In the days approaching the NFL Draft prognosticators have the Good Ole Lions picking ROCKET ARM Stafford from Georgia. In the last few years which Number One QBs have changed the teams that they have ended up on immediately? That answer is very very few.
In looking at the top 5 QBs from last year (QB RATING), Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Chad Pennington, Kurt Warner, and my BOY Phillip Rivers (Go Chargers!!!!) , the only one of these guys that was a number one draft pick was Peyton Manning. In that list Peyton is arguably one of the best to ever play and it took him many years to develop into the talent he is today.
I say all that to say this. When will GM's learn? Franchise QBs are groomed and built within a system. They dont grow on trees, they are not available immediately after college, and they take time to mature, like a fine wine. I will agree last season was weird with Flacco, and Ryan coming out of the gates and doing a very good job. But no one thought at University of Delaware, and Boston College respectively that either guy would start this past season and do what they did.
This post is entitled Universal Mind Control from this glamorous thought that one great QB will make your team great forever. Get over it. There is not a Peyton Manning in this draft. Joe Montana retired a Chief, Steve Young is on ESPN, Elway is coaching / fathering, Randal Cunningham is somewhere, and Warren Moon is probably yelling at someone.
Please look to the real rocks of the draft. Offensive lineman. History has shown us that rock solid lineman drafted in the first round last for 10 or more years and typically produce many Pro Bowls and help to win championships. Primadonna QBs that go number one often end up more like Ryan Leaf and Alex Smith. Great potential and less than effective performances on the field. We need to look more at the Jonathan Ogdens and the Orlando Pace's of the world. If you are going to spend the money in the down economy, dont let the hype fool you into investing into something that may not pay dividends for years to come.
Please think above the song, "You know you like it.... its calling your name"
Be like Pookie in CB4, let the real players convince you, "It keeps calling me...... that Crack just keeps calling me man"
S.
