Free Schaub!!

From the Atlanta-Journal Constitution:

"The Falcons do not want to lose Matt Schaub and plan to place a one-year contract tender on him, possibly in excess of $2 million, as well as a compensation attachment of a first and/or third-round draft pick. The high ransom could discourage some teams, however, a straight trade for a draft pick or a player should not be ruled out."

This has actually been going on for several years now. Schaub was rumored to be a candidate for the Redskins' QB carousel before (and after) Gibbs picked up Mark "The ground's not an eligible receiver?? Who knew??" Brunell. I've long advocated having the Falcons use a 2-QB/2-RB system, in which Schaub takes the snaps while Vick and Dunn sit in the backfield. It's the perfect system because defenses would not know what to do if/when Schaub handed off to Vick. Would he run (which he does very well) or throw (which he does at least as well as any other RB)? Vick would obviously have to improve (or develop) his blocking skills, but other than that it would create an explosive and less predictable offense, which the Falcons have been sorely lacking for several years now. Bobby Petrino, of course, is not going to do this, and is going to keep Vick as the starting QB and Schaub as the prisoner on the sidelines. Even when they're losing, Vick fills the Georgia Dome, and of course that's all that matters. This is also known as the "Dan Snyder Principle."

I've been trying to come up with a precedent for this situation, but in every scenario I can think of, the backups were either traded, left via free agency, or became the everyday guy for good after the starter went down. The most recent example I can think of is Kurt Warner and every team he's ever been a part of. Warner, that is, being in the Vick position.

Who knows, maybe Schaub likes it this way??

In other UVA news:

Miami 68, UVA 60.

Doh!