The New Orleans Saints Have A New QB At The Helm
By James Benoit
Were you scared when you first saw the immediate headline? Did you think this was some late April Fool’s mumbo-jumbo about how the New Orleans Saints have a new starter and have somehow gotten rid of Drew Brees? Well, rest easy, turn your heart rate monitor off, and don’t worry. I’m going to tell you a little bit more about Luke McCown, the new Saints backup quarterback.
If Drew Brees were ever, God forbid, to go down, Luke McCown would be the guy to take over at the helm for him, so I think it’s quite fitting to go a little deeper in finding out who this guy is. His measurables as far as stats go are unimpressive, but he’s a tall guy who has some experience in Louisiana. McCown was an outstanding quarterback at Louisiana Tech and entered the 2004 draft as a projected 3rd-4th rounder. He went on to be drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 106th overall pick.
Aug 9, 2012; Foxboro, Massachusetts, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Luke McCown (11) prepares to make a pass during the third quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 7-6. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
His 2004 Season: In 2004, Luke McCown got his first taste of NFL action. After throwing just one pass in Week 2 of the season, he got his first chance to start in Week 13. He threw for 277 yards and 2 TDs, but also 2 INTs and was sacked 3 times. He obviously didn’t make that great an impression, as he was traded on Draft Day 2005 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
His 2005-2007 Seasons: McCown didn’t see the field again until the 2007 season, and he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 27-23 win over his new team. Luke threw for 313 yards on the day, and at times showed flashes of brilliance, especially on his two bombs (40 and 60 yards) to Joey Galloway. However, as has been the case with all of his games in which he’s thrown a TD, he added an interception on the day.
2008-2012 Seasons: McCown has seen minimal game action over the last 5 seasons, throwing a total of just 79 passes.
Also worth noting is the fact that this is McCown’s second stint with the New Orleans Saints. He signed with the Black and Gold during the 2012 off-season on June 7, 2012. He was released though on August 28th that same offseason.
So, now you know a little bit more about the guy backing up arguably the best QB in the NFL. One thing is for certain though, McCown is considerably less talented than Chase Daniel. Sadly, Daniel left for the Kansas City Chiefs. You can bet that Sean Payton will not just be satisfied with mediocrity, and if it comes down to a situation where Drew Brees is injured, the New Orleans Saints will do what is in the best interests of the team and not just let a season fall by the wayside.
All in all, I am excited with the addition, even though McCown may not be the most proven backup in the NFL. He gets a chance to come back to the place where he enjoyed considerable success, and if it comes to be that he is forced into duty, maybe that former brilliance will once again shine through. Here’s to our new backup everybody, Luke McCown!