Scott Mitchell and the 10 Biggest QB Teases in NFL History

By Brian Kalchik

Scott Mitchell and the 10 Biggest QB Teases in NFL History

Scott Mitchell Lions — A quarterback tease is a player who shows flashes early on in their career, yet through either injury or poor performance, these players never pan out to what they can be. NFL Network did a list of the top 10 quarterback teases awhile back, but here are my 10 biggest quarterback teases of all time.

10. Jeff George

Jeff George Falcons

10. Jeff George

Jeff George Falcons — Below the shoulders, Jeff George had everything. The former No. 1 overall pick had all the intangibles to be successful, but above the shoulders, George lacked something. In 12 NFL seasons, George won a single playoff game and feuded with pretty much every coach he worked with (e.g. June Jones).

9. Vince Ferragamo

Vince Ferragamo Rams

9. Vince Ferragamo

Vince Ferragamo Rams — Vince Ferragamo got his career going after replacing an injured Pat Haden in 1979. That year, Ferragamo led the Los Angles Rams to their only Super Bowl game, and he actually performed well against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After that performance, several years later, Ferragamo made an ill-fated transfer to the USFL and he couldn't get back on track.

8. Richard Todd

New York Jets Helmet

8. Richard Todd

New York Jets Helmet — Richard Todd went to the same school that Joe Namath did in college, and the same team that Namath went to in the NFL, but Todd was a poor impression of his more famous predecessor. In nine seasons as a starter, Todd went over .500 three times and won two playoff games. His failures in the 1982 AFC Championship Game led the Jets to draft Ken O'Brien over Dan Marino in 1983.

7. Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton Bengals

7. Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton Bengals — Andy Dalton is to quarterbacks what Marty Schottenheimer is to coaches. Dalton is good enough in the regular season to make you think he's great, but in the postseason, he fails to produce when it matters. Dalton has led Cincinnati to the postseason in each of his first three seasons, but in three postseason losses, Dalton has thrown for one touchdown and six interceptions.

6. Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler Broncos

6. Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler Broncos — Just like Jeff George, Jay Cutler has all the tools to be a great quarterback, yet his nonchalant attitude makes him an enemy even in Chicago. Since 2006, Cutler's teams have made the postseason only once, and in 2010, Cutler's only postseason win came against the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks. Cutler has started 117 games, and only has a record of 61-56.

5. Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick 49ers

5. Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick 49ers — During the 2012 season, Colin Kaepernick replaced an injured Alex Smith and led San Francisco to Super Bowl 47. Since that great start, Kaepernick has regressed as a pocket passer and struggles to throw for even 100 yards a game. Kaepernick had the potential to be the best dual-threat QB in the NFL today, but his inability to throw from the pocket makes him a major tease.

4. Daunte Culpepper

Daunte Culpepper Vikings

4. Daunte Culpepper

Daunte Culpepper Vikings — Daunte Culpepper's success in the NFL can forever be linked to one man, and that is Randy Moss. When Culpepper had Moss to bail him out, he was great, but when he didn't, he was average. In six seasons with the Vikings, Culpepper won more than eight games just once and won just two playoff games. In five seasons without Moss, Culpepper won just five of his last 22 starts.

3. Scott Mitchell

Scott Mitchell Lions

3. Scott Mitchell

Scott Mitchell Lions — After replacing an injured Dan Marino in 1993, Scott Mitchell signed a three-year, $ 11 million deal with the Detroit Lions where he was expected to be a Pro-Bowl quarterback. What the Lions got instead was an inconsistent gunslinger who never won the big games. In five seasons with the Lions, Mitchell won only 27 of his 57 games, and went 0-3 in the postseason while being benched twice.

2. Bert Jones

Indianapolis Colts Helmet

2. Bert Jones

Indianapolis Cols Helmet — When Bert Jones was healthy, the mid-1970s Baltimore Colts were consistent playoff contenders. However, Jones could never stay healthy enough to be considered a star. From 1975-77, Jones won 31 of 42 games, but could never lead the Colts to a playoff victory. After 1977, Jones missed 25 games due to injury, and won just 13 of his final 26 games with the Colts.

1. Drew Bledsoe

Drew Bledsoe Patriots

1. Drew Bledsoe

Drew Bledsoe Patriots — When Bill Parcells was hired by New England in 1993, he drafted Drew Bledsoe, and for four seasons, Bledsoe had the potential to be a great quarterback. After Super Bowl XXXI, however, Bledsoe's play slowly declined. In 2001, Bledsoe was lost for the season and replaced by Tom Brady. After losing his job, Bledsoe bounced around to several teams, but never got back to his early New England days.

Brian Kalchik is a Detroit Lions writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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