Title: Backup protection: Ten best No. 2 quarterbacks (Kitna only)

Source: CBSsportsline.com
Original Author: Clark Judge

Jon Kitna, Dallas: There may be no more ideal backup than Kitna. He's smart. He's tough. He's patient. He's productive. He's been a starter. And he won't threaten numero uno. Kitna understands the game and is a perfect tutor for young quarterbacks, which is the role he served in Cincinnati with Carson Palmer. Palmer loves the guy, and it's easy to understand why. He does what he's told, and he does it well. He won seven of his first 12 starts with Cincinnati in 2003 when the Bengals hadn't produced a winning season in 12 years.

He threw for over 4,000 yards in each of two straight seasons with Detroit. He took Seattle to the playoffs for the first time in a decade. And three times he threw four touchdown passes in a game. Kitna is the perfect addition for Dallas, which floundered last season when Tony Romo was hurt. He is popular with his teammates. He is accurate with his passes. And he is a leader on and off the field. He makes the Cowboys -- and Romo -- better.