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Quarterback controversies: 6 you need to know about

By Andrew Hammond

Oct 2, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) shake hands after the Saints beat the Chargers 35-34 at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) shake hands after the Saints beat the Chargers 35-34 at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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UNITED STATES - JANUARY 03: Football: NFC playoffs, Philadelphia Eagles QB Randall Cunningham (12) in action, making pass vs New Orleans Saints, New Orleans, LA 1/3/1993 (Photo by Richard Mackson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X43814)
UNITED STATES - JANUARY 03: Football: NFC playoffs, Philadelphia Eagles QB Randall Cunningham (12) in action, making pass vs New Orleans Saints, New Orleans, LA 1/3/1993 (Photo by Richard Mackson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X43814) /

UNITED STATES – JANUARY 03: Football: NFC playoffs, Philadelphia Eagles QB Randall Cunningham (12) in action, making pass vs New Orleans Saints, New Orleans, LA 1/3/1993 (Photo by Richard Mackson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (SetNumber: X43814)

Ron Jaworski vs. Randall Cunningham 

When Buddy Ryan arrived in Philadelphia in the winter of 1986, he made changes that rocked the city and the franchise. One of them was using a unique quarterback system that would have Randall Cunningham come in for starter Ron Jaworski on third down. In midseason, Jaws got hurt and Cunningham took over. By 1987, Cunningham was the man full-time and would usher in a new age of quarterback in the NFL.

Rob Johnson vs. Doug Flutie 

This is one of the most unlikeliest of battles. The Bills struggled to find “the” guy in the post Jim Kelly era. You had Rob Johnson against former Heisman winner and CFL hero, Doug Flutie. Although Johnson was the clubhouse leader, it was Flutie’s magical run that kept the Bills in the playoff chase.

It all came to a climax in the 1999 AFC Wild Card game against Tennessee where head coach Wade Philips selected Johnson over Flutie. As you likely know, the Bills lost on a controversial final play by the Titans. Flutie moved west to San Diego and thus ended the Buffalo quarterback war.

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