Why Matt Hasselbeck should be benched and who could replace him

Matt Hasselbeck flat out cost us in our last game against the 49ers. Four interceptions and a fumble. You can’t pin this on the offensive line, or the receivers, or the coaches, or anyone else. He is now beginning to cost us games. When he’s healthy, he doesn’t play well enough to keep us competitive in enough games. And his lack of durability hurts us because we never have a quality backup that can win games.

I stated in a Facebook status that if Matt Hasselbeck is our #1 quarterback next year (or our starting quarterback), that this team is not heading in the right direction. You simply cannot stick to an aging, fragile, immobile, and panicky quarterback that is clearly on the decline when you are trying to rebuild. The only good use I see of Hasselbeck in the future is a mentor to someone else (Jake Locker?). He is no longer a quality starting quarterback. He ridded himself of that title with his last performance.

So, if Hasselbeck isn’t the starter next year, who is? We have Charlie Whitehurst, but he’s already in his late 20’s and nowhere near a quality quarterback. I don’t see a bright future in Whitehurst. He’s a nice backup to have, but no team really needs two backup quarterbacks. One just wastes a roster spot.

This team needs to acquire a new franchise quarterback, as I have constantly stated. Either in the upcoming draft or through trade or free agency. Boomer Esiason made a bold prediction on the NFL Today show on CBS earlier this morning. He said by season’s end, Carson Palmer of the Cincinnati Bengals will request a trade. And I see why, Carson is still a quality quarterback and he’s playing for a loser team. Plus, Carson Palmer is a former pupil and quarterback for… Seahawks coach Pete Carroll at USC. Why not reunite them?

I see the downside to Palmer. Later this month he turns 31. But he seems to me like the guy, like Bret Favre or Dan Marino, could play well into his late thirties. I’d say give it a shot, so long as we don’t have to give up a ton to get him. Cincinnati would have to practically beg us to take him, but if they do, we definitely should.

If that doesn’t happen, there is still the draft. Walterfootball.com lists the top three draft prospects next year as Andrew Luck, Jake Locker, and Ryan Mallet. Luck will probably be a Top 3 pick, if not #1 pick. Locker had a somewhat disappointing senior season, at least individually, but if he does well at the combine and in workouts, which I assume he will, he will still be a first round draft prospect. Which is why the Seahawks, who will have a pick somewhere in the teens, will have a shot at him. Go for Locker. Give Locker a chance to play in his home state. If that’s not motivation to win, I don’t know what is.

Seahawks. Go for Palmer or Locker. Or anyone. Someone else besides Hasselbeck, because he is killing us. Matt is a great guy and will make a great mentor, but he is no longer deserving of being a quality starting quarterback in this league. Until our quarterback situation is fixed, don’t expect the Seahawks to make the playoffs, even in the weak NFC West.