NFL Quarterbacks: The Best In Each Franchise’s History

This slideshow will cover the guys I think were the heart and soul of their respective franchises. They didn’t always have the winning records, playoff appearances, or even the prolific passing stats, but they elevated their teams to the next level by exposing them in ways that prior to that point, no one else ever could or did.

Some teams will not be listed as I feel they have yet to find their franchise guy, while others left me with tough choices because there were so many to choose from.

I expect to be challenged on a few of my picks because, well, that’s what always happens.

However, let me make clear that if a franchise was in multiple cities, then I still looked at the franchise as a whole as opposed to looking at them separately.

So, I had to look at both Peyton Manning (pictured here) and Johnny Unitas when considering the Colts franchise.

Again, the choices were not always easy.

In any event, I hope you enjoy it and are able to spark some serious debate over some of my picks.

All I ask is that you debate and not degrade. This was done in good fun but not without respect to the fans of these teams who, ultimately, are the heart and soul of every one of these franchises.

But, enough chit chat, I thank you in advance for the read and the time you take to comment.

Enjoy.

Perceptions on Race and Profiling in the NFL

It’s not a secret, or is it?

There aren’t a lot of black quarterbacks starting in the NFL.

The reasons for their lack of field presence seem to run from the historical perceptions that still exist in some circles, even now.

Some of these being:

• Blacks don’t have the capacity to lead.
• Blacks aren’t smart enough to make good decisions on the field.
• Blacks rely too much on their physical ability to be intelligent signal-callers.
• Blacks are better suited for running than passing.

That being said, do you agree?

Now, I happen to feel that it is less about the tendency of the black athlete to be a scrambler than it is about the coach who nurtures the athlete in that way.

Take Michael Vick.

At Virginia Tech, he was a god. Everyone thought that he was going to make a major impact in the NFL as both a passer and a scrambler. He was the complete package—a game-changer.

It was okay for him to make people look silly as he scrambled outside the pocket for major gains.

That made the Hokies look great on television and, coupled with “Beamer Ball,” gave Virginia Tech national exposure.

Why mess up a good thing by changing his style of play?

The problem is that his style, although dynamic, never translated into NFL success.

Outside of one playoff season, he found himself unable to be the quarterback that the Falcons needed to maintain a high level of success.

However, does that have anything to do with him being black? No. The Atlanta Falcons have been bad for a long time and Vick’s presence on the team would not have changed that.

But, if he had been given better coaching in his game, shown how to be more patient in the pocket when the defense is closing in, and better honed his skills in making second and third reads, could he have been more effective?

I think so.

The fact is that Vick had a strong arm—he just had no clue how or when to use it. I blame that on coaching, not Vick.

This leads me to Donovan McNabb.

He is an example of what can happen with good coaching, but he is also a victim of his own making.

McNabb wants to be known as a pocket-passer. He refuses to run in a lot of situations when he should, simply because he wants to show that he can be effective from the pocket.

Personally, I don’t think that he has anything to prove. Donovan McNabb is a good quarterback. His color is irrelevant to me, as it should be to everyone who sees him play.

His assertion that it’s harder for black quarterbacks is true in a sense, but it’s not the only reason that he has been criticized in the past.

A lot of people feel that McNabb lacks passion for the game. He can’t take charge when his team needs it and, when he does, he’s hardly inspiring enough for it to be effective.

He’s blah. He lacks personality.

Again, I ask if that has anything to do with him being black.

I don’t think so.

In this instance, it has to do with Philly.

The Eagles are a tough crowd. Donovan never really forgave the fans for booing him and, consequently, never took to the team.

It’s my guess that, if he played with half of the love and heart of a Vince Papale, then he may have won a Super Bowl by now and be a more beloved figure in Philly.

Of course, I know at least one Eagle fan who will tell you that those boos had nothing to do with McNabb. Read Geoff Crawley’s article here for a little more insight.

If that’s true, then McNabb has been walking around with a chip on his shoulder for the last ten years and. White or black, he will never be able to overcome his personal demons.

The NFL has been very good at giving this black quarterback a shot.

Some have been successful: Daunte Culpepper, Doug Williams, Steve McNair, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, and Kordell Stewart. Others have crashed and burned: Akili Smith, Andre Ware, Quincy Carter, and, so far, Tavaris Jackson.

None of these players were ousted before his time because he was black. Each had plenty of chances to prove that he was worth his weight in gold.

If they failed, then they were given the hook—the same as Rex Grossman and Doug Johnson.

Production ensures your job.

Am I naive enough to believe that race is never a factor? Of course not. People have preconceived notions about players at all positions, not just quarterback.

For instance, were you aware that there are currently no white running backs starting in the NFL?

Or that the last time a white running back rushed for 1,000 yards was 1985, and his name was Craig James, for the New England Patriots?

Or that the last white running back taken in the first round of the NFL Draft was Tommy Vardell? He went to Cleveland in 1992.

Why do you think that is?

Is it due to the perception that:

• Whites don’t run fast enough.
• Whites don’t have the ability to be as elusive.
• Whites aren’t built for the rigors and pounding of an NFL season at that position.
• Whites simply aren’t athletic enough to play running back.

Sounds ridiculous, no?

The fact of the matter is that these perceptions are born long before these players get into the college or pro game.

A lot of coaches, maliciously or innocently, profile players based on stereotypes.

Those being that blacks are athletic, fast, and dumb and whites are intelligent, slow, and flat-footed.

Are they right? No. Are they true? In some instances, yes. In others, no. In neither case is it color specific.

It’s important to know when and where the line has been crossed in the evaluation of a person’s skill set.

You risk putting a guy in at a position where he will be decent but can’t thrive.

The NFL has been notorious for asking players to change positions because they don’t feel that a player can be effective at his natural one.

Pat White is going through that right now.

Sometimes it works to make a player change. Take Anquan Boldin.

He is clearly a talented wide receiver. Would he have been just as talented as a quarterback? Hard to say, but that’s precisely the position he played at Florida State.

Other times it doesn’t.

Eric Crouch could never be the wide receiver the league wanted him to be and he had to leave the league to be successful at his natural position.

As of now, Brian Leonard faces the dilemma of being stuck in the fullback role, despite his desire to play running back.

Could he be as effective as Steven Jackson? Maybe. After all, he did pretty well at Rutgers.

There are holes to be found in any argument for or against race being a factor in the NFL. Currently, the numbers don’t lie, there are only a handful of black quarterbacks starting in the NFL.

However, the same can be said of white running backs, wide receivers, and cornerbacks.

If it’s about race, then it’s about race. But, you have to admit that it’s a two-sided coin.

A Video Tribute: The 13 Best NFL Backs of the Last 25 Years

Forget those prima donna quarterbacks, give me a good tailback any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

I love seeing a guy that can make the opposition look silly. I’m enamored of the north-south runners in particular because they don’t mind going straight up the gut and taking all comers as they make their way to the promised land.

So, this slideshow is more a video history. Great runs from the guys who made the game truly fun to watch.

In honor of the Detroit Lions having the first pick in today’s draft, I have made Barry Sanders my cover man.

Here’s my criteria: He was good at running the ball. He’s no longer playing the game but played between 1984-2009.

That’s it.

I will miss a few, no doubt, but the nature of a list pretty well establishes that from the get-go.

Let’s get it started.

Atlanta Falcons Land Tony Gonzalez

The Atlanta Falcons made a deal today that seems, at least in my opinion, too good to be true. It has me beginning to think that Thomas Dimitroff is not only a phenomenal general manager, but perhaps a miracle worker.

The Falcons get ten-time Pro Bowler, Tony Gonzalez, in exchange for a second round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

If you look at what the Falcons are potentially giving up, it doesn’t really seem like much in light of the fact that they are expecting to receive compensatory picks next year for the losses of Domonique Foxworth, Keith Brooking, and Michael Boley—all of whom were signed by other teams this off-season.

Furthermore, they still get to keep all of their picks for this year’s draft so that they can begin to shore up their defense.

They need help in the secondary and on the defensive line.

Call me crazy, but I think it’s a pretty sweet deal for the Falcons.

It’s now fair to say that they will be set at tight end now that Gonzalez is on his way to fill the void that has been apparent since the release of Alge Crumpler in 2007.

The talk of the Falcon’s drafting Oklahoma State TE Brandon Pettigrew had begun to resurface in recent days, making it almost certain that they would look to draft offense first.

Pettigrew is the best tight end in this year’s draft, but lacks the blocking ability that the Falcons want in their offense for Matt Ryan.

That talk is now over.

Gonzalez will not only supply a big, capable, body to block on passing downs, but he also will be a reliable target for Matt Ryan to throw to at will.

The combined yardage of all the tight ends currently on the Falcon’s roster from last season is barely equal to a third of what Gonzalez had in all of last year.

The Chiefs will get a second rounder, which is what new general manager Scott Pioli wanted, and they get an opportunity to see what their receivers can do without having to live in the shadow of Gonzo.

They also need to see what their young tight end, Brad Cottam, can do. He’s approaching his third year in Kansas City and at 6’7″, 269 pounds, he certainly has the size. He has not played much due to Gonzalez taking a majority of the snaps, but this is the time for him to sink or swim in this offense. 

Sean Ryan is another possibility for the Chiefs as it has become clear that the new regime is interested in using the tight end position as more of a blocker than a receiver—Ryan definitely fits that mold.

I don’t think either team really loses here.

I would have liked the deal a lot less if the Falcons had given up a player and a pick from this year’s draft. That would have been too much for Gonzalez, who has repeatedly said he plans to retire within the next two to three years.

As for Kansas City, who is most certainly in rebuild mode, they get a chance to evaluate their roster next season. They also will see who is going to be a playmaker and where there are bigger holes to be filled, so that next season they can begin to make the moves necessary to get them back on the winning track.

The multiple picks in early rounds will surely help Pioli and company in that effort.

As of now, does this mean the Falcons are a Super Bowl contender? No. They still need to get that defense together and make sure that Matt Ryan doesn’t hit a wall next year when he is up against a brutal schedule.

But, you have to admit, it’s a start.

It’s Hard Being a Woman, In Love With a Man, Who Doesn’t Love Football

It’s the most insane thing I could have ever imagined for myself.

I found the one guy in the world who not only knows almost nothing about football, but he could give a flip about the game altogether.

You have to admit it’s pretty hard to come by such a thing in a guy.

His knowledge is about as expansive as that of a person watching ESPN for the very first time. If he knows a player, it’s because he heard his name in the mainstream for some reason other than playing their respective sport.

Either that or he saw him on an episode of “Punk’d”.

That’s how he came to know Terrell Owens.

He has never read any of the blogs I have written, mostly because he is lost when I begin speaking to him about my topics—whatever they may be.

He finds my allegiance to the Georgia Bulldogs to be humorous, what with my whole banning of the color orange and proclaiming game days as “off-limits” for any other planned activities.

The jokester that he is, he takes a fiendish pleasure in cheering for the Bulldog’s opposition on game days.

I often find no humor in this and have banned him from being around during any SEC or Championship games in which the Dawgs play.

His idea of a good weekend is movies and prepping his car for yet another car show.

My idea, at least between late August and early December, is ESPN College Gameday followed by blogging and honing up on the Georgia opponent for that day.

To him, February is the month of his birthday.

For me, it’s National Signing Day for prep recruits.

His fondest memory of our first year together, in 1997, is a trip we took to Savannah to celebrate our anniversary.

My memory of that year is a Georgia win over Florida, 37-17.

He has to leave the room during games where Georgia is losing for fear that he might find his head the target of a remote, a pillow, a phone, or a beverage.

The Alabama Blackout Game last season was particularly unpleasant for him.

I’m not sure, I myself may have blacked it out, but I think I threatened to set his car on fire if he applauded for Bama one more time.

His car is his baby.

It’s his thing.

So, in his mind, a Georgia loss is a minor annoyance.

However, I take losses like daggers through the heart.

Days after the game I am still trying to sort through the plays and flip through the stats to find where the holes exist—as if I can possibly get the ear of Mike Bobo, Willie Martinez, or Mark Richt—so I can tell them “hey, this is where you need to tighten up for next week.”

Ridiculous, right?

To him, yes.

To a sports fan with a die hard passion for their team, you know precisely where I am coming from right now.

I follow football, both college and pro, as if it were my lifeline.

During the offseason, I find solace in the NFL Draft because it gives me a couple months to speculate and research who might be my team’s pick.

I record the NFL Combine because I like to watch it in peace and quiet. I feel like a scout myself, watching the guys running 40s, doing the three-cone drills, and performing the passing drills.

That’s fun and exciting stuff for me.

Those things are my way of getting my fix until I can watch another football game.

All of these things are lost on the hubby as his passion lies in building his baby (pictured above). I try hard to share in that passion of his by learning all that I can about his love of restoration and, trust me, I know more about cars than I ever thought possible.

That’s cool, because it gives us something else to talk about at the dinner table.

Besides, I love the guy. He’s a great father and a sweet husband. It’s the least I can do.

Of course he does feel pretty good about the fact that I will take a jersey over jewelry on Valentines Day.

That works out fine for him.

Although, that Diamond Dawgs watch was a nice anniversary gift.

I did mention he was a sweetheart, right?

So, I forgive him for his lack of football knowledge or Bulldog loyalty, but I often have to chuckle at the irony of it all because it reminds me that God definitely has a sense of humor. 

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