QB musical chairs almost over

In non-Giants news, here are some brief thoughts on each significant quarterback move over the past week.

Peyton Manning signs with Denver - The Broncos are instant Super Bowl contenders. And they make a soft landing out of Tebowmania with pretty much the only QB who could make it acceptable to Bronco fans. If Manning is healthy - and we'll certainly find out more definitively over the next few months, beyond the grainy, bigfootesque cell phone video footage of him throwing a couple weeks ago - I see no reason he can't resume being in the elite class of QBs, where his two-time Super Bowl MVP brother Eli resides.

Alex Smith re-signed by San Francisco - After missing on Manning, and after Smith's flirtation with Miami, the 49ers are lucky to have Smith back. Six months ago, who'd have thought that could be said?

Matt Flynn signs with Seattle - He could be the next Matt Hasselbeck, a capable starter for a long time who learned as a Packers' backup. Or, he could be Scott Mitchell, given way too much money based on a couple good games. It was curious that the Dolphins, with his former offensive coordinator Joe Philbin the new head coach there, didn't want him. That might point to Flynn being more Mitchell than Hasselbeck.

Tim Tebow traded to New York Jets - I try to evaluate each move regardless of a team's track record. Otherwise, I'm no different than ESPN talking heads who, when the Patriots acquire a known bum, jerk, and/or has-been like Albert Haynesworth or Chad Ochocinco, fawn all over the move. Whereas if it was any other team, especially the Redskins, those same pundits would have lambasted the move. But because it's the Patriots, who are soooooo much smarter than any other organization, they praise it for being super brilliant and shrewd. Which is fine, because it's even more fun to laugh when the move is a failure. Anyway, I bring this up here because I had to fight my initial urge, which was to say, "Typical post 2006ish Jets, not having a real plan or vision. Still just throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks, and playing fantasy football with big names, like when they brought in Favre, Tomlinson, Holmes, and Mason, and traded up to draft Mark Sanchez." But what I'm saying here is, don't do that. We know Tebow doesn't throw very well, but we don't yet know how the Jets will use him. At most he's competing for the starting QB job, and at least he brings enthusiasm, leadership, and let's face it, Tebowmania.

UPDATE: After the initial posting of this entry, the trade of Tebow to the Jets hit a snag, as apparently the Jets either weren't aware of a $5 million advance they would have to pay on Tebow's salary, or are had second thoughts about it...making this all even more typical post 2006ish Jets.