Who's 1st amongst the 2nd string quarterbacks in 2012?

We all had to endure Tebowmania during the run in for the play offs and then in the play offs themselves, Tim Tebow was heralded to a level he couldn't really match and the Denver Bronco's agreed with this, bringing in the hottest ever free agent in Peyton Manning (released by Indianapolis Colts) and trading Tebow to the New York Jets, a Jets side where head coach Rex Ryan has sided with current quarterback Mark Sanchez in being the starting QB for the coming season and giving Sanchez a new 3 year contract guaranteeing $20m.

This got me wondering who are the top 5 backup quarterbacks in the NFL right now? here is a list of the 5 who could potentially be starters in week 1 and what could work well right now

5. T.J. Yates - Houston Texans
When starting QB Matt Schaub and backup Matt Leinhart went down with injury in the first half of the last campaign, Yates stepped up as a rookie and showed great potential. The Georgian native helped guide the team into the playoffs and was astounding in his second game against Cincinnati Bengals where he completed 26 out of 44 passes for 300 yards and two TDs. This was the first time the Texans had made the playoffs and with a fully fit Matt Schaub ready to return, things are looking up in Houston with Yates snapping at his heels...Houston, we don't have a problem.

4. Jason Campbell - Chicago Bears
 Last year while at Oakland Raiders, Campbell started 6 games, throwing for over 1000 yards and 6 touchdowns and leading to a career best season before getting injured and was out on the sidelines recovering for the rest of the campaign. The Raiders quickly snapped up Carson Palmer, the 8 year veteran from Cincinnati Bengals who played well enough in the 10 games he was there that the Raiders felt Campbell was expendable and the Chicago Bears snapped him up in March of this year. While Campbell will be the understudy to the enigmatic Jay Cutler, he could easily step up if required and if that chance arises, could form an explosive partnership with Brandon Marshall

3. Jake Locker - Tennessee Titans
The one player out of this 5 most likely to start in week 1, Jake Locker spent his rookie season as understudy to the veteran Matt Hasselbeck in Tennessee, though he has yet to start a game, he did appear in 5 completing 34 out of 66 passes for 542 yards and scoring 4 pass TDs and 1 rushing and not having one interception, not bad stats at all when given the chance. Whether he'll start for the Titans as the Tennessee franchises QB or will continue to understudy Hasselbeck remains to be seen though head coach Mike Munchak has stated there'll be a competition to start this season (a clash of the Titans). It depends on how adventurous and how much faith they have in Locker to build on a side that narrowly missed out on the play offs, finishing 9-7, the same as Superbowl winners New York Giants.

2. Tim Tebow - New York Jets
Earlier this year, even people who weren't fans of the NFL knew who Tim Tebow was as Tebowmania swept the world and people copying the Tebow pose all over the globe. Last season at Denver Broncos, Tim was reserve to Kyle Orton and after a season starting 1-4, Tebow was given a chance after coming on at half time against the San Diego Chargers and down by 16 points, almost snatching a victory. Scoring 18 TDs in 14 games and throwing 1729 yards, he led the team to the playoffs, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime with a 80 yard pass to Demaryius Thomas and scoring a career high 316 yards and 2 TDs. The following game they were destroyed 45-10 by the Superbowl finalists New England Patriots though it was indicated that Tebow would be the starting QB again for the following season. When Peyton Manning became a free agent after being released by the Colts, it was the Denver Broncos who eventually gained his services, feeling that arguably the best QB of all time in the twilight of his career was a better acquisition than the youthful and fearless Tebow (time will surely tell on this decision), he was traded to the Jets where he will be back up to Mark Sanchez and after last season's heroics, this puts more pressure on Sanchez to perform to maintain that starting role than it does for Tebow.

1. Kyle Orton - Dallas Cowboys
The man eclipsed by Tim Tebow takes my number one spot simply as it's astounding he joined the Cowboys to be a backup player. Prior to last year, Orton averaged nearly 3500 yards passing with 20 TDs, 11 interceptions and a passer rating of around 85 in the previous 3 seasons. As big a move in the media that Peyton Manning was in going to the Broncos in my opinion is Orton moving south to Texas as his sheer pedigree as a 7 year veteran means the Cowboys don't even need a backup plan should starting quarterback Tony Romo not be able to play. It's only 2 years ago he threw for 476 yards against the Colts which he then followed up with 4 TDs against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Dallas Cowboys adding Orton means they become a major threat in the NFC East and Superbowl champions NY Giants will feel the full force of that come September 5th in the season's opener.