For an insight into the potential madness awaiting this NFL offseason, scan the top of the standings 11-plus weeks into the season. Alex Smith, Case Keenum, Blake Bortles, Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees quarterback five of the league's eight division-leading teams. All five, with varying degrees and for varying reasons, face uncertainty about their place of employment next season.
The future of the most prominent position in American team sports is blurry. Once NFL quarterbacks reach a basic level of proficiency, they tend to stay in one place. Even mediocre quarterbacks are hard to find — and therefore difficult to improve upon — so teams in control of merely half-decent quarterbacks cling to them.