Arizona Cardinals history: Starting QBs 1996-present

The series continues, looking at the starters at different positions in team history. We already covered the QBs from 1987-1995. Scary, we know.

1996:

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Boomer Esiason	190	339	56	2293	11	14
Kent Graham	146	274	53	1624	12	7

Vince Tobin puts up a 7-9 record in the desert with former Bengal Boomer Esiason and Giant Kent Graham. Esiason would finish the season 3-5 while Graham went a respectable 4-4.The Cardinals offense however was better this year scoring 300 total points for 22nd in the league.

Note: This season marked one of the greatest examples of the "cheap Bidwills". Boomer was due to make $300,000+ if he were to play in two more games. The team benched Esiason in favor of Graham and Boomer asked to be let out of his contract. Boomer hates the organization to this day.

1997:

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Jake Plummer	157	296	53	2203	15	15
Kent Graham	130	250	52	1408	4	5
Stoney Case	29	55	53	316	0	2

Now we enter a time period where I know some of these quarterbacks. Jake "The Snake" Plummer was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He split time with Graham and Case, as he only played in 10 games, with nine starts. Vince Tobin's team would go 4-12.

1998:

Name:	Completions:	Percentage:	Completion %	Yards	Touchdwons	Interceptions
Jake Plummer	324	547	59	3737	17	20

With those stats you figured we had a sub .500 record. With the help of Adrian Murrell with his 1000 yards and eight touchdowns, plus Mario Bates six, the Cardinals went 9-7 and stunned everyone in the playoffs beating the Troy Aikman lead Cowboys in the wildcard then getting destroyed by the Vikings the next week. The defense was horrible during the season, but the Cardinals offense ranked 15th.

1999: The Forgettable Years

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Jake Plummer	201	381	53	2111	9	24
Dave Brown	84	169	50	944	2	6

After we took the NFL by surprise in '98 we fell back to our usual ways going a beautiful 6-10. Our Offense was second worst in the league averaging 15 PPG and scoring 245 over the season.

2000:

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Jake Plummer	270	475	57	2946	13	21
Dave Brown	40	69	58	467	2	3

Vince Tobin gets sacked and is replaced by Dave McGinnis, the defensive coordinator for the past few seasons. Cardinals finish 29h in the league posting 13 PPG.

2001:

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Jake Plummer	304	525	58	3653	18	14

The NFL runs a week longer than usual due to the horrific events on 9/11. Jake Plummer for the first time in his career throws more touchdowns then interceptions. Cardinals go 7-9 and their stats are better than former years.

2002:

Names:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Jake Plummer	284	530	54	2972	18	20

Plummer's career in Arizona comes to an end after this season. Poor play over much of his career give him the boot. The divisions get realigned and the Cardinals move from the East to the West. Cardinals finish the 29th in both defense and offense.

2003:

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Jeff Blake	208	367	57	2247	13	15
Josh McCown	95	166	57	1018	5	6

The Cardinals finished 2003 with the worst statistical season on all fronts. They finished 32nd on offense, defense and 32nd in point differential.

2004: The Denny Green Era

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Josh McCown	233	408	57	2511	11	10
Shaun King	47	84	56	502	1	4
John Navarre	18	40	45	168	1	4

We selected the best player in the draft with Larry Fitzgerald, so you figure we're good to go with Emmitt Smith, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, to go along with everyone's favorite coach Dennis Green. Well we're wrong. Cardinals go 6-10 but our Defense goes from worst to 12th in the league.

2005: The Rebirth of Kurt Warner

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Kurt Warner	242	375	64	2713	11	9
Josh McCown	163	270	60	1836	9	11

Green goes out and gets former Super Bowl winning QB Kurt Warner. He played in 10 games going 2-8 on the year. Our offense looks somewhat respectable, as it is 17th overall in the league.

2006:

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Matt Leinart	214	377	57	2547	11	12
Kurt Warner	108	168	64	1377	6	5

The Cardinals go out and draft Heisman winner Matt Leinart to become their future star, the same thing that happened to Kurt Warner in his brief stint with the Giants. The Cardinals finish last in the NFC West. The defense looks horrible, but Matt Leinart, Kurt Warner, and Edgerrin James makes the Cardinals the 19th rated offense.

2007: The Ken Whisenhunt Years

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns	Interceptions:
Kurt Warner	281	451	62	3417	27	17
Matt Leinart	60	112	54	647	2	4

Matt Leinart starts the season 3-2 before getting injured. Kurt Warner comes in and takes the Cardinals to an 8-8 finish. Dennis Green was let go, and Ken Whisenhunt is brought in as is Todd Haley. Cardinals finish with the seventh rated offense to couple with the 27th ranked defense.

Note: This was the season when Warner began the season coming in to run the no-huddle offense and then took over once Leinart was lost for the rest of the season with a broken collarbone. Warner would also get hurt, injuring his left elbow pretty badly, but played through it. He learned to hand off with his other hand Tim Rattay and Tim Hasselbeck come in to replace him in certain situations.

2008:

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Attempts:
Kurt Warner	401	598	67	4583	30	14

The most successful season in Cardinal history, and the greatest quarterback in Cardinal history takes the Cardinals to the Superbowl. Ken Whisenhunt has his offense as the 3rd best in the league.

2009:

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Kurt Warner	339	513	66	3753	26	14
Matt Leinart	51	77	66	435	0	3

The end of Kurt Warner occurs in the 2009-2010 playoffs. It was a season to remember as the Cardinals made won 10 games, and put up the highest scoring game in the NFL Playoffs.

2010: The Fall of Ken Whisenhunt

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Derek Anderson	169	327	52	2065	7	10
John Skelton	60	126	48	662	2	2
Max Hall	39	78	50	370	1	6

Cardinals go 5-11 with the trio of quarterbacks who frankly should never have played. Matt Leinart should have had this season but his attitude got him cut. Todd Haley left and left the playcalling duties to Ken Whisenhunt.

2011:

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions:
Kevin Kolb	146	253	58	1955	9	8
John Skelton	151	275	55	1913	11	14

Ken Whisenhunt made a trade for Kevin Kolb during the very short offseason. However, while he was supposed to be great, John Skelton is the guy who gave Cardinal fans hope. He filled in for the oft injured Kevin Kolb going 5-2 during that span. Cardinals finish the season 8-8.

2012:

Name:	Completions:	Attempts:	Completion %	Yards:	Touchdowns:	Interceptions
John Skelton	109	201	54	1132	2	9
Kevin Kolb	109	183	60	1169	8	3
Ryan Lindley	89	171	52	752	0	7
Brian Hoyer	30	53	57	330	1	2

This season we all cried. We started amazing, going a lovely 4-0... before we lost all but one game during the last part of they year. We all know how this played out, who is in and who's out.

As we can tell the Cardinals have struggled mightily finding quality quarterbacks throughout their years. Can our new regime change that, or will they falter like all others have?

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