re: Worse talent level in Payton era

McCown is terrible, I doubt anyone is disputing this at this point. I hope he's gone after the final 53 purge. But to be fair he did make a few decent throws in the 2nd Q the last game. Not saying his negatives are outweighed by the positives, but I don't think it's unrealistic to say he could string a couple of drives together in a game or two that could prevent us from losing outright. Also, don't take away the fact that (regardless to the OP's opinion) we do have decent players in critical places of the offense, which will take some pressure off of any QB starting for us (good stable of running backs, an aging but good possession WR, and one aging but average TE). Not to mention the improved offensive line.

The above poster is comparing a team who drafted a QB to replace their franchise player in response to an immediate need (such as injury to the franchise player) to a team who has drafted a QB that could, maybe fill that roll down the road a ways. Two completely different philosophies/scenarios.