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is interviewed by NFL Network reporter Stacy Dales (l) after the Seahawks game against the Washington Redskins in the NFC Wild Card playoff game at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Wilson has managed to get to the 2013 Pro Bowl in Hawaii this Sunday. The Seattle Seahawk’s rookie quarterback is going to represent the NFC in replace of the Atlanta Falcons’s Matt Ryan. A shoulder sprain in Sunday’s NFC Championship game has sidelined Matt Ryan from the Pro Bowl.

Redskins rookie sensation quarterback, who plays a similar style of football as Russell Wilson was named to the Pro Bowl, but due to an injury he suffered, he is also out and not playing in the Pro Bowl. Griffin suffered a serious knee injury in a Wild Card round loss to the Seahawks and Wilson.

That’s not to say that Wilson doesn’t deserve it, he had an incredible season. He was originally voted as a third alternate for the NFC squad. This season he completed 64.1% of his passes for 3,118 yards, 26 touchdowns and only 1o interceptions. He added another 4 touchdowns on the ground behind, 489 yards rushing on 94 attempts.

Wilson’s biggest game came on arguably his largest stage. He beat RG3 in the first round and gave an incredible comeback performance against the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional round that almost had Seattle headed to Candlestick Park for the NFC Championship game against divisional foes San Francisco 49ers. Wilson threw for 385 yards and 2 touchdowns to nearly upset. He also ran in for a score.

They came up short behind a late drive by Matt Ryan, the man he is replacing.

Griffin and Wilson’s numbers are incredibly similar and many think those two, along with Andrew Luck, are the leading candidates for the Rookie of the Year award.

Do you think Russell Wilson will win Rookie of the Year?

Jan 6, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) shake hands after the NFC Wild Card playoff game at FedEx Field. The Seahawks won 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

You hear it all the time – the game has changed, and the quarterback position is changing. We are beginning to see more teams running option and/or spread offenses, led by quarterbacks who more resemble sprinters than your typical passer of days gone by.

Let’s not forget, however, that there have always been quarterbacks who could run the ball if they needed to. Former Eagles QB Randall Cunnigham is a name that springs to mind, along with others such as Steve Young, Donavan McNabb, and more recently, Michael Vick. But none of those players begin to approach the level of athleticism that we have seen from quarterbacks in the last few years.

What teams are looking for are athletes who can run the ball, but can also throw the ball like an NFL quarterback. That’s why Tim Tebow has never, and will never be an effective starting QB. He might have the requisite skills on the ground, but he throws the ball about as well as I do.

Look at Seattle Seahawks rookie, Russell Wilson. He is pretty much the typical pocket passer, but possesses very quick feet and an ability to gain yards on the ground when it looked like the play was dead. For me, that’s why Wilson looks set to have a great career in this league. In years to come, when his legs are giving up and he no longer poses the same threat on the ground, his arm will still be able to get the job done.

Right now, the same cannot be said for Colin Kaepernick. Although he has a cannon for an arm, he has some accuracy issues, and is not as polished as Wilson when it comes to throwing the ball. But there is no doubting his skill and turning a blown play into a first down or even a touchdown. He has a long stride and is a big strong player, making it difficult for defenders to bring him down.

Of course, there is more risk facing quarterbacks who frequently take off running. As we saw with Robert Griffin III this year, the chance of injury is greatly increased, especially for smaller players such as Griffin and Wilson. Perhaps this is where someone like Kaepernick with his larger frame is at a bit of an advantage. He can hit as hard as the players trying to hit him.

We have seen trends come and go in the NFL, but I think the emergence of more mobile quarterbacks who can also throw the ball well is just the tip of the iceberg. Having such a player really give your team a dual threat that other teams have to take into account. If teams put an extra man on Kapernick to eliminate him rushing the ball, it’s going to leave someone in one on one coverage. It’s a win-win, all round.

Carolina Panthers quarterback, Cam Newton burst onto the scene with his ability to make plays on the ground as well through the air. Now players such as Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III and Russell Wilson look set to take it to the nest level. Teams will always want QBs who can throw the ball. That has to be the priority. But if they can also run the ball as well as some running backs, then that’s a bonus they’ll snatch with both hands.