Tyler Palko

"Mason Foster? He needed to see Tom Brady. He didn't see to see Calabaloo from last week, whatever the dude's name was. I'm sorry if you can hear this. I don't know who you were, I'm sorry. It's nothing personal. (Tyler Palko?) Falko, yeah, the replacement. He needed Tom Brady."

This was a quote from Bucs DT Gerald McCoy after a loss to the Patriots in the preseason. The previous week, the Bucs had blown out the Chiefs at Arrowhead in the opening preseason game of the 2011 season. Obviously, McCoy and the rest of the Bucs didn't spend much time doing their scouting report (or their grammar homework) on Palko, and frankly, I don't blame them. Palko is relatively unknown outside of Kansas City and Pittsburgh, PA. But fate by injury has propelled him into the national spotlight, not just for this week, but for next week as well. Monday Night Football is a difficult stage to start one's first game, but the Chiefs have no other options (don't say Ricky Stanzi). And so begins the story of Tyler Palko.

Just like every story, there is a beginning. Palko was a high school star at West Allegheny in Imperial, PA. He was recruited and signed with Pitt in 2002. Redshirted in 2003, he would go on to have successful seasons in 2004 and 2005, earning second-team Big East honors both years. At the beginning of 2005, Palko beat out Joe Flacco for the starting role of QB, and Flacco eventually took his talents to Delaware. In 2006, Palko threw for 2,871 yards, and 25 touchdowns. His performance warranted him an invite to the senior bowl, and his career warranted him the second most touchdown passes in Pitt history, second only to Dan Marino.

Despite his invite to the Senior Bowl, Palko went undrafted in 2007. He peaked the interest of the New Orleans Saints, however, and cycled betweent the 53 man roster and practice squad throughout the season. He was cut on the final cutdowns in August of 2008 by the Saints. He was signed to a future contract by the Arizona Cardinals in 2008, but was waived in September of 2009. He was immediately singed by the California Redwoods of the United Football League, but was cut during the preseason. In October of the same year, he was signed by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, but was released the following month. He was picked up by his hometown team Pittsburgh Steelers in November, but was once again released a month later.

The odds of a undrafted journeyman quarterback continuing to stick around in the NFL is low, especially when he can't make the cut in the UFL or CFL. But on March 3, 2010, Palko was signed to a future contract by the Kansas City Chiefs. On September 4, 2010, Palko was released on the final cutdowns, but was signed to the practice squad the following day. He would stay there for the majority of the season, making his way up to the third quarterback later in the year behind Brodie Croyle. With Croyle not being re-signed in the 2011 offseason, Palko stepped into the role as the primary backup and held off 5th round pick Ricky Stanzi. The Chiefs didn't pursue any veteran free agent QBs, so Palko was entrusted with the responsibility.

Just like with every team, the backup is always just one play away from being the field general. That play happened in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos. Matt Cassel left with an undisclosed injury, and Palko immediately had to become the guy. It turns out that injury was a broken hand, and Cassel is likely out for the rest of the year, which means Palko is likely the starter for the rest of the year. Palko has 13 career attempts, 9 completions, and 82 yards passing.

As worrisome as Palko's inexperience may seem, the Chiefs offense was been pretty anemic this season anyway. And it starts with under center. Cassel was 160/259 (59.5%) for 1,713 yards, 10 TDs, 9 INTs, 4 FUMs. Clearly, there could be worse as far as quarterbacks go, but Cassel had been mostly ineffective all season, finishing his final two games 33/67 (49.3%) for 346 yards and 1 TD. While his effort might have been enough to complete in the AFC West all the way up until the end, and might even have earned a playoff spot, Cassel wasn't being that good. And while I hesitate to say it couldn't hurt to see what Palko has, I enter tonight's game with much intrigue to see how the Chiefs first ever starting left-handed quarterback measures up. He was no Tom Brady by McCoy's standard in the preseason, so it's fitting that his first career start would come against him.

Since there is not much tape or numbers to go on for how Palko plays, I am going to put on here his preseason numbers and some of the notes I took on his performance at the time during preseason play.

• KC vs. Tampa Bay
• 4/8 (50%), 34 yards
• KC vs. Baltimore
• 8/13 (62%), 95 yards, 1 TD
• "Here's our backup situation: it's not good. And here's why. Tyler Palko might have been 8 of 13 for 95 yards and a touchdown, but he was also extremely lucky. I don't know if Jim Zorn's drills have gotten to Palko, but he seemed more than comfortable attempting passes from his back foot. I noted on at least two occasions he tried this, and one was his touchdown pass. Palko is no Brett Favre, and nothing good can come of Palko having success with these type of fundamentals."
• KC vs. St. Louis
• 7/12 (58%), 92 yards
• KC vs. Green Bay
• 18/29 (62%), 163 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
• "Five turnovers. Seriously? Two by Jamaal Charles. Are you kidding me? Palko accounted for three turnovers? Alright, that I believe." 

Even during the preseason, I didn't write much on Palko. This was because he was usually pretty forgettable. But we can't look at the preseason stats anymore, we can't look at technique tonight; we can only see how he does in the brightest of lights. If Tim Tebow has taught us anything, it's that wins can never be undervalued. I will be rooting for the Chiefs tonight as I always do, and holding out hope that Palko can deliver the miracle.