Quarterbacks are dominating the league in recent times. It seems like if teams want a chance at a S Bowl, they need a great signal-caller to get them there. Don’t believe me? Look at the last four Super Bowls: Tom Brady vs. Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger vs. Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning vs. Drew Brees, and Kurt Warner vs. Ben Roethlisberger.

The Washington Redskins have started 13 different quarterbacks since 2000. Only one of those quarterbacks, Jason Campbell, started 16 games in consecutive years. It’s safe to say the Redskins have a bit of a quarterback problem on their hands.

Last year, John Beck and Rex Grossman battled it out for the starting spot. On almost any other team, that would have been the battle for the number two or three spot on the depth chart.

So what do the Redskins do this year at the quarterback position? I take an in-depth look at the eight guys who have the best chance of being behind center for the Washington Redskins in 2012.

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While most of the sports world knows him for being Tom Brady‘s coach and mentor, Martinez was so much more than that. 

According to the San Mateo Daily Journal, Martinez’s wife, Olivia, said her husband suffered a heart attack around 1 p.m. when he was getting a dialysis treatment. 

Brady told the Associated Press that “[Martinez has] been a great friend of mine for a long time.” 

In the national public eye, Martinez is known for being the longtime coach of the New England Patriots quarterback. 

However, he also coached multiple sports for the College of San Mateo, and it wasn’t just Brady who he helped for many years. 

Originally hired to coach football and teach physical education, Martinez decided to coach softball and women’s basketball for the college as well. A guy coaching three sports at once is something unheard of, especially at the college level.

Sure, it’s a smaller college, but that’s a heavy workload no matter what level of talent you’re coaching. 

Former CSM athletic director Gary Dilley told the San Mateo Daily Journal that Martinez helped so many people. 

He really was the representation of Bulldog athletics. It’s great [Martinez] made such a great contribution to Tom Brady, but really the mark he made was in the hearts he trained and coached at CSM.

There are going to be dozens, if not hundreds, of women he coached in softball and basketball (who will be sad by his passing). They were given the same kind of expectations he gave to his football players and he would accept nothing less from their efforts.

Also according to the report, Martinez was named to the Hall of Fame in  ”San Mateo County, Daly City, San Francisco State University, the California Community College Softball Association and the California Community College Women’s Basketball Association.” 

In addition to Brady, Martinez helped JaMarcus Russell prior to being selected No. 1 overall, as well as Matt Cassell, Ricky Stanzi and other NFL quarterbacks. 

When you hear about Martinez, Brady’s name usually comes up. However, he was a mentor to several other athletes, and that is how he should be remembered. 

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Benson has led the team in rushing for the past four seasons, including three consecutive campaigns of 1,000-plus yards. Cincinnati, though, has made no effort to re-sign Benson as he heads toward unrestricted free agency on March 13 when the NFL signing period begins.

We havent had any talks about a new deal, re-signing or anything like that to my knowledge, Benson told me and co-host Ross Tucker on Sirius XM NFL Radio. Im not sure where things are laying up there in Cincinnati.

If he has taken his final snap for the Bengals, Benson will be leaving on a down note. His role greatly diminished in Cincinnatis final three games as the Bengals relied more heavily on the Andy Dalton-led passing game. Cincinnati (9-7) reached the playoffs but dropped its final two contests, including a 31-10 first-round loss at Houston in which Benson only received seven carries.

I just think we didnt stick with what the offense was built on, Benson said Tuesday night. Since Ive been there the past four years weve ran the football to try and win games. Even when we had Carson (Palmer) and Chad (Ochocinco), we still kept a strong identity in the run game.

I just feel we got away from it. We didnt let that part of the offense grow the way it could have.

Benson didnt help his cause with ball-control issues. The normally sure-handed Benson fumbled five times, losing two, in December victories against St. Louis and Arizona.

It was a little bit of me trying to do too much and a little bit of it being a long season, said Benson, who hadnt previously fumbled since Week 16 of the 2010 campaign. The largest part of it was trying to make the most of the opportunities I was getting rather than letting the game come to me. I paid for it a little bit. Fortunately, we didnt lose any of those games so that was the sweet thing about it.

Benson, 29, knows his free-agent market value may be tempered by his checkered off-field history. Benson served a one-game suspension last season after being arrested during the offseason on misdemeanor assault charges for the second time in two years.

As tired as I am and my advisors and family of these types of things coming up, with each passing situation, its a learning experience, Benson said. Its definitely a life-changing experience.

Im not perfect. I dont go out seeking any trouble or try to put myself in a confrontational situation. I try my best to avoid them by all means. But life sometimes throws you curveballs. The best thing is to learn in the future and avoid them happening again.

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2005 draft by Chicago, Benson has rushed for 5,769 yards and 31 touchdowns in seven NFL seasons. View full post on Yardbarker: NFL

Now yes, New England’s Vince Wilfork took over a small portion of the spotlight and the New York Giants front-four was menacing all season long. That said, not much other attention was brought to such an important part of winning Super Bowls.

As for the combine, here’s a look at some interior defensive lineman with the most to prove before the 2012 NFL Draft.

Alameda Ta’amu, Washington

We know a guy who has the size of a 3-4 nose tackle possesses great strength. And Washington’s Alameda Ta’amu has that kind of ability considering that he’s 6’3″ and almost 340 pounds.

He is however, more of an arm-tackler as opposed to power-hitter and despite having good quickness at the snap, Ta’amu’s not a reliable pass-rusher. Definitely more of a run-stuffer who can get sacks thanks to blanket coverage, Ta’amu must improve hand techniques and agility to control gaps better.

The past two seasons he recorded 69 tackles and five sacks but only 12 tackles for loss. Now, Ta’amu did see a lot of double-teams which put a damper on his stats. However, he if he improves with quicker hands, Ta’amu can slip under and make more plays in the backfield.

So until he develops more of a broad approach to getting off blocks, Ta’amu will remain a mid-rounder at best.

Marcus Forston, Miami (Fla.)

An ideal 4-3 defensive tackle, Miami’s Marcus Forston has major concerns as he basically missed two full seasons because of injuries.

Therefore, Forston has just one full season as a legit weekly starter/contributor under his belt with 37 tackles and three sacks in 2010. And with those injuries, his tangible aspects to becoming a sound defensive lineman has suffered.

For what Forston has in strength, awareness and raw talent, he vehemently lacks in preparedness, lateral agility and maintaining a low center of gravity to quickly change directions and make plays.

Currently an expected late third/early fourth-rounder, if Forston’s injury concerns prevent him from having a solid combine, he’ll be fortunate to get drafted by Round 5. With many tangible areas to improve at the basics of his position, Forston has arguably the most to prove of anyone this draft.

Josh Chapman, Alabama

It’s really, really easy to overlook and underrate Alabama’s Josh Chapman simply because of all the talent around him on Nick Saban’s defense.

In turn, currently being a projected late fifth-rounder, Chapman has a lot to prove that he just wasn’t along for the ride, so to speak, in 2011. The man has good size at 6’1″, 310-pounds, but fails to transition his actual power onto the field.

Chapman no doubt has strength but doesn’t impress at consistently getting off blocks or providing an interior pass rush. Obviously some of that is due to ‘Bama having great outside pressure and lockdown coverage, so it simply remains to be seen as to how Chapman can perform when he’s the standout player.

With only 54 tackles between 2010 and 2011 as well as just two sacks, Chapman will need to impress at the combine by displaying great quickness and fluid movement to apply consistent inside pressure.

John Rozum on Twitter.

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Here are three players Kiper should take a longer look at before he sends out his next mock.

Dre Kirkpatrick

It wasn’t long ago Kirkpatrick was inside the top 10 of most mock drafts, but he’s all the way down to No. 17 in Kiper’s edition. While recent off-field issues may warrant a minor drop, there’s no reason for the Alabama star to fall to the Cincinnati Bengals.

He still has the potential to become an elite corner. Since NFL offenses are so reliant on the pass, it’s important for teams to have multiple corners capable of containing the aerial attack. Not enough of them have depth at the position, so Kirkpatrick will still be highly sought after.

After his pre-draft workouts are complete, don’t be surprised if Kirkpatrick inches closer to the top of Round 1 where he belongs.

Devon Still

There was a time Still being selected by the Denver Broncos with the 25th pick would have made sense, but his stock has risen too much for it still to be considered good placement. He has too much potential to slide that far down.

It is going to take a couple seasons before Still reaches his peak because he needs to figure out the finer points of playing defensive tackle, but his raw tools are off the charts. Once scouts get a closer look at him, it’s hard to imagine him lasting beyond the first dozen picks.

He’s in a battle with Michael Brockers to be the first tackle taken, and with more than a few teams in need of an upgrade, he’ll be selected well before No. 25 on draft day.

Harrison Smith

The first two players on this list were rated too low by Kiper, but Smith is ranked too high. While the Green Bay Packers could certainly improvement at the safety position, reaching for the Notre Dame product with the 28th selection would be a major mistake.

That placement is at least a full round too early. He was a highly rated recruit coming out of high school but never lived up to the hype with the Irish. While his size and speed still give him a chance to excel in the NFL, there are too many question marks to risk a first-rounder on him.

Antonio Allen would be a wiser choice if the Packers are truly that desperate for a strong safety, but they would be much better off filling another hole in Round 1 and tackling the safety issue later on.

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Welker is looking to gain money in the top five for wide receivers, something the Patriots are balking at.

The Patriots are being cautious whether Welker, who has taken an enormous amount of wear and tear, including a torn ACL in 2009, could last through a long term deal.

Welker and his representative believe he should be paid as a top five wide out as he has produced the best receiving numbers in the NFL over a three year period.

A fan favorite, Welker looks to be on the slippery Patriots slope of negotiations and doesn’t have much leverage other than the franchise tag. While Welker and the Patriots are at a stand still, there’s a chance the two can still reach an agreement.

According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, February 20th is the first day teams can designate their franchise player. The Patriots could attempt to sig… View full post on Yardbarker: NFL

No team has an easy call to make with its franchise tag, but the teams that stand to lose stars to free agency have tough decisions to make. Do they apply the tag, or do they let their stars go to free agency and try to re-sign them once they’re on the open market?

I’ll tell you right now that there are at least five players who are stone-cold locks to get the franchise tag. They are listed below.

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs had a tough decision to make with their franchise tag, as it was basically between Dwayne Bowe and cornerback Brandon Carr.

Then the Chiefs surprised everyone by signing former Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt. They could use the franchise tag on Carr, but they really don’t need to bring him back now that they have Routt in their secondary.

There’s little point in them committing so much money to one area.

Bringing back Bowe is much more important. He’s been the team’s top wide receiver ever since he entered the league, and the Chiefs simply don’t know if Jonathan Baldwin is ready for a starring role yet.

Tagging Bowe is the smartest and safest move the Chiefs can made. And for what it’s worth, Adam Teicher of The Kansas City Star thinks they’ll do it.

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears

The Bears should have locked up Matt Forte a long time ago, but they seem committed to signing him to a cost-effective (see “cheap”) extension. Forte is better than that, but the Bears clearly have their own ideas.

Team president and CEO Ted Phillips made it pretty clear that the Bears aren’t about to lose Forte, telling ESPN 100 (via ESPNChicago.com) that the team doesn’t have “any intention of letting Matt hit the open market.”

An extension would bring Forte back, but talks between the two sides haven’t gone smoothly. Forte has already rejected an offer that would have guaranteed him somewhere between $13 and $14 million.

A holdout could be in the cards if the Bears tag Forte, but that’s a risk they should be willing to take. They really can’t afford to lose him.

DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

DeSean Jackson had a season to forget in 2011, and that should make the Eagles’ decision to franchise him that much easier. 

Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote earlier this month that Jackson is a lock to get franchised for several reasons. At the very least, it will keep Jackson in Philly for one more season. It also gives the Eagles a chance to trade him if they so please, or they could work out a contract extension.

Jackson should be just fine with a one-year deal under the franchise tag if it comes to it. He would get offers if he were to test the open market, but another season to rebuild his reputation could only help him in the event he hits free agency next season.

A motivated Jackson will help the Eagles, that much goes without saying. Even if the Eagles don’t keep him beyond 2012, having Jackson around will make a huge difference.

Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network reported a couple days ago that the Seahawks are “deep in talks” with Marshawn Lynch, who rushed for over 1,200 yards in 2011.

I’m going to assume that the Seahawks will come to their wits and not break the bank to sign Lynch to an extension. That would be foolish.

Franchising Lynch is going to end up being Seattle’s best play.

Danny O’Neil of The Seattle Times reported earlier this month that running backs aren’t set to make that much under the tag, and the truth is that the Seahawks should be wary of signing Lynch to an extension. His style of running leaves him open to injuries and wear and tear, and Lynch has already been at this for six seasons.  

The Seahawks should take no chances by signing him to an extension—one that will call for a hefty financial commitment, no less.

Wes Welker, WR, New England Patriots

This is a tough one. It’s hard to imagine New England’s offense without Wes Welker, but it’s also hard to imagine the Patriots giving him the kind of extension worthy of his production.

Ian R. Rapoport of the Boston Herald reported this week that talks between Welker and the Patriots have not gone “smoothly,” and that they are struggling to reach a breakthrough.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter put it much more bluntly, saying last week (via ESPNBoston.com) that he expects the Patriots to tag Welker.

An extension could and probably will be hammered out at some point, but the Patriots don’t want to risk letting Welker hit the open market. They’d risk losing him to a team with deep pockets, plenty of cap space and a need for an elite possession receiver.

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Now when a team misses the playoffs and loses eight of its first 12 games, the expectation is that major changes are needed. For this Eagles team though, that is really not the case. Their only real areas of need are at linebacker, safety, back-up quarterback, back-up running back and kick returner. Sadly, the first two positions on that list have been needs for third offseason already—entering the fourth.

What makes this offseason so strange for the Eagles is the fact that there is more negativity around the franchise than ever before. Local fans and media are often expected to be more critical, especially in Philadelphia—but the Eagles became fodder for the national media for the first time this past season.

For the first time in his 13 seasons, fans at Lincoln Financial Field chanted for Andy Reid‘s job.  Things got so bad that Jeffrey Lurie spoke to the media a full month before Andy Reid. Lurie exclaimed his dissatisfaction with the football team’s performance—the head coach included—but he then affirmed that everything would remain the same.

When Andy Reid did finally talk to the media, he seemed to be a kinder, gentler and friendlier Andy Reid—which is just what Lurie said he hoped for. Only Reid ultimately said he took the time to evaluate his performance, and the job he did and could still do. The thing is that is basically what he always says.

General Manager Howie Roseman also came out, proclaiming his draft strategy has been flawed and yielded too-few impact players in the early rounds. He claimed that the team’s strategy of picking lower-risk, lower-reward players may not be the way to go—and that his team has maybe reached too high on players to fill specific needs.

On one hand, there seems to be admittance that maybe the Eagles’ decision-makers are capable of evaluating themselves in a critical way. Maybe they do feel that a philosophy other than their own can work. 

This year is different. For the first time, with high expectations—the Eagles failed miserably.  They feel the heat and they are ready to do whatever it takes to turn things around.

But how can anyone feel secure in knowing the Eagles will do anything any differently?

The buzz coming from the NovaCare Complex seems to be one of supreme confidence that 2011 was just a fluke. There also has to be a fear that for all of the talk of taking a serious look in the mirror, an eye will most likely look at the fact that the Eagles beat the Super Bowl-winning Giants with Vince Young in November.

The Eagles truly are closer than their record indicated, but the holes they need to fill are significant. The defense needs to add a veteran safety to help guide their two second-round picks. A physical, playmaking linebacker is needed and two would be more than welcome. Even if they stop there, it would probably be enough to turn the tides. 

But will they actually do that?

The Eagles have always been one of the hardest organizations to figure out since Andy Reid took over in 1999, and it’s hard to imagine that changing. With the need at linebacker so glaring and obvious—it seems inevitable that this would be the year they finally draft a linebacker with their first pick. 

But the one certainty about the Eagles is that the more obvious something seems, the less likely they are to do it.

The next step on this tightrope of an offseason is how to handle the DeSean Jackson situation.  It’s hard to figure how exactly that will play out, and each step after that becomes increasingly more difficult to predict.

The Eagles don’t need to do a lot to fix the personnel problems that ailed them last season, but nobody knows if they are actually willing to do it. Hopefully this offseason is different, but after 13 years it is hard to believe anything will actually change.

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