Breaking News: Three Rookies Win Starting Jobs, Cassel Out?

Today is a good day to be a rookie. In Detroit, not that this upcoming football season will be of the most relevance, new head coach Jim Schwartz announced that rookie Matt Stafford will be the team's starting quarterback. Stafford, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, signed a ridiculous six-year, $78M contract, one very similar to deals both Philip Rivers and Eli Manning received during the offseason. But it's not like Stafford really came into his own during the preseason. Much like Joe Flacco was with Baltimore last year, Stafford is forced into a starting job. Daunte Culpepper has been hurt, as has Drew Stanton, and that leaves only Stafford. During the preseason, he wasn't particularly convincing, going 30-of-55 (54.5 completion percentage), with just one touchdown pass, and four interceptions. He turned the ball over at least once in every game, and has a 52.8 quarterback rating. But, the Lions had no choice but to start him, as neither Culpepper nor Stanton is healthy. "Experience is a funny thing," said coach Schwartz. "You can only get it by playing. He can't get it by sitting on the bench. There are some guys that may benefit from sitting on the bench and watching somebody else and those people typically don't have a grasp of the offense. They still need to learn what defenses do. Their knowledge isn't up where it needs to be yet. "He was a different case there. What he lacked is playing experience and there is only one way to get that to him. But this isn't an experiment. This isn't an internship. We're not asking him to go out there and practice. He's out there to win and that's the bottom line in this league." The Jaguars inserted some youth into their line, as they announced today that the starting left tackle will be first round pick Eugene Monroe. Monroe, drafted eighth overall, beat Tra Thomas for the job to protect quarterback David Garrard's blind side. He won't have it particularly easy, as both Dwight Freeney and Mario Williams are pass rushers in his division coming right after Garrard.The Jags also had a right tackle job to solve, and decided to use youth there, putting 2nd round pick Eben Britton in as the starter. He beat Tra Thomas for the job. It's questionable to start two rookies at both tackle spots, but the Jags got two very good, versatile prospects in Monroe and Britton, so time will tell. Also, Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel is questionable for his Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. In a preseason game two weeks ago against the St. Louis Rams, he was sacked and sprained his knee. He hasn't returned since. Head coach Todd Haley was predictably neutral. "I think as the week goes on we'll know a little bit more with Matt,'' Haley said. "It was good that he was out there and he was able to get through some things."If he doesn't start, it will be either Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle, who have both struggled in preseason. Croyle went just 22-of-44 with 271 yards, while Thigpen was 17-of-36 with 145 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. This was surprising, as Thigpen was coming off a year in which he threw for nearly 3,000 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.