PhinCanuck
Dolfan in Canada
Last night, my friend Julian and I were talking football, while we were watching the NFL Network and drinking beer. Julian is a Broncos fan. I'm a Dolfan. For the tenth time,at least, we started to debate about who was a better QB, John Elway or Dan Marino. You probably know how that conversation went. The point I want to make in this thread is that we were discussing not only Marino and Elway's skills and greatness, but the teams they played with.
My theory is that the team behind Elway, was (and has remained) better than the team Marino played with (and the team that remains after he left). I noted that after Elway retired, the Broncos had only 2 QBs before Cutler, namely Brian Griese and Jake Plummer. We all know Jake Plummer is not the greatest QB, but somehow he kept the team afloat in Denver for the last 4 seasons. Better put, they have won in spite of him. As bad, and criticized, as Plummer was, he was the Broncos starting QB for a very long time. Yet in Miami, we have brought 10 QBs trying to replace Marino. We had Damon Huard, Ray Lucas, Jay Fiedler, AJ Feeley, Brian Griese, Sage Rosenfels, Gus Frerotte, Daunte Culpepper, Joey Harrington and Cleo Lemon. In seven seasons since Marino retired, we've had 1.42 QBs per season. They have all been backups at some point, but also were starters for at least 1 or more games.
Since we are talking about Marino and Elway, I also make the point of another QB from the '83 draft class, Jim Kelly. Since he retired, the Bills have had 8 QBs: Billy Joe Hobert, Alex Vanpelt, Todd Collins, Rob Johnson, Doug Fluttie, Drew Bledson, Kelly Holcomb and JP Losman. Yet, the Broncos, just replaced Plummer with Cutler last season. How long did it take them to bring in a franchise QB 6 seasons??
This goes to show that if your team is not built to last, you better get a QB around which you can build your franchise.
Am I wrong in my theory? Why have we had such bad luck in Miami at QB since Marino left. I am not superstitious, but I know that for Miami, number 13 was the luckiest of numbers, it was luck itself. Many say luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Miami has been prepared for its next franchise QB. Is this our opportunity. Is this the season??
My theory is that the team behind Elway, was (and has remained) better than the team Marino played with (and the team that remains after he left). I noted that after Elway retired, the Broncos had only 2 QBs before Cutler, namely Brian Griese and Jake Plummer. We all know Jake Plummer is not the greatest QB, but somehow he kept the team afloat in Denver for the last 4 seasons. Better put, they have won in spite of him. As bad, and criticized, as Plummer was, he was the Broncos starting QB for a very long time. Yet in Miami, we have brought 10 QBs trying to replace Marino. We had Damon Huard, Ray Lucas, Jay Fiedler, AJ Feeley, Brian Griese, Sage Rosenfels, Gus Frerotte, Daunte Culpepper, Joey Harrington and Cleo Lemon. In seven seasons since Marino retired, we've had 1.42 QBs per season. They have all been backups at some point, but also were starters for at least 1 or more games.
Since we are talking about Marino and Elway, I also make the point of another QB from the '83 draft class, Jim Kelly. Since he retired, the Bills have had 8 QBs: Billy Joe Hobert, Alex Vanpelt, Todd Collins, Rob Johnson, Doug Fluttie, Drew Bledson, Kelly Holcomb and JP Losman. Yet, the Broncos, just replaced Plummer with Cutler last season. How long did it take them to bring in a franchise QB 6 seasons??
This goes to show that if your team is not built to last, you better get a QB around which you can build your franchise.
Am I wrong in my theory? Why have we had such bad luck in Miami at QB since Marino left. I am not superstitious, but I know that for Miami, number 13 was the luckiest of numbers, it was luck itself. Many say luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Miami has been prepared for its next franchise QB. Is this our opportunity. Is this the season??
