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Wednesday, September 23, 2026
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THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Drew or Sam, someone's got to lead this charge

Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 21 minutes AGO

Steve Cameron

| September 23, 2026 1:20 AM

It was inevitable.

On Monday, I got the first trickle of emails.

Tuesday, it was a boatload.

The subject was roughly the same: If Drew Lock keeps playing like this, why shouldn't he keep the starting job?

I understand the logic.

It's wrong, but I get it.

The history of NFL coaches who changed quarterbacks because a backup played well in a short stretch of games isn't very good.

To be fair, there were also plenty of messages backing Sam Darnold to regain his role as QB1 as soon as he's healthy enough to step into the line of fire.

In fact, just about half of my correspondence suggested that coach Mike Macdonald go with the quarterback who has the hot hand.

At the moment, I suppose that would be Lock, who's playing well enough that the Seahawks are 2-0.

They got to that record because Lock led a second-half rally for that 13-10 victory over the Pats. 



SO, THE public offers three options.
(None of which will matter to Mike Macdonald, in case you're wondering.)
Anyhow, let's look at the three possibilities, and consider the case for each.

DREW LOCK: He wouldn't get a single snap if Darnold were healthy, but Sam's glute injury has put Drew on the field since the first series against New England.
Given a chance to play, Lock has heated up in the second half of both games and seemed right at home in charge of the offense.
He LOOKS the part of a starter, and maybe he's developed that far in his career — but remember that he's had stretches as QB1 for other teams and eventually made too many mistakes to keep a job.
The Seahawks are trusting him now because they have no choice, but they genuinely believe in his talent and leadership.
His arm is a cannon, and that's always a pretty good place to start.
So far, so good.

SAM DARNOLD: Take a trip to Green Bay and visit the sights.

And the Lombardi Trophy?

No, sorry.

It’s in Seattle.

Pretty simple, I know, but THAT is Darnold’s case to be QB1 for the Seahawks. You’ve got to admit a Super Bowl victory is a great item for a quarterback’s resume.

He led Seattle to the cusp of the title game — making some amazing game-winning plays on the way — and then cut up New England in the Super Bowl.

Darnold also has the team on his side.

Of course, they’ll play hard for Lock, but they consider Sam as their leader.

A reporter interviewed linebacker (and defensive captain) Ernest Jones IV last year, tempting him into questioning Darnold’s role in charge of the team.

Jones barked back, defended Darnold completely and wrapped up with a sentence we can’t print here.

Verdict: No matter what fans think, Darnold will be back at QB as soon as he’s healthy.


THE LAST option, and it’s one ticket-buyers really like, would be Macdonald and his offensive staff deciding on a different quarterback — game by game.

I learned all I need to know about rotating QBs from an all-time executive and personnel guru, Ron Wolf.

Wolf was general manager in Green Bay, and he had turned the franchise around in 1992 by executing the theft of all time — trading with Atlanta for backup QB Brett Favre.

That trade puzzled fans in Wisconsin, since it meant Wolf was giving up on one of their favorites, Don Majkowski.

They called him “Majik Man” when he exploded in 1989, winning four one-point games and snatching five victories on final drives (both NFL records).

Majkowski got hurt a couple of times, though, and when he twisted an ankle early in ‘92, the Packers called on Favre.

Predictably, Favre threw a game-winning touchdown pass and Majkowski never started again.

There was a howl for both popular QBs to stay in town, but Wolf knew better.

Majkowski left as a left agent after that season.

Wolf became an icon around the NFL, in part because of one phrase.

”When you have two quarterbacks,” he said, “it means you really have none.”

Splitting that job winds up dividing the team and the fan base, Wolf explained. 

The result is that you don’t have a true leader.

And you need a leader to win.



Longtime journalist Steve Cameron writes "The Cheap Seats" for The Press three times each week.