QB Josh McCown: ‘I’m looking to compete to start’

Could Josh McCown start somewhere other than Chicago? (USATSI)

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With free agency officially opening Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, not many observers expect there to be much movement on what appears to be a weak quarterback class. Aside from Michael Vick, there aren't really any names on that list that would cause a team to throw open its pocketbook (and maybe not even for Vick).

If this were a year ago, Josh Freeman would generate interest, but after a brutal 2013 season, it's unlikely he'll get a ton of money, and Chad Henne, who overtook Blaine Gabbert as the Jaguars starter last year, already has re-signed with Jacksonville.

But here's someone who could join another team in the coming days: Bears quarterback Josh McCown.

McCown -- the 78th-ranked player on the CBSSports.com list -- took over for an injured Jay Cutler in Week 7 of last year, and he started five of the next six games, leading the Bears to a 3-2 record while completing 66.5 percent of his passes on the season for 13 touchdowns and one interception.

Despite the fact he'll be 35 before the 2014 season begins, McCown is coming off the most-productive season of his career, and it's not out of the question that he could find a better spot somewhere other than Chicago.

“To leave Chicago, it'll be a situation where I'm looking to compete to start or to start,” McCown said, via the Chicago Tribune. “And to be able to kind of grow more as a player. And the only way you can do that as a player is on the field. So, that'll definitely be something that we're looking at. We'll see. We'll see what opportunities come and where we're at [Tuesday].”

McCown said four teams have expressed interest in him, and reportedly, those teams could be the Jets, Buccaneers, Texans and Bears. According to the Tampa Bay Times, McCown, if he signs with the Buccaneers, would be given the opportunity to compete with Mike Glennon for the starting job.

But McCown also might have a tough time leaving Chicago because of his bond with Cutler.

“It goes back to what our relationship is,” McCown said. “And really, I have a little brother who plays in the league. So it's no different than if he was playing and I played for him and then he was going to go back in there. I was his biggest fan. I wanted nothing but success for Jay. And I understood my role on the team. And it's vital for people on the team to understand the capacity that they can serve their team in. For me, it was a back-up quarterback. So I serve my team when the starter's out. And then when he's healthy, he comes back.”

But if McCown has the chance to compete for a starting spot, something that won't happen with the Bears but very well could with the Jets and Texans (if they don't draft a starter at No. 1 overall), why wouldn't he take that opportunity?

“If I leave Chicago, if that's the case, then that's the opportunity that I'm looking for and want to evaluate,” McCown said. “And then, once those opportunities come, it's, 'What's the coaching staff? What are the players there in place?' All those things about Chicago that made it come together, those are vital pieces and important things to a quarterback's success. So those are the things I'm going to want to evaluate as we go through this.”

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RB Sproles will not be a Saint in 2014



Already between $2 million and $4 million under the salary cap after parting ways with wide receiver Lance Moore, the New Orleans Saints are going to try to free up some more space by trading spark plug running back, Darren Sproles. If they can't get what they'd like in a trade, the team has said they are prepared to release Sproles into free agency. Sproles has been a big part of the Saints offense since coming to New Orleans in 2011. However, he saw a dip in production in 2013, averaging only 4.2 yards per carry, after ripping off over 5 per touch in his first two seasons with the team. He also only found the end zone four times in 2013, after combining to score 17 touchdowns in 2011 and 2012.The Saints are also shopping Pierre Thomas ahead of free agency.



I'm an admitted Sproles lover. Any time I have a player who's a big piece to a fantasy championship puzzle, they forever hold a place in my heart. Sproles was just that a couple years ago, helping me win a 16 team keeper-auction league. With that said, I also try to avoid smaller running backs once they reach the age of 30 and fully expected a decline from him in 2013. So, I kept him this year and traded him early in the season.Sproles best years are behind him for sure. Wherever he ends up, he'll be used as a change of pace back/third down back. He's still a dynamic player who could break a big play at anytime and still has some value in PPR formats. But, outside of landing in a handful of perfect situations, without the benefit of playing in Sean Payton's offense and without having Drew Brees as his quarterback, it can only be assumed that Sproles is going to continue his fantasy decline in 2014.I hate to say that, as I'm a huge fan of the guy, but, as a fantasy owner, the saying goes, "hang on to the past, you're gonna finish last". Time to move on.