Quarterbacks under pressure across the NFL
NFL
A look at some of the signal-callers who will get extra attention as training camp opens.
As if replacing a legend weren't tough enough, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers faces an even more difficult challenge.
He's replacing Brett Favre, a legend who wants to come out of retirement and play again.
But Rodgers isn't the only young quarterback under pressure this season. As training camps open all over the NFL this week, a host of signal-callers are under scrutiny.
A look at some of them:
* Matt Leinart, Arizona -- The starting job is Leinart's to lose, but Kurt Warner is peering directly over his surgically repaired shoulder. And Warner, who's paid like a starter, did a tremendous job filling in for the injured Leinart last season, throwing for 27 touchdowns with 17 interceptions.
Arizona coaches felt Leinart could have prepared better for last season's opener against San Francisco, and are expecting more focus from him this season. They don't want to see anymore party pictures of him on the Internet, and are ready for him to make good on all the promise he showed as a USC star.
* Jason Campbell, Washington -- New coach, new system, old problem: round peg in a square hole. Campbell has a big arm but has struggled with short-range accuracy and touch. Jim Zorn, new Redskins coach, wants to transform him into a West Coast-style quarterback.
Campbell is very talented and a hard worker, so it just might work. But it won't be easy. Meanwhile, Todd Collins, the player who led Washington to the playoffs last season when Campbell was hurt, is watching from the sideline and ready to step in.
* Alex Smith, San Francisco -- Smith, selected first overall in 2005, is by no means the guaranteed starter. He and Shaun Hill will be trading snaps during camp, and Coach Mike Nolan says he won't name the starter until the third exhibition game. Even journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan has an outside chance of earning the job.
If Smith has fallen short of being San Francisco's savior -- and the stats say that's the case: 44 turnovers vs. 19 touchdowns -- it's not entirely his fault. He's worked with four offensive coordinators in four seasons.
* Joe Flacco, Baltimore -- Big things are expected from Flacco, the rookie from Delaware with the Ben Roethlisberger-like throwing arm. But the heat won't be on him right away; he'll be competing for the starting job with Kyle Boller and Troy Smith -- unless the Ravens happen to pull off a trade for Favre.
