It was just a few short years ago that the top dogs as far as the QB position in the NFC were Donovan McNabb, Mike Vick, & Daunte Culpepper. As late as 2004 it looked like those 3 would be battling it out for the every NFC title for the next 5 years.
Since then, McNabb has had two season ending injuries and hasn't gotten back to the postseason himself. That said, he's well off compared to the other 2.
Culpepper was traded for a 2nd round pick the season after he went on IR with a very serious knee injury that he really still has not recovered from. In his limited time with the Dolphins, he played well below his pro bowl form he enjoyed in Minnesota. Culpepper was threw for 39 TDs in 04 and has thrown 8 since then. 39 TDs is an incredible number. He only had 11 picks that year and was averaging nearly 300 yards a game. It was an MVP caliber season by any measure. However, just two years after trading a second round pick for him the Dolphins cut Daunte today.
Mike Vick won games. For all us non Falcon fans that liked to make fun him, we always had to concede the point that the guy won games when he was healthy and could get his team into the postseason and be a threat when he's there. I'm sure we all remember that it was the Falcons we beat in the 2004 NFCCG. Vick and the Falcons were poised to finally realize their potential. Then it went awry...
Vick seemed to regress as a passer and the Falcons as a team took steps back. Vick's off the field and behavioral problems started to take front & center. He flips off his own fans, he gets stopped at the airport on the suspicion that he's smuggling drugs, then of course came the dog fighting investigation. Vick was indicted today indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges relating the dogfighting on his property. Now, his 2007 season could be in jeopardy. He almost certainly will be suspended for a good portion of the season if not the whole thing. Even worse, he could be in prison for up to 6 years. Unfortunately, a guy that was on the cover of Madden, the face of the Falcons' franchise, and becoming the face of the NFL... is now tainted goods.
After reading the grisly charges against Vick would you want the guy on your team? After seeing Culpepper struggle the last 2 years would you make him starting QB? I think most teams would still take Donovan McNabb as their stater, but certainly fewer teams would now than would 2 years ago. Honestly, it's disappointing. I was looking forward to the budding rivalry between these 3 that was never fully realized.
It's also a lesson on how quickly things can turn in the NFL. Imagine Drew Brees getting cut in two years... It could happen in this league.