Bengals backup quarterback A.J. McCarron likes to compare himself to Tom Brady.
But at least Brady had some quarterbacks as successful Brian Griese or Elvis Grbac from his alma mater to point for reason to think he might become successful.
As noted by Chase Goodbread of NFL.com, McCarron will be bucking history this week, trying to become the first Alabama quarterback in decades to win an NFL game. McCarron will start for the Bengals with Andy Dalton recovering from a broken thumb.
The last Crimson Tide quarterback to win an NFL start was Jeff Rutledge, when he led the Giants to a 20-17 win over the Eagles on Nov. 15, 1987.
Since then, a litany of guys who never got the chance or didn’t do much with the short ones they got proceeded out of Tuscaloosa. Five Alabama quarterbacks have been drafted since that historic win by Rutledge: Mike Shula, Jay Barker, Brodie Croyle, Greg McElroy and McCarron.
Croyle got the most action, with 10 starts for the Chiefs from 2006-10. He didn’t win any of them.
Of course, Shula’s had far more success as a coach, as the offensive coordinator for the 13-0 Panthers.
For all the wins piled up by Alabama, their program hasn’t been conducive to good passers, though they’ve sent plenty of running backs and defensive players move onto the pros.
McCarron’s hoping to change that.
