Is there really a debate?
Max Hall should be the question and the answer. He has to be. Although Hall was injured in Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks with a concussion, as long as he can play, Max Hall should play. I was not in favor of the Cardinals going to him so early in the season with nothing decided divisional wise or playoffs wise, however now that they have, they must stick with him.
What message does it send to the other Arizona Cardinals players if coach Ken Whisenhunt keeps going back and forth between starters? Yeah, sometimes you have to go with the hot hand, but right now the Cards have no hot hand. We can complain and moan all we want about the quarterback situation, but it is what it is.
Derek Anderson played ok in relief of Hall on Sunday when he went out in the loss to the Seahawks. He wasn't mind blowing. I guess that's what you expect out of a backup though, someone who is serviceable. Fact is, even as a starter Anderson is serviceable at best. The Cards need to find their future quarterback. In order to do that, they need to stik with Hall and go through the growing pains with him. If that means no playoffs this year, so be it. All is not lost though. Plenty of season left. Look at other rookie quarterbacks who were successful in their first season. Mark Sanchez and Matt Ryan come to mind.
Now Hall isn't as good as either were in their first season, but both took their respective teams to the playoffs. Hall may end up resembling Ryan more only in the fact he probably wouldn't get the Cards past the wild-card round of the playoffs this season, but fact is, he might get them there in the first place, which would be a huge accomplishment.
Whatever side of the debate you are on, do realize it will get better. If Hall doesn't work out, you can bet the Cards will look to the draft next year or might make a move via trade in the off-season. This team has just turned the corner. In a quarterback driven league, it is imperative the Cards spend this season trying to figure out if Hall is that quarterback of the future or if they need to look elsewhere in 2011. For now, just be content with what we have. We have no choice and neither do the Cardinals.