I agree with him. Hutchinson does have a stronger and MORE ACCURATE
arm than Quincy Carter.

Answers At QB Should Come Within


Nick Eatman
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
April 9, 2003, 5:30 p.m. (CDT)

(Editor's Note: This is the first in a 10-part DallasCowboys.com
series analyzing the team position by position as the April 26-27 NFL
Draft fast approaches. Today's look will be at quarterback.)

IRVING, Texas - Ask any draft expert or NFL scout, and they will
probably say this year's quarterback class is one of the deepest in
recent years.

As many as 10 quarterbacks could be taken in the first two rounds,
and there very well could be two off the board by time the Cowboys
select in No. 5 spot of the first round.

And as tempting as it might seem for the Cowboys to go after one of
these top quarterbacks in the first two rounds, and while the
quarterback situation in Dallas has by no means been resolved, it
appears the Cowboys are ready to give Chad Hutchinson another shot at
proving he can develop into the future star the team hoped for when
he received a $3.1 million signing bonus two Februarys ago.

"With Chad Hutchinson, we're further along than if we were drafting,
using our pick and drafting a quarterback with a top five pick,"
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "And last year,
candidly, comparing him to teams that did use a top five pick (for a
quarterback), I like what we saw. I hope we're right. But that's
probably our best direction to go. Now he's going to have to prove it
to these coaches here. But I think the more our coaches get around
him and work with him, then I think the more his stock will rise."

Not only has Hutchinson yet to reach his full potential, but the same
could be said for Quincy Carter, entering his third season with just
15 starts. He was in Hutchinson's current shoes a year ago, having
started eight games as a rookie in 2001 and heading into the 2002
season with rising expectations.

But when Carter didn't produce as the Cowboys - mainly Jones - had
hoped, he was benched in favor of Hutchinson, who started the final
nine games of the season.

But what do we really know about either quarterback?

Hutchinson has a strong arm, can withstand a vicious hit or three,
fumbles a bit too much and has still played only nine games in the
last five years.

Carter is more mobile than Hutchinson, but doesn't have the arm
strength or accuracy, and he too, needs more game experience.

At some point, the Cowboys will have to stop searching and give a
young quarterback time to develop. That apparently will occur this
season.

Even if USC's Carson Palmer, who is expected to go No. 1 to
Cincinnati or to a team trading up, or even if Byron Leftwich of
Marshall are still around when the Cowboys' picks rolls around, it
seems unlikely the club would go in that direction.

With so many holes to patch, the Cowboys could likely look at other
positions and find immediate help. Kansas State cornerback Terence
Newman or a Penn State defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy would be
instant starters if taken, and Arizona State defensive end Terrell
Suggs would likely end up starting as well.

But a quarterback? There are no guarantees in the NFL, especially
with quarterbacks.

The Cowboys got a taste of that in 2001 when trying to resurrect Ryan
Leaf's career. The former No. 2 overall pick of the Chargers nearly
went No. 1 to Indianapolis, which eventually selected Peyton Manning
instead. But in three seasons in San Diego, Leaf couldn't withstand
injuries or the pressure from the media, and was released. After a
training camp stint in Tampa Bay, the Cowboys signed him in mid-
season of 2001. He went 0-3 as a starter and didn't seem excited
about sitting behind Carter to end the season. He was released and
spent another short time in Seattle. His career appears over just
five years after he was pegged to have the NFL's next golden arm.

Now this isn't to say that Palmer, Leftwich or even Cal's Kyle Boller
will become the next Leaf, or David Klingler, Rick Meier and Cade
McNown. But the risks seem to great to take a chance on a
quarterback, especially with two other youngsters still on the
roster.

So Hutchinson or Carter will be the starter next season?

It's hard to answer that in April, but with Jones saying he doesn't
expect to draft a quarterback in the first round and doesn't see the
team signing a high-profiled vet, that appears to be the case.

Head coach Bill Parcells has said from the beginning he just
wants "options" at quarterback, and there might be more options
available come June 1, when another waive of NFL cuts is expected.
That's when Denver is expected to release Brian Griese, a three-year
starter who has become expendable since the Broncos signed free agent
Jake Plummer to a seven-year deal worth $40 million.

Parcells refused to look that far down the road when the quarterback
question was asked two weeks ago at the NFL's owners meetings in
Phoenix. But by June 1, Parcells will have had at least one mini-camp
to see Hutchinson and Carter perform. Maybe then he can decide if
help is needed.

But if a veteran - starting quality or not - is signed, that could be
the end of Carter in Dallas. His attitude didn't excite the Cowboys
as a backup quarterback last year, and it's hard to imagine he would
adapt well to being the No. 3 guy. Of course, he is scheduled to
count $700,000 against the cap, not much more than Clint Stoerner's
$605,000 one-year contract.

If the Cowboys do draft a quarterback, Jones said it would likely
occur "in the later rounds - if there is an interest."

No question, it will be interest-ing to see how the quarterback
situation unfolds over the next few months.

(Next: Wide Receivers)

Cutting To The Chase NAME COMMENTS
Chad Hutchinson: Will head into off-season the starter. But doesn't
have enough ties with new staff to win job without earning it.
Quincy Carter: Will have to out-shine Hutchinson with less reps:
Adding a veteran could hasten his departure.
Clint Stoerner: Would star in 2003 version of Stayin' Alive. Still
around and could wind up No. 3 QB once again


** Nick Eatman can be reached at NicksMail@...