Backup QB

[Harlan Huckleby]

Both packer papers said Tolzien helped himself in the QB derby. Guess I'll have to watch more of the game. This could be a chance to rub Bretsky's nose in it.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/270631841.html

http://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2014/08/09/green-bay-packers-tennessee-titans-preseason/13851855/

Not sure you can judge much in the heavy rain.

[Freak Out]

Was the third QB last night just horrible or what? Maybe I was drunk and it looked worse than it was?

[Striker]

Tolzien showed his athleticism vs. Flynn's. Itll certainly be more of a battle than some are expecting.

[Brandon494]

Three things about Flynn and Tolzien last night...

-Flynn played in worse conditions last night.

-Tolzien played against 2nd and 3rd stringers.

-Tolzien's arm is better suited under those conditions but how many rainy games do we play a year?

With all that said Tolzien definitely played better then Flynn though but I think have Flynn was the #2 guy.

[denverYooper]

Three things about Flynn and Tolzien last night...

-Flynn played in worse conditions last night.

-Tolzien played against 2nd and 3rd stringers.

-Tolzien's arm is better suited under those conditions but how many rainy games do we play a year?

With all that said Tolzien definitely played better then Flynn though but I think have Flynn was the #2 guy.

Good points. I feel like Flynn has a pretty solid roster spot atm because he earned it last year and is, by sports journo accounts, looking pretty good in camp. Tolzien is probably competing against the 4th TE or 5th RB, trying to prove they should carry him on the roster for another year.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I think Flynn and Tolzien are both competing for jobs, and not with just each other. The Packers discovered last year just how difficult it is to find NFL-ready QBs. No way do they want to go shopping in that reject market again. If Flynn & Tolzien both prove that they are serviceable backups, they will both be kept. I heard that Flynn costs the team just $100K if they cut him. Flynn looks like near-sure keeper, but he is not 100% safe.

[Patler]

I think the real question is this; Will your 3rd QB give you any better chance to win a game than a QB you are able to keep on the practice squad, or an experienced veteran you can sign if needed. The third QB will never be active if #1 & #2 are healthy, so doesn't factor into the game that the starter is injured. The following week you can sign your guy off the practice squad or a veteran who is sitting at home to back up your second QB.

So, assuming that Flynn holds on to the back-up spot, does Tolzien give you that much more of a chance to win a game than someone you can have on the practice squad or one of the veterans who is sitting at home? He did not show that last year, because while he showed an ability to rack up passing yards, it was more than offset by his too frequent mistakes. Chances are if you release him, he will ne available to be resigned later anyway. I doubt he would be a hot commodity on the waiver list, and he isn't practice squad eligible.

Flynn has proven himself to be a very capable backup in GB's offense multiple times in multiple seasons. He has proven that he responds well under pressure. That puts him ahead of Tolzien by quite a bit. Flynn makes the team so long as he doesn't have an injury.

Tolzien makes the team only if he demonstrates that he has indeed gotten over his tendency for mistakes, and only if the Packers come out of TC extremely healthy, without a bunch of guys who won't be able to play week 1.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I think the real question is this; Will your 3rd QB give you any better chance to win a game than a QB you are able to keep on the practice squad, or an experienced veteran you can sign if needed.

I think Flynn and Tolzien are probably both keepers, although either could be cut. Despite Tolzien's shortcomings, I'm confident that any "player to be named later" will stink more.

[Just Jeff]

Has Seneca Wallace been cleared to play?

[Patler]

I think Flynn and Tolzien are probably both keepers, although either could be cut. Despite Tolzien's shortcomings, I'm confident that any "player to be named later" will stink more.

But how much more? It seems like a lot of Badger followers don't think it gets much worse than Tolzien in the NFL. And, really, what are the chances that either of the odoriferous QBs will actually have to play? Yes, I know, it happened last year; but that is quite unusually. One year they went through something like 10 WRs. That doesn't mean you need to keep 10 the next year.

As I said before, I have no problem keeping a third QB so long as the roster is healthy, but when injuries hit and 4 or 5 guys are medically out, as long as neither of the first two QBs is one of the injured, the third QB needs to go.

Besides, if they need him I think Tolzien will be available for signing during the season even if they release him at the final cutdown.

[Patler]

Has Seneca Wallace been cleared to play?

Don't know and don't care at this point; but if the need arose, I think I would prefer him to Tolzien.

[sharpe1027]

But how much more? It seems like a lot of Badger followers don't think it gets much worse than Tolzien in the NFL. And, really, what are the chances that either of the odoriferous QBs will actually have to play? Yes, I know, it happened last year; but that is quite unusually. One year they went through something like 10 WRs. That doesn't mean you need to keep 10 the next year.

As I said before, I have no problem keeping a third QB so long as the roster is healthy, but when injuries hit and 4 or 5 guys are medically out, as long as neither of the first two QBs is one of the injured, the third QB needs to go.

Besides, if they need him I think Tolzien will be available for signing during the season even if they release him at the final cutdown.

I agree to a large extent, but I hope there would be a pretty big difference between Tolzien with almost no practice time to get familiar with the system and after an off season of work. Also, he might still be available if released, but he would no longer have the benefit of training with the team during the season. Might be better to cut Flynn and resign if needed. He would benefit less from additional practice time and could probably get up to speed quicker.

It will be interesting to see what they decide to do.