To Bench, Or Not To Bench

There is an epidemic in the NFL, and it is Benchitis.  Some teams have it bad, really bad, and some are just starting to show symptoms.  What is benchitis you ask?  Very simple my friend, benchitis is when teams bench their starting quarterbacks in hope of turning things around and saving the season.  I can understand when a team needs to change quarterbacks, such as if there is an injury, or the starting quarterback is really not getting the job done, but some teams just take it too far.

For example, the Chiefs started out their season with Brody Croyle, who would soon hurt his shoulder which will keep him out the rest of the year.  I understand that they switched to Damon Huard, but I do not get then going to Tyler Thigpen, then switching back to Huard.  Make up your mind!  How do you expect to get any consistency from your quarterback when you keep changing who starts?  Another team with benchitis, but a far less serious case is the Minnesota Vikings.  They started with Tavaris Jackson, the quarterback they said would help the team win, but when he started the first two games and put up horrible numbers, they decided to give Gus Frerotte the job.  I understand them making the switch, but don't say that Frerotte is your starter for the rest of the season when you will most likely have to make another switch if and when Frerotte begins to falter.

Then you have a team such as the Cleveland Browns, who have begun to show signs of benchitis.  Their starter Derrick Anderson had a great season last year, which no one expected and almost led the team to the playoffs.  So this season expectations were high for him and the team, and when they lost the first game, then the second, and now the third, people began to wonder when backup Brady Quinn, who the Browns traded up in the draft to get.  A lot of people questioned the pick, and while Quinn is the future for the Brown's, one can only wonder when he will get his chance.  Now I understand that Anderson has not been playing up to the level he should be, but it is not his fault.  The offensive line is hurt and playing poorly, giving Anderson no time or protection to throw.  There are also injuries and the tons of dropped passes by the wide receivers.  Anderson is holding up his end of the bargain by throwing the ball, it's not his fault that people can't catch.  

Unfortunately in the NFL, and with any other sport or basically anything these days, people want instant gratification.  If a quarter back is playing poorly, just bench him and start someone else.  If a television show has bad ratings after one episode, chances are the second episode won't make it to air.  People want the best now, not tomorrow, not next season, not next game.  But you know the saying, patience is a virtue.