AJ McCarron is the first Alabama QB to win in NFL since 1987
With a 24-14 victory over San Francisco, Cincinnati Bengals QB AJ McCarron didn’t just solidify the Bengals’ playoff positioning; he ended a strange, ugly streak of Alabama quarterback failure in the NFL.
From one perspective, the list of quarterbacks from the University of Alabama who have succeeded in the NFL is an impressive one, including Bart Starr. Joe Namath and Ken Stabler.
Unfortunately, that’s the entire list. Since Stabler’s heyday snaking around the backfield for the Oakland Raiders, the Crimson Tide has turned out a less-than-legendary run of quarterbacks. It’s rather stunning, really, that one of the most successful programs in college football history hasn’t turned out more field generals who’ve been able to win even a single game in the NFL.
Matter of fact, before Sunday, the last Alabama quarterback to win a pro game was in 1987, when Jeff Rutledge notched two wins with the Giants. In more recent years, Brodie Croyle went 0-10 over four seasons for the Chiefs, and Greg McElroy lost his only start, playing for the Jets.
You can guess the reasons for Tide quarterbacks’ failure in the NFL: Nick Saban’s “process” that values team success over individual achievement, plus the fact that it’s tough for any star college quarterback to make the leap to the NFL (Cam Newton, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota excepted).
At long last, McCarron broke that ignominious streak. McCarron, who won three national championships while at Alabama, has nonetheless spent most of his time on the bench behind Andy Dalton. But Dalton’s recent injury elevated McCarron to the starting job, and on Sunday, McCarron delivered a convincing win over the San Francisco 49ers. He finished 15 of 21 for 192 yards and a touchdown, not spectacular but more than enough to win.
It’s uncertain how long McCarron will handle the QB role. What is certain is that he knows how to play for big stakes, and under high pressure. We’ll see how far that can take him and the Bengals in the last games of the regular season.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports and the author of EARNHARDT NATION. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.
