CITY » n, learning their trade.Ive watched a lot of i

From 1967 to 1999, 22 of 33 defending Super Bowl champions started a future Hall of Famer at quarterback in Week 1. Since then, only one quarterback for a defending champion is even eligible for the Hall of Fame right now (Kurt Warner), but 12 of the past 16 defending champions started a QB who will likely end up in Canton (Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger?and Warner).So its very rare for a defending champion to have a questionable quarterback situation going into the season. But thats exactly where the Denver Broncos find themselves, with 2015 seventh-rounder Trevor Siemian being named the Week 1 starter. Only one other champ has kicked off its title defense with a quarterback in only his second NFL season. That team, of course, was also the Broncos.?And no other defending champion ever had a starter who had yet to throw a regular-season pass in the NFL.But which defending champs had the worst Week 1 starters? In compiling the list below, our goal was to judge the quarterback situations based on how they looked at the time, not how they look in retrospect. Thats why the 2001 Baltimore Ravens do not make our top five. We think of Elvis Grbac as one of the worst quarterbacks to ever start for a defending champion, but going into that season he actually looked like an excellent free-agent signing by the Ravens.Grbac had been Kansas Citys starter for two years. He was coming off a Pro Bowl selection, back when QBs selected for the Pro Bowl actually went to the Pro Bowl. Grbac threw 28 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions in 2000. Football Outsiders DYAR (Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement) metric ranked him fourth in passing value among all quarterbacks in 2000?and sixth in 1999.Here are five defending champions with quarterback situations that looked even shakier than the Ravens replacing Trent Dilfer with Grbac. Tony Pulis was full of praise for the performance of 17-year-old Jonathan Leko on his first Premier League start but was critical of U21 football following his sides 3-0 defeat to West Ham. Leko became the first player born in 1999 to make a Premier League start and he put in an impressive display despite seeing his side well beaten by an in-form West Ham team.But despite his impressive showing, Pulis warned of the challenge facing Leko and other academy prospects trying to make the breakthrough from the U21s to senior football. Tony Pulis praised the performance of 17-year-old Jonathan Leko Weve got a lot of talent in the academy and Johns got raw talent, Pulis told Sky Sports.What they need is they need to be out playing against men, learning their trade.Ive watched a lot of it and U21s football is no preparation for players, who are then going to make that step to league or Premier League football, he added. Leko made his first Premier League start in West Broms 3-0 defeat to West Ham We have to get these kids with raw talent out playing against men and playing in front of supporters are paying to see their team win.Theyll be hardened by it and work with professional people who know the game. You get taught doing it not talking about it. Phil Thompson gives his reaction to West Hams 3-0 away victory against West Brom Despite the defeat, Lekos emergence was a real positive for West Brom and Pulis was full of praise for his performance, comparing him to Crystal Palace wideman Yannick Bolasie.ddddddddddddHes got unbelievable talent Pulis said.I worked with Bolasie at Crystal Palace and he could do things that you thought were just natural.Johns the same. His balance and his change of pace are superb and hell score goals.Hes a very good talent as long as he keeps his feet on the ground. Also See: Hammers stay in Euro hunt Match in a minute Pulis: We didnt take chances Table ' ' '