On the NFL: Kevin Kolb, welcome to the club

It's hard to put Brett Favre's streak of consecutive starts in perspective. Here's one attempt:

Philadelphia's Kevin Kolb today will become the 224th quarterback other than Favre to start an NFL game since Favre's streak began with a 17-3 Packers victory over the Steelers in Lambeau Field on Sept. 27, 1992.

224!

Kolb, who will replace the injured Donovan McNabb (ribs) against the Saints today, will become the 14th quarterback to start for the Eagles during that stretch. Favre, of course, will make his 271st consecutive start, breaking the record set by former Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall.

Naturally, the QB-challenged Bears franchise has the highest number of starters used (22) since Favre's streak began. The Vikings have 15, including Favre himself.

Speaking of QBs Two years ago, a record 64 quarterbacks started at least one game. Last year, it was 53 during a season in which only 16 teams used the same starter all year.

We head into Week 2 today with the possibility of seeing two teams use their second starting quarterback of the season: Kolb in Philadelphia and Matt Cassel in Kansas City.

Brodie Croyle started last week and completed 66.7 percent of his passes with two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 116.1 passer rating. But Croyle also fell to 0-9 as a starter while the Chiefs lost for the 24th time in their last 26 games.

Teams jockeyed for QB help this week as the Eagles (Jeff Garcia) and Panthers (A.J. Feeley) signed veteran backups. Feeley could replace Jake Delhomme if the latter continues a stretch of poor play that has seen him turn the ball over 11 times in his past two games.

In Philly, Garcia or even Michael Vick could start Week 3 against Kansas City if Kolb stinks it up today. With the Eagles having a bye in Week 4, McNabb isn't expected to play again until Philadelphia's fourth game of the season.

Week 2 brings another 16 physical games that could reduce the field of healthy QBs. One guy who's still available: our guy Gus Frerotte.

T.C. to the rescue again Former Gophers safety Tyrone Carter is no Troy Polamalu. But the 10-year veteran is a guy the Steelers can always turn to in a time of need.

Today, with the All-World Polamalu out three to six weeks because of a torn medial collateral ligament, Carter will get his 11th start since joining the Steelers in 2004.

"I have all the faith in the world in him," Clark said.

Said Polamalu: "Any time he's ever stepped in, he's done as good a job or a better job. You couldn't imagine there would be any drop-off."

Get your green bean fries Yes, the talk of the NFL this week is the debut of the Cowboys' new $1.1 billion stadium tonight. Frankly, I can't wait until it's over and we don't have to hear about it any more.

If you're a fan of the NFC East, the Giants-Cowboys matchup will interest you. If you're a fan of green bean fries, go to your local T.G.I. Friday's and hope that one of the punters nails the monstrous video board that hovers over the playing field like that alien ship in "Independence Day."

With a promotion like that, I'm not sure I'd want a punt to hit the video board.

Did you know? Rams rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis, the former Wayzata High School standout, had 14 tackles against Seattle in his NFL debut start last week. That was the fourth-highest total in the league last week.