The release of JaMarcus Russell has once again put the spotlight on quarterbacks who have been selected 1st overall in the NFL Draft. Since the Common Draft started in 1967, there have been 18 quarterbacks selected first overall. But 10 of those 18 have been drafted since Peyton Manning went to the Colts in 1998. It makes a good dividing line as to which players have been successful, and which ones did not pan out.
In Group 1 (1967-1997), the picks were Terry Bradshaw, Jim Plunkett, Steve Bartkowski, John Elway, Vinnie Testaverde, Troy Aikman, Jeff George, and Drew Bledsoe. Bradshaw, Elway, and Aikman are Hall of Famers. Plunkett won 2 Super Bowls, and Bledsoe played on the 2001 Super Bowl Champion Patriots. But it was never easy for any one of the eight. Bradshaw started on the bench in 1974, the year Pittsburgh won it's first championship. Elway had to face the criticism of not wanting to play in Baltimore, and it was 14 years before he won the title. Aikman shared the job with Steve Walsh, and took a beating in a 1-15 rookie season. Plunkett didn't pan out in New England, and was traded to San Francisco. He washed out there, and landed in Oakland as a backup. He got his chance and in 1980 led the Raiders to the title, as well as in 1983.
Bartkowski battled injuries and some bad teams in Atlanta, but he made them into winners for the first time in their history. Testaverde had a less than distinguished career, playing for some of the worst teams in the league in Tampa Bay. But he played for nearly 20 years, with a number of teams. Bledsoe turned a bad Patriot franchise into a Super Bowl team in 1996, and it was his injury in 2001 that gave Tom Brady a chance. George was a workot wonder, who his hometown Colts traded a fortune to Atlanta so they could take him in 1990. George had the most problems of any quarterback in this group, mainly because his value was overrated by the team that drafted him.
But the biggest difference between the first 8 and the last 10 is money. The advent of the rookie signing bonus has shined the spotlight even brighter than before. Russell received a $31 million bonus, and won a total of 7 games. But the situations a number of them have been put into is not a recipe for success.
Tim Couch and David Carr were selected by expansion franchises. Both players took a beating playing behind an offensive line of castoffs. Matthew Stafford had his rookie season interrupted by injuries. Alex Smith has also been injured, but he also has had difficutly with the switch from a spread offense to a pro style system, but he show flashes in 2009 that he is ready to fulfill his promise. Michael Vick showed flashes of brilliance, but two years in prison has sidetracked his career. The Manning Brothers each have a Super Bowl title, and Peyton is on his way to rewriting the record books.
What does this hold for Sam Bradford? First of all, the Rams need to have him signed and in training camp on time. Russell was a holdout, and his development was stunted because of it, not to mention his lack of work ethic. It may be in the best interest for the Rams to do with Bradford what Cincinnati did with Carson Palmer. Sit him out his rookie year. Give him a chance to learn the pro system. Give his shoulder a year to get stronger. Is endangering a rookie with a $45 million signing bonus the best thing for the franchise? At this time it may not be. But if the Rams want to stay in St. Louis they may want to put Bradford on the field and get fans in the stands.
One thing Bardford has in his favor at this time is that if he is just an average quarterback he will be held in higher regard than Couch, Vick, Carr, Smith and Russell. But how he handles the spotlight reamins to be seen.
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