Virtual unknown Brian St. Pierre to start for the Carolina Panthers
It just goes to show you that anything’s possible in the NFL. Just one week ago, Brian St. Pierre was a stay-at-home dad. This Sunday, he’ll be the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.
Not only that, but it will be St. Pierre’s first start in his career, having thrown only five passes his entire NFL career. He has shuffled around from the Steelers, Ravens, Cardinals and now the Panthers.
St. Pierre’s total career stats are two-of-five for 12 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
“The guy has been in some games,’’ Panthers coach John Fox said.
That seems to be the only prerequisite needed to start for the Panthers these days. With Matt Moore out for the season and Jimmy Clausen recovering from a concussion, the Panthers were only left with rookie
Tony Pike and St. Pierre. They have the NFL’s worst offence, scoring just nine touchdowns to show for a 1-8 record.
Pike was a sixth-round pick this year and with limited appearances, Fox doesn’t think he’s ready to start. Instead he’ll turn to a man who was spending his time at home with his children.
St. Pierre was a star in high school and college for St. John’s prep and Boston College. The Steelers selected him in the fifth round of the 2003 draft and he has never been any higher on the depth chart
than a third stringer.
“I know what the situation looks like to everyone,’’ St. Pierre said. “I’m not going to complain about it.’’
This isn’t the first time Fox has done something this bizarre. Three years ago, Fox brought in the semi-retired 43-year-old Vinny Testaverde to lead the offence after an injury to Jake Delhomme. Testaverde
won the next Sunday on a short week of practice.
“John Fox came in to me on Wednesday and said, ‘Vinny Testaverde came in and did this three years ago,’ ’’ St. Pierre said. “And I said, ‘Well, Vinny has a little better résumé than I do.’”
St. Pierre won’t have it easy against the Baltimore Ravens. While the Ravens have shown some vulnerability on defence this year, you have to think that Ray Lewis and company are l*****g their chops at
this matchup.
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