In Peter King’s latest Monday Morning Quarterback column, the Sports Illustrated football analyst says that tonight’s Monday Night Football match-up features an unlikely story that could become one of the NFL’s better comeback kid scenarios if Tyler Palko can do any damage as the Chiefs first-time starter against the Patriots.
“He’s a braver man than I, not being able to earn one of three quarterback jobs with a United Football League team,” writes King. "Then it was up to Montreal, to the Canadian Football League Alouettes practice squad. Though he was eventually activated, he never threw a pass for the Alouettes either.
“When the Steelers had two quarterback injuries late in the season, Palko signed as a backup there. In the span of three months, he was in camp with four teams — Cardinals, Redwoods, Alouettes, Steelers — in three leagues … and never threw a pass. Now, because Matt Cassel is hurt and rookie Ricky Stanzi isn’t ready, Palko starts against the Patriots on national TV. Nobody, except Palko, is expecting much. But it’s a heck of a story.”
It’s a heck of a story only if Palko ends up being competitive or winning at this point. While it’s nice for him to have made a starting NFL slot for the first time, Chiefs nation is primarily concerned about the two game winning streak that needs to be reversed if any playoff hopes are to remain.