PreWriting

Do not know why I did not post this..

After reading several Op-eds relating to my topic which is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and their starting QB controversy, I realized that the tones are often heated because everyone has such strong opinions on the issue. When it comes to sports, especially football, people really get immersed into issues and they always have very strong feelings one way or another regarding them. These Op-eds are very interesting and entertaining because they are only about football, however people feel so strongly about the issues you would think they were talking about global events of the utmost importance.

As for my Op-ed, I will be writing about the Bucs’ current Quarterback controversy and if Luke McCown should be starting. Is Luke McCown ready to the Buc’s franchise Quarterback of the future? No. If he was going to be the franchise Quarterback he would have thrown more than three passes all of last year when the Quarterback position was one of controversy and lack of production. For a player who has been with the Buc’s for five seasons, and has yet to become the starter, there must be a reason for it. That reason is that he is just not that good. Yes, he may know the system the best, and be the best player on the current roster to be quarterback, but that does not mean he is a long term solution and savior for the Tampa Bay area when it comes to football.

What should be done about this? The Bucs will certainly try to acquire a better Quarterback and it was obvious as they were interested in getting Matt Cassell and Jay Cutler. This unfortunately went the same way as it did last year with their attempt to get Brett Favre: it failed. This year however, they are going to gear up for the future by drafting Josh Freeman with the 19th overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft. Yes, this may enable Luke McCown to start the season at Quarterback, but when he begins to struggle which he most certainly will, Freeman will be waiting in the wings to become the Bucs Quarterback for years to come.

As for rhetorical appeals, I will use logos/statistics from McCown’s limited NFL career as well as quotes from experts regarding the issue. I will also build ethos by talking about working with the Buccaneers for two seasons and witnessing Luke McCown play first hand. I believe that both of these rhetorical appeals will be the most effective while dealing with my audience. While trying to make my arguments I will need to compete against pathos because most of my audience believes McCown should start think so due to pathos. They believe that he has been on the Buccaneers long enough as a backup that it is rightfully his turn to get the nod and start at Quarterback.