The Jacksonville Jaguars made this mistake. And most recently, the San Francisco 49ers also made this mistake. It’s somehow the idea that Blaine Gabbert is a starter-caliber quarterback in the NFL.
Now, in his first season with the Arizona Cardinals, it looks like Gabbert is getting this treatment once again.
In talking about his current third-string quarterback, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians indicated that Gabbert could be a starter in the NFL once again. In fact, he has confidence in the former Jaguars first-round pick should Carson Palmer go down to injury.
No, really.
“I’ve been very pleased,” Arians said, via the team’s official website. “Short-term, I’d be very comfortable if he (Gabbert) had to play for us. Long-term, if he continues at this rate, he could be a starter.”
That sound you hear right now are fans in the desert throwing their computers out the window.
Since being selected No. 10 overall by Jacksonville back in 2011, Gabbert has lost 31 of his 40 career starts. During that span, he’s thrown 38 touchdowns compared to 37 interceptions for a horrendous 71.5 quarterback rating.
One really has to wonder where Arians’ confidence is coming from here. Maybe he just wants to avoid having to play Drew Stanton in a meaningful regular season game. Then again, the hope in Arizona has to be that Carson Palmer remains upright for all 16 games this season.