Update: I changed one criterion from Super Bowl wins to Conference Championships, so scores have changed slightly from the original.
Andrew Luck's retirement makes one reflect on the Quarterback Draft Class of 2012. On Twitter, @BenjaminSolak noted:
1.1: A. Luck - retired 1.2: RGIII - backup in BAL 1.8: R. Tannehill - backup in TEN 1.22: B. Weeden - selling Enterprise rentals? 2.57: B. Osweiler - reaching tall shelves -- 3.75: R. Wilson - SB champ 3.88: N. Foles - SB MVP 4.102: K. Cousins - a starter!
Still, it's obvious to all that the two best in that group are Wilson and Luck, who is among the five best quarterbacks ever taken #1 overall. But using the same criteria, how much more accomplished is Wilson? Let's take a look:
Russell Wilson
Years: 7
Years as starter: 7
Seasons with above-average passer rating: 7
Winning seasons: 7
Championships: 2
Pro Bowls: 5
MVPs: 0
27/7 = 4.0
Andrew Luck
Years: 7
Years as starter: 5
Seasons with above-average passer rating: 4
Winning seasons: 5
Super Bowl wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 4
MVPs: 0
18/7 = 2.57
Luck's overall number is the same as Terry Bradshaw's. Wilson's surpasses Peyton Manning's 3.89, which of course was over an 18-year career instead of seven.
I wonder who else might be in that stratosphere. Since the 1970 season, I can only think of three who seemed a top-rated passer every year, won every year, got to Pro Bowls every year, and win Super Bowls from time to time: Roger Staubach, Joe Montana, and Tom Brady. Let's take a look:
Roger Staubach
Years: 10 (in post-merger era)
Years as starter: 8
Seasons with above-average passer rating: 8
Winning seasons: 8
Championships: 4
Pro Bowls: 6
MVPs: 1
35/10 = 3.5
Joe Montana
Years: 16
Years as starter: 12
Seasons with above-average passer rating: 12
Winning seasons: 11
Championships: 4
Pro Bowls: 6
MVPs: 2
47/16 = 2.94
Tom Brady
Years: 19
Years as starter: 17
Seasons with above-average passer rating: 17
Winning seasons: 17
Championships: 9
Pro Bowls: 14
MVPs: 3
77/19 = 4.05
Wilson, of course, has to keep up the pace that he's been on for another 10-12 years before he can be mentioned in the same breath as Manning and Brady. But he is on that pace. He has had a career more like what was expected of Luck.
Not that Luck was by any means a disappointment. It's just that, for one reason or another, he would have had to play catch-up, probably with rings and MVP trophies. In any case, it was apparent that his body would not be up to the task.
James Leroy Wilson writes from Nebraska. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. If you find his articles informative or entertaining, your support through Paypal helps keep him going. Permission to reprint is granted with attribution.
Andrew Luck's retirement makes one reflect on the Quarterback Draft Class of 2012. On Twitter, @BenjaminSolak noted:
1.1: A. Luck - retired 1.2: RGIII - backup in BAL 1.8: R. Tannehill - backup in TEN 1.22: B. Weeden - selling Enterprise rentals? 2.57: B. Osweiler - reaching tall shelves -- 3.75: R. Wilson - SB champ 3.88: N. Foles - SB MVP 4.102: K. Cousins - a starter!
Still, it's obvious to all that the two best in that group are Wilson and Luck, who is among the five best quarterbacks ever taken #1 overall. But using the same criteria, how much more accomplished is Wilson? Let's take a look:
Russell Wilson
Years: 7
Years as starter: 7
Seasons with above-average passer rating: 7
Winning seasons: 7
Championships: 2
Pro Bowls: 5
MVPs: 0
27/7 = 4.0
Andrew Luck
Years: 7
Years as starter: 5
Seasons with above-average passer rating: 4
Winning seasons: 5
Super Bowl wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 4
MVPs: 0
18/7 = 2.57
Luck's overall number is the same as Terry Bradshaw's. Wilson's surpasses Peyton Manning's 3.89, which of course was over an 18-year career instead of seven.
I wonder who else might be in that stratosphere. Since the 1970 season, I can only think of three who seemed a top-rated passer every year, won every year, got to Pro Bowls every year, and win Super Bowls from time to time: Roger Staubach, Joe Montana, and Tom Brady. Let's take a look:
Roger Staubach
Years: 10 (in post-merger era)
Years as starter: 8
Seasons with above-average passer rating: 8
Winning seasons: 8
Championships: 4
Pro Bowls: 6
MVPs: 1
35/10 = 3.5
Joe Montana
Years: 16
Years as starter: 12
Seasons with above-average passer rating: 12
Winning seasons: 11
Championships: 4
Pro Bowls: 6
MVPs: 2
47/16 = 2.94
Tom Brady
Years: 19
Years as starter: 17
Seasons with above-average passer rating: 17
Winning seasons: 17
Championships: 9
Pro Bowls: 14
MVPs: 3
77/19 = 4.05
Wilson, of course, has to keep up the pace that he's been on for another 10-12 years before he can be mentioned in the same breath as Manning and Brady. But he is on that pace. He has had a career more like what was expected of Luck.
Not that Luck was by any means a disappointment. It's just that, for one reason or another, he would have had to play catch-up, probably with rings and MVP trophies. In any case, it was apparent that his body would not be up to the task.
James Leroy Wilson writes from Nebraska. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter. If you find his articles informative or entertaining, your support through Paypal helps keep him going. Permission to reprint is granted with attribution.
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