Andrew Luck calls 'Suck for Luck' campaigns 'stupid'

[J. David Wannyheimer]

Let's take a look at the absurd contention that there have been "more busts than game changers" drafted at #1 overall, shall we?

In the modern era, there have been 17 QBs drafted #1 overall. They are:

1970: Terry Bradshaw (Hall of Famer)
3× Pro Bowl selection (1975, 1978, 1979)
1× First-team All-Pro selection (1978)
1× Second-team All-Pro selection (1979)
4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
2× Super Bowl MVP (XIII, XIV)
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
1978 NFL MVP
1978 Bert Bell Award


1971: Jim Plunkett
Super Bowl XV MVP
1980 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
2× Super Bowl champion (XV, XVIII)


1975: Steve Bartkowski
1975 NFL Rookie of the Year
2× Pro Bowl selection (1980, 1981)
1× Second-team All-Pro selection (1980)
Atlanta Falcons All-time passing yards leader with 23,470


1983: John Elway (Hall of Famer)
9× Pro Bowl selection (1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998)
3× 2nd Team All-Pro selection (1987, 1993, 1996)
NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
1987 NFL MVP
2× Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
Super Bowl XXXIII MVP


1987: Vinny Testaverde
2× Pro Bowl selection (1996, 1998)
1× All-Pro selection (1998)


1989: Troy Aikman (Hall of Famer)
6× Pro Bowl selection (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)
3× All-Pro selection (1993, 1994, 1995)
3× Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Super Bowl XXVII MVP


1990: Jeff George (bust)


1993: Drew Bledsoe
4× Pro Bowl selection (1994, 1996, 1997, 2002)
2× All-Pro selection (1994, 1996)
Super Bowl champion (XXXVI)


1998: Peyton Manning
11× Pro Bowl selection (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
5× First-team All-Pro selection (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009)
3× Second-team All-Pro selection (1999, 2000, 2006)
4× AP NFL MVP (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009)
6× AFC Player of the Year (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009)
Indianapolis Colts All-time leader (Career Wins, Passing Touchdowns , Pass Attempts, Pass Completions and Passing Yards)
Super Bowl Champion (XLI)
Super Bowl MVP (XLI)
Fastest ever to reach 50,000 yards passing
Fastest to 4,000 completions
NFL 2000s All-Decade Team


1999: Tim Couch (bust)


2002: David Carr (bust)


2003: Carson Palmer
2× Pro Bowl selection (2005, 2006)


2004: Eli Manning
1× Pro Bowl selection (2008)
Super Bowl champion (XLII)
Super Bowl MVP (XLII)


2005: Alex Smith


2007: Jamarcus Russell (bust)


2009: Matthew Stafford
2nd Most passing yards by a rookie quarteback in a single game: (422)
Most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in a single game (5)


2010: Sam Bradford
AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2010)
Most consecutive passes thrown without an interception by a rookie (169)


Using the criteria that only Super Bowl MVPs can be considered game changers, that gives us six game changers and four busts. So yeah, even if we toss aside two Pro Bowl QBs who had franchise record setting careers (Bledsoe and Bartkowski), we've still got 50% more game changers than busts.



Comments on some of the recent guys:

I do not consider Alex Smith a bust, as he was drafted to a bad team, has been subject to bad coaching, and has had seven offensive coordinators in seven years. This year under Jim Harbaugh he has 8 TDs to 2 INTs, a 5-1 record, and a passer rating of 95.2. It is incredible that this guy looks like a good quarterback when he is not stuck running Mike Singletary/Jimmy Raye's high school offense.

Likewise, I refuse to consider Carson Palmer a bust, as he was playing on a Peyton Manning type of level in 2005 when he led the Bengals to an 11-5 record with a passer rating of over 100 before Kimo von Oelhoffen wrecked his leg and his career. Even after that injury, he has been better than what we've had in Miami.

David Carr was definitely a bust, but consider the circumstances he got drafted into. Inept expansion team with terrible blocking and no weapons. He got sacked an NFL record 76 times in one season and basically got the daylights kicked out of him. This guy is probably the biggest reason nobody wants to throw a rookie QB to the wolves and see if he survives anymore. I'm not going to defend him or claim he could have been good elsewhere, but on the other hand, I don't think any QB could have succeeded there.

Tim Couch also got drafted into an awful situation, but like David Carr I'm not going to claim he would have been good somewhere else.



So yeah, out of 17 quarterbacks picked #1 overall, you've got six Super Bowl MVPs, two guys who broke franchise passing records, two more guys who have been to multiple Pro Bowls, and two very promising young QBs in Bradford and Stafford. You've also got three hall of famers, one sure first ballot hall of famer, and at least two more guys that I think will get in at some point (Plunkett, Eli). Anybody want to run the numbers on how that pans out against all other QBs who are drafted?

I'll take my chances drafting a QB with the #1 pick, thanks.

 

[Sarnics13]

Let's take a look at the absurd contention that there have been "more busts than game changers" drafted at #1 overall, shall we?

In the modern era, there have been 17 QBs drafted #1 overall. They are:

1970: Terry Bradshaw (Hall of Famer)
3× Pro Bowl selection (1975, 1978, 1979)
1× First-team All-Pro selection (1978)
1× Second-team All-Pro selection (1979)
4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
2× Super Bowl MVP (XIII, XIV)
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
1978 NFL MVP
1978 Bert Bell Award


1971: Jim Plunkett
Super Bowl XV MVP
1980 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
2× Super Bowl champion (XV, XVIII)


1975: Steve Bartkowski
1975 NFL Rookie of the Year
2× Pro Bowl selection (1980, 1981)
1× Second-team All-Pro selection (1980)
Atlanta Falcons All-time passing yards leader with 23,470


1983: John Elway (Hall of Famer)
9× Pro Bowl selection (1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998)
3× 2nd Team All-Pro selection (1987, 1993, 1996)
NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
1987 NFL MVP
2× Super Bowl champion (XXXII, XXXIII)
Super Bowl XXXIII MVP


1987: Vinny Testaverde
2× Pro Bowl selection (1996, 1998)
1× All-Pro selection (1998)


1989: Troy Aikman (Hall of Famer)
6× Pro Bowl selection (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)
3× All-Pro selection (1993, 1994, 1995)
3× Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
Super Bowl XXVII MVP


1990: Jeff George (bust)


1993: Drew Bledsoe
4× Pro Bowl selection (1994, 1996, 1997, 2002)
2× All-Pro selection (1994, 1996)
Super Bowl champion (XXXVI)


1998: Peyton Manning
11× Pro Bowl selection (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
5× First-team All-Pro selection (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009)
3× Second-team All-Pro selection (1999, 2000, 2006)
4× AP NFL MVP (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009)
6× AFC Player of the Year (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009)
Indianapolis Colts All-time leader (Career Wins, Passing Touchdowns , Pass Attempts, Pass Completions and Passing Yards)
Super Bowl Champion (XLI)
Super Bowl MVP (XLI)
Fastest ever to reach 50,000 yards passing
Fastest to 4,000 completions
NFL 2000s All-Decade Team


1999: Tim Couch (bust)


2002: David Carr (bust)


2003: Carson Palmer
2× Pro Bowl selection (2005, 2006)


2004: Eli Manning
1× Pro Bowl selection (2008)
Super Bowl champion (XLII)
Super Bowl MVP (XLII)


2005: Alex Smith


2007: Jamarcus Russell (bust)


2009: Matthew Stafford
2nd Most passing yards by a rookie quarteback in a single game: (422) Behind Cam Newton 432)
Most passing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback in a single game (5)


2010: Sam BradfordAP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2010)
Most consecutive passes thrown without an interception by a rookie (169)


Using the criteria that only Super Bowl MVPs can be considered game changers, that gives us six game changers and four busts. So yeah, even if we toss aside two Pro Bowl QBs who had franchise record setting careers (Bledsoe and Bartkowski), we've still got 50% more game changers than busts.



Comments on some of the recent guys:

I do not consider Alex Smith a bust, as he was drafted to a bad team, has been subject to bad coaching, and has had seven offensive coordinators in seven years. This year under Jim Harbaugh he has 8 TDs to 2 INTs, a 5-1 record, and a passer rating of 95.2. It is incredible that this guy looks like a good quarterback when he is not stuck running Mike Singletary/Jimmy Raye's high school offense.

Likewise, I refuse to consider Carson Palmer a bust, as he was playing on a Peyton Manning type of level in 2005 when he lead the Bengals to an 11-5 record with a passer rating of over 100 before Kimo von Oelhoffen wrecked his leg and his career. Even after that injury, he has been better than what we've had in Miami.

David Carr was definitely a bust, but consider the circumstances he got drafted into. Inept expansion team with terrible blocking and no weapons. He got sacked an NFL record 76 times in one season and basically got the daylights kicked out of him. This guy is probably the biggest reason nobody wants to throw a rookie QB to the wolves and see if he survives anymore. I'm not going to defend him or claim he could have been good elsewhere, but on the other hand, I don't think any QB could have succeeded there.

Tim Couch also got drafted into an awful situation, but like David Carr I'm not going to claim he would have been good somewhere else.



So yeah, out of 17 quarterbacks picked #1 overall, you've got six Super Bowl MVPs, two guys who broke franchise passing records, two more guys who have been to multiple Pro Bowls, and two very promising young QBs in Bradford and Stafford. You've also got three hall of famers, one sure first ballot hall of famer, and at least two more guys that I think will get in at some point (Plunkett, Eli). Anybody want to run the numbers on how that pans out against all other QBs who are drafted?

I'll take my chances drafting a QB with the #1 pick, thanks.

Great post. I agree completely that we need to draft a QB, I can't wait. I just don't particularly care which top one it is. You used the one word that most SFL'ers fail to recognize.....CHANCE. No matter who we draft that is what they are, a chance. Noone is a sure thing, your great research points that out more than anything....although I think if someone researched the same for the Non #1 Qb's you would find similar awesome stats.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

Great post. I agree completely that we need to draft a QB, I can't wait. I just don't particularly care which top one it is. You used the one word that most SFL'ers fail to recognize.....CHANCE. No matter who we draft that is what they are, a chance. Noone is a sure thing, your great research points that out more than anything....although I think if someone researched the same for the Non #1 Qb's you would find similar awesome stats.

I am 100% in favor of sucking for the #1 pick. If anything, I don't see how you can look at this and not want to be at the top of the draft order in a year that has a few very, very good QB prospects expected to declare for the draft.

And remember, for every Jamarcus Russell there is at least one Dan Wilkinson. For every Tim Couch, a Ki-Jana Carter. Having the #1 pick is a huge, huge windfall for any football team, but especially this year when Luck is expected to declare for the draft. If there is any year for a terrible, trainwreck of a team to be bad enough to get the #1 pick, this is the year.

 

[TonyGsharp]

I said he was the first QB? No. I said he was considered to be a pro style QB that would be successful.




I didn't compare them. Never have, they don't play remotely similar. I said that Leinert was ALSO being talked about very highly and "guaranteed" to be successful in the NFL.

Your comparison of their ability isn't what I'm laughing about, it's your comparison of their draft projections.

Luck will be one of the most highly touted QBs coming out of college of all time, in the same group as Elway and Manning. If you aren't high on him, and are willing to settle for just any first round QB, it tells me you must not watch many college games or have a weak understanding of draft projections/ability in a player.

 

[whizafriz]

Cant really expect him to say anything else. Him supporting Suck 4 Luck would only make him look like a d-bag that wants to get picked first.

 

[Sarnics13]

Your comparison of their ability isn't what I'm laughing about, it's your comparison of their draft projections.

Luck will be one of the most highly touted QBs coming out of college of all time, in the same group as Elway and Manning. If you aren't high on him, and are willing to settle for just any first round QB, it tells me you must not watch many college games or have a weak understanding of draft projections/ability in a player.

Does it?..... Then it tells you a lie.
So you're telling me that since Elway was drafted no other QB has been "touted" enough to be considered in that "touted" group? You are simply basing that on your opinion of what was said about other players, which is fine. Opinion is what makes this site go round.....but to start making statements about my ability to remember how highly other QB's have been touted in the past couple of decades is nonsense.

 

[The Confessor]

Does it?..... Then it tells you a lie.
So you're telling me that since Elway was drafted no other QB has been "touted" enough to be considered in that "touted" group? You are simply basing that on your opinion of what was said about other players, which is fine. Opinion is what makes this site go round.....but to start making statements about my ability to remember how highly other QB's have been touted in the past couple of decades is nonsense.

Silly you. Unless you are S4L, all your memory is gone because you have been happy living a decade of mediocrity......

 

[Sarnics13]

Silly you. Unless you are S4L, all your memory is gone because you have been happy living a decade of mediocrity......

Awesome!! That beloved mediocrity...... it's always funny when they say that considering that within this last decade we were praised for having the greatest turn around in NFL history and winning the division. Far from mediocre!!!!

 

[Swantoon]

Awesome!! That beloved mediocrity...... it's always funny when they say that considering that within this last decade we were praised for having the greatest turn around in NFL history and winning the division. Far from mediocre!!!!

It was nice, but in hind sight it was all smoke and mirrors. Easiest schedule in the league. No injuries and only like 12 turnovers all year. That was the most mediocre division win in AFC East history.

I almost forgot Brady was out that year as well.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

It was nice, but in hind sight it was all smoke and mirrors. Easiest schedule in the league. No injuries and only like 12 turnovers all year. That was the most mediocre division win in AFC East history.

I almost forgot Brady was out that year as well.

Yup, four of our crucial wins in the second half of the season came against the Seahawks, Raiders, Rams, and Chiefs. Combined record of those teams in 2008: 13-51.

The only win we had against a good team was the Wildcat game against the Patriots, and that was early in the season when Matt Cassel was still struggling and that was the first game we used the Wildcat, which caught them off guard. They blew us out later in the year. The Cardinals and Ravens (the only two other quality teams we faced) blew us out by a combined score of 58-23.

 

[SammySmif]

We are in a position for a dramatic turnaround with a star QB and new coach.

We deserve a new star at QB. It has been too long. The Fins are a team that used to be known for having stud QBs. I don't care if it is Luck, Griffin III, hell Russel Wilson, Barkley..whatever. We just need a star.