Dan Pompei

In a quarterback poor league, many fans are asking if there shouldn't be a place for Daunte Culpepper and Byron Leftwich. It is a legitimate question, as both big name passers are mysteriously unemployed.

How could it be?

Culpepper, the 11^th pick of the 1999 draft, has played in three Pro Bowls. He had one of the finest statistical seasons in NFL history in 2004, just five short seasons ago. There is no questioning his arm, and he once was one of the most feared scrambling quarterbacks in football. After leaving the Vikings an injured player, he tried to reestablish himself with the Dolphins and Raiders. But it's unlikely any quarterback could have performed well in the situations Culpepper was in.

Leftwich hardly is washed up at 28 years old. In fact, his best football should be ahead of him. The seventh pick of the 2003 draft, Leftwich has thrown 52 touchdowns to 38 interceptions in his career. He has a history of making big plays in big games. Leftwich is a high character player who works hard and is known for his intelligence. If the Jaguars didn't have a pretty special backup to Leftwich in David Garrard, Leftwich might still be the starter in Jacksonville.

Yet there are reasons both players have spent a lot of time starting at the telephone this offseason.

The one thing the players have in common is neither is a very good fit for the predominant NFL offense — the West Coast passing game. In the West Coast, which is used in some shape or form by roughly 40 percent of the NFL's teams, quarterbacks often take short drops and throw on rhythm. Neither player is quick enough to operate that kind of offense efficiently. And playing that way would not take advantage of what Culpepper and Leftwich do best.

Culpepper is a big passer who is at his best when he drops back and is given half field reads, as opposed to progressions throughout the field.

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Leftwich needs maximum protection because he has one of the NFL's slowest deliveries. By the time he makes a decision, starts his long windup and finally tries to get the ball off, he's often on his back. Leftwich also does not have the foot speed to escape pass rushers. In a lot of ways, he is a throwback, the kind of quarterback who would have thrived in a previous era but has limitations in the current one. He can be effective — but he is going to take punishment in order to be effective.

So with both players, a team almost would have to be willing to build its offense around their skills. Teams generally are not going to be interested in doing that for a backup, which both players would be at this point in their careers.

Reliability is a concern with both players given their injury histories. Leftwich has had injuries to both ankles and leaves himself open to getting hurt more than most quarterbacks. Culpepper has not started more than seven games in three years, and his mobility appears shot.

Teams also are cautious about Culpepper because he wasn't always a good soldier in Miami and Oakland. Sources say he questioned coaches' decisions in front of teammates and didn't always attend meetings when things weren't going his way.

Still, his talent is worth taking a low cost gamble on. The Packers reportedly offered Culpepper a contract, which he turned down. He probably wasn't a good fit in Green Bay. But he can be a good fit somewhere. As can Leftwich.

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