Byron Leftwich: Is He a Bust?

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That pretty much sums up Byron Leftwich's career. The Jacksonville Jaguars' QB was supposed to turn the franchise around. He did.......for one year though. That was the year they finished 12-4 but lacked any quality wins, and got hammered by New England in the Wild Card Round in the 2006 year. Leftwich had a pass picked, and returned for a TD by Asante Samuel. Outside of that, he has been plagued by injuries, has made only 1 playoff appearance in 4 years, and was supposed to be the starting QB this year. But the shocking announcement has been made. David Garrard will not only start for the Jags in week 1, but Leftwich will either be traded or released.

So now you wonder where he goes from here. He hasn't won a playoff game, he's often hurt, inconsistent at times, who would sign him (besides the Raiders)? So now the question remains: Are we looking at an NFL bust? The answer is yes. Even if he wasn't cut, he was going to have a short career. Because almost all of his injuries are leg related, which requires you to walk and run when I last checked. Plus, Garrard has proven that he is a better QB than Leftwich. It's easy to determine when he is playing more than Leftwich at times. It's too bad that we've seen another QB go to waste in this league. Your turn now. Is Leftwich a bust, or does he still have a chance in the NFL?

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The BeastAAA-er

820 days ago

Score 3

I would hardly call a kid under 27 years old who has played just 4 seasons a bust.

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Brendan.CanneyDiv-I Stud

820 days ago

Score 3

If people are calling Eli Manning a bust I don't think it's that far fetched to call this kid one.

Oh No RomoDraft Pick

820 days ago

Score 1

I don't know that he should be considered a bust. The Jaguars gambled big time on Leftwich, he was an injury-proned kid from Marshall. You can't tell me that you weren't skeptical about Leftwich.

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DNLLegend

820 days ago

Score 11

I don't think he is a bust. I think the Jaguars are moronic. Leftwich is probably the better QB, but not right for that system, and Garrard is basically a bad version over an overrated Michael Vick (minus the felonies). That happens a lot.

Sometimes, the team changes systems to fit the QB. Sometimes, the team changes QBs to fit the system. Here, the Jags had a QB who fit the system in Garrard, but drafted Leftwich and then surrounded him with raw "skills" players at WR. Reggie Williams? Matt Jones?

With the Bears and others looking for QB help, they redoubled their error by not dealing Leftwich weeks (if not months) ago.

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SSreportersLegend

654 days ago

Score 0

165 days later.....nope, good move.

Oh No RomoDraft Pick

820 days ago

Score 2

You know it's only a matter of time until they move Matt Jones to QB

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DNLLegend

820 days ago

Score 3

I really want to see him and Antwaan Randle El in some sort of weird two QB wishbone offense.

DwalbertVarsity Captain

820 days ago

Score 1

that would be so incredibly confusing and awesome all at the same time DNL. I can see the promotional posters emulating the movie "My Giant" with the two of them standing next to each other if they end up on the same team.

Cornfed78Draft Pick

819 days ago

Score 0

Moving Matt Jones to QB would not surprise me. Michael Vick is a bigger bust than Leftwich will ever be. I'll ALWAYS respect Leftwich for the 2002 Marshall/Akron game.

820 days ago

Score 1

Leftwich still has something left in the gas tank. Therefore, it is too early to state whether he was a bust. Check back in 3-5 years. The verdict will then be in.

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DNLLegend

820 days ago

Score 3

Spoken like a guy who suddenly needs a QB :)

Behbigben15All-Star

820 days ago

Score 0

Not a bust yet, he just couldn't stay healthy, and if your'e not healthy you can't expect to have success as a QB.

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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

820 days ago

Score 7

Leftwich will make the Jaguars pay for their stupidity. And no football player ever deserves the label "bust" for injuries sustained on the field. Ever.

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819 days ago

Score 0

I think so too he has had injurie problems. If he had played 4 or so seasonshealthy and nothing was happening then he would be maybe called a bust. I hope he finds a team to play for and then we can realize the truth if it was his old team or if it was just him.

Cornfed78Draft Pick

819 days ago

Score 0

I concur.

Behbigben15All-Star

820 days ago

Score 1

Good news for the Falcons, if I was them I would sign Leftwich. No way would I want to go into the season having to depend on Joey Harrington, it may take the offense a while to adjust to a bigger, slower QB, but I think they could eventually do well with him.

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Tyrone BriggsHall of Famer

820 days ago

Score 1

Leftwich on one leg is probably still a gazelle compared to Joey. Just a hunch.

Simms1156Div-I Stud

820 days ago

Score 2

Leftwich is not a bust, he is however; injury prone. Which in the NFL can be just as bad. The other problem Leftwich encountered was that he had no recievers to throw to. Also up until last year he had to deal with a lot of injury problems at running back. I think Leftwich could have an impact in a better system with a good offensive line.

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TheBatmanVarsity

820 days ago

Score 0

Is Leftwich a bust? Depends on how you evaluate "bust". I think, If he can stay healthy, he's a perfectably serviceable, second-tier starter. I can think of a handful of teams that would be immediately improved with him at QB. ATL, KC, Minnysoda, and Cleveland come to mind. If you're looking for superstar, though. He's not the guy. Jax will likely see no significant drop-off with David G, but no big improvement either. Still, he's about $4mm cheaper than Bryon "Club" Sandwich.

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AngeHammJV Squad

819 days ago

Score 0

Wow. That's UNBELIEVABLY shitty. For the Jaguars to do this to a player who has worked as hard as Leftwich has EIGHT DAYS before the season starts is bush league. Byron has NO chance to compete for a meaningful position anywhere at this point. The Jaguars organization has plummeted in my estimation.

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Falcon02520Legend

819 days ago

Score 0

Leftwich busted something (every time he took a hit). He was never supposed to be great. He will most likly end up being more of a disappointment than a bust.

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819 days ago

Score 0

I just thought of this he is sort of the nfl's version of JD Drew so far in his career only leftwich has not really had a sort of big year yet. They both are injury proned. and some other things.

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Falcon02520Legend

819 days ago

Score 0

other things: collected a pay check, deseved(ed) to get cut, and have (at one point or another) taken away a starting job undeservingly so

Anonymous Fanatic #1

773 days ago

Score 0

I won't call Leftwich a bust, but he is closer to a dissapointment the fact that he can't stay healthy to really prove his worth. The guy's job he took in Atlanta, Joey Harrington IS a more legitimate bust, taken so high and not living up to those expectations. Plus if Leftwich has a legitimate target to get to or bail him out in key situations, he'd pad some more of his stats. Jaguars had none after Jimmy Smith.

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JuTMSY4Legend

773 days ago

Score 0

well, i think that he is a bust to the jags....i mean he was drafted in the top 15 (?) and was eventually released and they got nothing in return... Of course, when a player is a bust, the team has something to do with it (think Tim Couch)...maybe leftwich is good...its gonna take another year or two to tell....

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Anonymous Fanatic #2

474 days ago

Score 0

he is a pathetic exscuse for a quarterback and first round draft pick. The Jags should be ashamed by there stupidity

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Sj-hypocycloidAll-American

474 days ago

Score 0

Ashamed? How about being ashamed for the misspelling "exscuse" and using the wrong "their" ? Please. It wasn't stupid - it just didn't work out. Maybe being a solid backup will be good for him.

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