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We have our first quarterback controversy in XFL history, and boy are Tampa Bay Vipers fans mad about it.
One of the preseason favorites in the XFL to win the championship saw a frustrating day behind starting quarterback Aaron Murray. But whenever Vipers backup QB, and Tampa fan favorite due to his time as the best player in University of South Florida history Quinton Flowers came in the game, the neon team seemed to move the ball a lot easier.
Twitter got very in their feelings and frustrations about Flowers being jerked around.
Quinton Flowers>>>>>>Aaron Murray#XFLfootball pic.twitter.com/Guh9AHvLwR
— Forever Gridiron (@ForeverGridiron) February 9, 2020
Starting it now: Free Quinton Flowers
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) February 9, 2020
Quinton Flowers checking in to hand the ball off for 2 plays then going back to the sidelines on crucial 3rd downs pic.twitter.com/Q58yzE3dlR
— USF Bullpen (@USF_BullPen) February 9, 2020
Quinton Flowers couldn't get a shot at QB in the NFL in large part due to his size (5-foot-10, 211). The XFL didn't care, and he can do this. https://t.co/hcTTuwyJhO
— Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) February 9, 2020
Maybe more than having Q hand the ball off.
— CHRIS TORELLO (@TorelloSports) February 9, 2020
Murray on 3rd and 11 - strip sack.
Let Q cook. #XFL #Vipers
This better be Quinton Flowers to the entire Vipers staff tomorrow after they continually sat him to let Aaron Murray stink it up in the red zone pic.twitter.com/bgmaXkTTLB
— Chris Mejia aka Deandra Kanu Pls Reply To My Text (@tophermejia) February 9, 2020
The broadcast team of Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen are dragging the @XFLVipers for not playing Quinton Flowers as much as Tampa Twitter is. pic.twitter.com/xK7xPd2W56
— Collin Sherwin (@CollinSherwin) February 9, 2020
Quinton Flowers Aaron Murray pic.twitter.com/EnXtfCJDAD
— Taylor Jenkins (@TJenkinsTampa) February 9, 2020
Even adopted Vipers fan Katie Nolan got in on the action.
WHY ARE YOU TAKING FLOWERS OUT ON THIRD DOWN
— Katie Nolan (@katienolan) February 9, 2020
With the Vipers not having a home game at Raymond James Stadium (where Quinton played his college ball for four seasons), there’s still time for the snakes to get the general public bought back into the hometown team. But it’s going to be a long haul to win back the city if Aaron Murray and the offense looks this inept.
And that’s not entirely fair to Murray, who went to high school four miles down the street from the home stadium himself. But as USF fans often said about the oft-undersized and underrated QB: Let Him Cook.