Multiple QBs Battling to Be the Starter

"If you have two (or more) quarterbacks, you actually have none" is an adage in football circles.

Even though many of the other positions on the field thrive when rotating players and having lots of depth, the quarterback position needs a clear starter and must be the unquestioned leader in the huddle.

Whenever there are questions about who should be the guy under center or a team goes back and forth on who they support, there ends up being conflict and struggles. It isn't easy to keep two quarterbacks happy who expect to be the starter.

Of course, teams need a reliable backup, but there are problems when a team doesn't have a franchise quarterback locked in as "the guy." It's also an issue when coaches or the organization show a lack of commitment to their starting quarterback by bringing in other QBs to the locker room who attempt to take over and replace him.

As offseason minicamps take place this week, several quarterback battles across the league are taking place, with teams still to determine a clear-cut starter. However, they will eventually have to choose who they want in charge of their offense.

• In Cleveland, will it be Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, or Shedeur Sanders?

  
  

• In Indianapolis, who will it be between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson (currently injured)?

  
  

• Jaxon Dart, Russell Wilson, and Jameis Winston are all battling for the top spot on the depth chart with the New York Giants.

  
  

• With Derek Carr retiring, the Saints will have to choose between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough.

  
  

Teams with multiple competing quarterbacks understand that they cannot show their full support to each of them and will eventually elevate one of them as their starter.

In other words, teams will have to determine who the odd man out is, who needs to be benched, who needs to take control, and who needs to be the primary focus, ultimately revealing who is valued more.

Sure, it's nice for teams to have options, and veteran QBs provide a level of security to go along with a young player. However, NFL teams must determine who they trust to run their offense and which quarterback they prefer more.

Only one can be named the starter because you can't have two or three quarterbacks taking the reins of a franchise.

As followers of Jesus, the parallel for us today is found in Matthew 6:24 (ESV): "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

It's nice to have money because it provides options and a certain level of perceived security, but just like NFL teams, we have to decide "which QB we trust and love more" because we can't serve two masters and have two "QBs" leading us in life.

Matthew 6:24, in the Amplified version, further translates that "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord]."

Each of us needs to evaluate our hearts and determine whether or not God is the "clear starter" and the "unquestioned leader" who has taken over the reins of our lives.

We must ask ourselves what we value most. Who are we devoted to? What do we love more than anything? Are we all-in and committed to serving Him...or has our pursuit of money and other worldly things replaced God as our greatest passion?

What or who have we brought into our "locker room" that is threatening to take over and replace Him as our priority?

Are we so focused on the wrong things that Jesus has become the "odd man out" in our lives?

What is currently battling in our hearts to be at the top of our "depth chart"?

We acknowledge that money, power, performance, pleasure, and other "QBs" are competing for our affection, devotion, and attention, but we can't let them have the keys to our "franchise," or rather, our heart.

1 John 2:15 (AMP) says, "Do not love the world [of sin that opposes God and His precepts], nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT) reminds us, "Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.'"

Today (unlike in Cleveland or New York), it's clear who should "start" and be "the guy," so let's give God our whole heart and choose to love and serve Him with our complete devotion and commitment.

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please reveal to me if there's anything I value more than You. I pray that I'll love You more than anything and live my life entirely devoted to You. Teach me how to find my security and peace in You. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.