Is the age of the quarterback over, or has a new one just begun?
This Saturday’s NFL Draft and its results may write the story of
the QB for years to come.
Some would argue, of course, that the man under center is still
alive and well.
Peyton Manning and Steve McNair shared MVP honors, Brett Farve
is still kicking, and Michael Vick is a one-man-show in his own
right.
Still, recent Super Bowl victors prove that, more and more,
quarterbacks cannot always lead their team to the promised
land.
The Patriots, Buccaneers and Ravens all had solid
performers–but it’s hard to contest that their victories primarily
came at the hand of overpowering defense. The age of the D may well
be on the rise.
In spite of this fact and the crap-shooting nature of the draft,
several teams may be putting their future interests on the line by
drafting a quarterback when their time on the clock begins this
weekend. Will it be the right move?
Last year’s number one pick overall, was Carson Palmer, the
Heisman winning QB out of Southern Cal.
The question is still moot with him, as he spent the year
developing from the sidelines for Cincinnati.
This draft will likely follow suit, as Eli Manning meets every
prognosticator’s pick as the number-one man.
Manning out of the University of Mississippi, is thought to have
all of the talent of his older brother, Peyton (who was a number
one pick, himself) and more, as he set 45 school passing records at
Ole Miss. The question, however, is not foregone as to who will
take that risk of selecting a man to take the reins at the
ever-tumultuous quarterback position.
The San Diego Chargers know all too well the struggles of
failing the drafting-the-right-quarterback test; and with the first
overall selection, they are poised to sit for that exam again.
The imminent draft-day logic almost demands that they select the
best available talent in Manning; but their history is perfect
precedence as to why teams can be leery of putting their faith in
such a volatile position.
In the 1998 draft, with the second overall pick, San Diego never
had a chance with Peyton Manning and selected Ryan Leaf, which at
the time did not seem to be a horrible compromise.
The results proved otherwise, as Manning went on to stardom and
Leaf quickly floundered, throwing 30-plus interceptions in his
first season.
Three years later, still scarred by Leaf mishap, the Chargers
traded away their pick, which could have scored Michael Vick, to
Atlanta. Results proved to be equally woeful, as they watched Vick
flourish from afar. Granted, the trade did land them Ladanian
Tomlinson–clearly among the leagues premier running backs. But
even on the shoulders of 1,645 yard, 13 touchdown season for LT,
the Chargers only finished 4-12.
Later that same draft, they took a chance with another college
standout in Drew Brees; while Brees was not a complete failure, he
has yet to show the earmarks of a franchise quarterback.
So what to do when you’ve failed on all counts?
On top of the Manning dilemma for San Diego, other quarterbacks
like Phillip Rivers or Ben Roethlisberger are thought to be evident
first-round picks; but who wants to take them?
There is what could be considered “safe” picks in this year’s
draft that will certainly be selected in the top 10, such as
offensive lineman Robert Gallery out of Iowa or receiver Larry
Fitzgerald of Pittsburgh.
Their impact can already be felt, but the real questions remain
as to who will gamble on the quarterbacks, and why?
As baseball analogies can be so amply applied to everything, it
certainly works for the football draft.
Drafting a quarterback is like a Reggie Jackson uppercut swing,
sometimes you hit a towering homerun; but more often you strike
out. There really is no in between.
