There are quarterback questions in New York, N.Y., upstate New York, and still more quarterback news involving yet another New York quarterback.
Buffalo has the most pressing question, the Jets might have the most intriguing one, and somehow, teams keep looking to the New-York-raised ageless wonder Vinny Testaverde.
But first, Buffalo. For now, with the Bills entering their bye week, Buffalo coach Dick Jauron need not declare a starting quarterback.
But by next week, Jauron must decide whether to use veteran J.P. Losman or rookie Trent Edwards as his No. 1 quarterback.
There's no more sidestepping the issue. According to those who have spoken to him, Losman will be recovered from his knee injury and ready to play against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7. But ultimately, Jauron must decide whether to turn to Losman or Edwards.
Arguments can, and will, be made for each.
Bills wide receiver Lee Evans has already spoken out on behalf of Losman, telling reporters: "I don't think it's a controversy in my opinion. Take it with a grain of salt, but when J.P. is healthy, it's still his position to lose. I think J.P. has played well given the circumstances."
Fans and the media have spoken out predominantly in favor of Edwards, the rookie third-round pick who struggled during Monday night's loss to Dallas but helped the Bills to their first victory of the season the week before against the New York Jets.
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle columnist Scott Pitoniak wrote Tuesday: "If I'm Jauron, I'm definitely sticking with Trent Edwards. The kid has proven that he is ready to take over as quarterback of this team. Yes, he held onto the ball too long and threw a horrible interception in the fourth quarter (against Dallas), but he showed his mettle in prime time. The team just looks so much better with him under center."
And now, Buffalo has another full-scale quarterback debate, the way it did when Doug Flutie was pitted against Rob Johnson. The decision has both short- and long-term ramifications.
Should the Bills opt for Losman next week, they would be giving another chance to a former first-round draft pick that is scheduled to make $5 million next season. Buffalo needs to decide whether Losman is worth the money, or whether it needs to move on and dangle Losman this off-season to see the value he might bring in a trade.
By turning to Losman now, the Bills still could opt to start Edwards at some point later in the season. Buffalo could also open up its offense, which it did not do for Losman early this season.
But if the Bills turn to Edwards now, the message will have been sent to Losman: There is little, if any, future for him in Buffalo. The team would be saying it prefers Edwards in the short and long term.
When a team hands its quarterback job to a young player, it is imperative that it honors its commitment. Otherwise the young quarterback's confidence can be shaken -– see Leinart, Matt.
It's a big decision for Jauron to make and it is the most compelling topic following a team that played the most compelling game of the season Monday night against Dallas.
New York's other QB question
Jets coach Eric Mangini has sounded a bit like Lovie Smith did regarding Rex Grossman, repeatedly saying Chad Pennington is our quarterback.
Jets fans keep asking when they will see Pennington's backup, Kellen Clemens, New York's 2006 second-round pick. But they aren't the only ones wondering. Apparently, other NFL head coaches are as well.
"Yeah, you have to look at that," Reid acknowledged. "You have to look at him. He's a good football player, too. He was a heck of a college player, we really liked him. [We] saw him a little bit in the preseason. He's a good player."
While Reid looks at Clemens, Jets fans wait for Mangini to do the same.
Carolina on his mind
Vinny Testaverde turns 44 next month, yet teams continue to put age before beauty.
Carolina became the latest, signing Testaverde to a one-year contract.
To show how long Testaverde has been around, consider this:
Testaverde made his NFL debut for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 20, 1987, against the Bears. Exactly one day earlier another quarterback made his college debut: 17-year old University of Southern Mississippi quarterback Brett Favre came off the bench, throwing two touchdowns to beat Tulane.
On the same day Favre made his college debut, Florida freshman running back Emmitt Smith set a Gators rushing record with 224 yards.
And then, the next day, Testaverde was off and running on an NFL career that has taken him from Tampa Bay, to the Cleveland Browns, to the Baltimore Ravens, to the New York Jets, to the Dallas Cowboys, back to the New York Jets, to the New England Patriots, and now on to Carolina.