FanHouse RandallCunningham

The Minnesota Vikings finished the 1998 season with 15 wins. The offense averaged almost 35 points a game (best in the league) with a 35-year-old Randall Cunningham under center, two big-play receivers in Cris Carter and Randy Moss, and a steady run game led by Robert Smith and Leroy Hoard.

And Brian Billick was the brains behind it all. He would parlay his successes as the Vikes' offensive coordinator into a head-coaching gig with the Ravens. Billick's offensive philosophy in Baltimore never produced anything approaching what he was able to accomplish in Minnesota, and by the time he was fired nine years later, he was known as much for his inability to develop a franchise quarterback or find a deep threat at wide receiver as he was for the organization's 2000 Super Bowl win.

So it is with some irony that the man behind Kyle Boller weighs in on the Vikings' current stable of quarterbacks now that Brett Favre has temporarily* announced his retirement.

NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.

The Baltimore Ravens have already taken their first step toward 2008. John Harbaugh is the new coach and brings with him the expectation of a more disciplined team that takes better advantage of its resources. Some have argued that this team is close to playoff position but, truthfully, change is needed to restore this team to the level of a contender. As it has for years, the major obstacle for the Ravens to overcome is at football's marquee position.

1. Quarterback – Elvis Grbac. Randall Cunningham. Jeff Blake. Chris Redman. Kyle Boller. Anthony Wright. Steve McNair. Those are the men who have started at quarterback for the Ravens since Trent Dilfer won Super Bowl XXXV in 2001. Other than McNair in 2006, not a one of them has done anything to earn a second season on the job, and McNair went down in flames in year two. Boller didn't embarrass himself at the end of this season but he didn't do anything to warm the cockles of your heart either.

Billick was Boller's biggest champion and we don't know who will be running the offense in 2008, so it's anybody's guess as to who will be under center.

Ron Jaworski will be in attendance tonight for the Eagles matchup with the Washington Redskins at the Linc. Donovan McNabb will join Jaws to become part of an elite group. No, McNabb won't be working the booth with Tony Kornheiser. Donovan, with a start tonight, will become the third quarterback in Eagles history to start 100 games joining Jaworski and Randall Cunningham.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Eagles and the Houston Oilers-Tennessee Titans are the only teams in NFL history to have three quarterbacks with 100-plus starts. Dan Pastorini, Steve McNair and Warren Moon all started 100-plus games for that franchise, but playing in Houston and Nashville isn't quite the same as playing in Philadelphia.

It's a pretty impressive accomplishment to be able to deal with the fans of Philadelphia as the quarterback of the Eagles and take the heat. Jaws puts it all into perspective nicely, "I believe this can be the toughest town to play in and the best town to play in. When things are going well and you're playing well and winning, you're the toast of the town. When the team is losing and you're not sharp, you're a bum. There's a tremendous passion for the game, and the quarterback is always the focal point."

In other interesting MNF news, tonight will mark the first time Eagles linebacker Takeo Spikes will ever play on Monday Night. Despite being a seasoned veteran, Spikes has yet to play on the biggest regular season stage.