Top 10 Rookie Quarterbacks

[KYPack]

What do Brett Favre, Bart Starr, and Terry Bradshaw have in common? Besides winning Super Bowls and being Hall of Fame quarterbacks, they all had awful rookie seasons in the league. It's hard to play QB in the NFL and most players really struggle at the position their first year. This is a list of guys who were different. They started quickly in their pro careers.

Each player on this list "got it". They came in as young kids, but by the close of their respective seasons, they were "the man" for their teams. If this doesn't start an argument, I don't what in the hell will.

1. Sammy Baugh If you lead the NFL in passing and you take your team to the NFL championship, that's strong. Slingin' Sam did just that on his way to the HOF. Sammy was a totally modern QB and played a great safety in the two way days. Sammy was clutch in the NFL championship game and the Skins rode on his back to a 28-21 comeback victory over the Chicago Bears to win the title in 1937. In the big game with his team trailing the Bears in the 3rd quarter, Sammy threw 3 touchdown passes to twice bring Washington back in the game. A rookie QB has to do that again to knock Sammy off the top spot.

2. Dan Marino has been cited as the best rookie quarterback of all time in many such all time listings. He had a very fast release and was a top flight NFL passer right out of the chute. Marino as a rookie made the Miami Dolphins instantly better. Dan started 9 and played in 11 games in 1983, his first season. Marino completed 173 of 296 attempts as a rookie quarterback. His 2,210 passing yards were ok but what set him apart was his touchdown pass to interception numbers. 20 passing touchdowns against 6 interceptions is amazing for a rookie quarterback.


3 Matt Ryan Simply an amazing rookie QB. Ryan came in with a bad team with the Atlanta Falcons, playing for a rookie coach and trying to replace Michael Vick. Completing 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards is a nice season for any QB, much less a first year guy. Matt Ryan has a 61.1 pass completion percentage and threw 16 touchdowns versus 11 interceptions. Leading the Falcons into the 2008 NFL Playoffs showed his great skill at the position Matt Ryan also set a rookie record with 20 completions in a post season game.

4. Peyton Manning set rookie passing records in attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns. A high interception total and low number of team wins puts him 4th on this elite list.

5. Ben Roethlisberger managed the game better than any rookie quarterback. He led his team to a 13-0 record as a starter, including an upset victory over the Patriots, breaking their 21 game win streak. He led the Steelers to the AFC Championship game, before losing to New England.
6. Fran Tarkington. The son of a preacher man, "Tarky" threw 4 touchdown passes in his first NFL start and never looked back. Often controversial and criticized for his rambling, scrambling approach, Tarkington was solid in every season he played, including a stellar rookie year. Named to the HOF in '86.

7. Greg Cook A man totally forgotten by most fans, Cook remains the elusive star that never made it past his rookie year, but what a year it was. Cook played well before being injured, then returned later to keep playing well. Greg Cook completed 107 of 200 passes for 1,854 yards. In addition he threw 15 touchdown passes versus 11 interceptions on a weak Cincinnati Bengals team. It is a shame that he only played two seasons due to injury. Bill Walsh was his offensive coordinator and Walsh always maintained Cook was the best QB he'd coached and lamented the fact his only top season was his first.

8 Bob Waterfield When I was a young fan, the list of all-time great rookie QB's always started with two names, Baugh and Waterfield. Waterfield is rarely mentioned with the top guns anymore, but what he did in his first season cannot be ignored. Waterfield made the same accomplishment that Slingin' Sammy did, he lead his Cleveland Rams to the NFL Championship his first year. Waterfield lead the NFL in both TD passes and interceptions in his rookie year of 1945, but was named league MVP. He would do that throughout his career (lots of picks), but it didn't keep him from making the HOF in '65

9 Joe Namath (AFL) I didn't include AFL QB's in this list, there were a lot of them in the early AFL teams. But Joe was different (+ I love Joe Willie), he played under a lot of pressure after signing a huge contract with the New York Jets. "Broadway" Joe was the face of the AFL and he came through and had a great season. In 1965 Joe Namath completed 164 of 340 passing attempts. Passing for 2,220 yards, 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, Namath showed flashes of his great future at the quarterback position.

10. Joe Flacco. You could definitely put Flacco higher on this list. Most lists wouldn't include Cook, for instance, but Flacco does deserve mention in a "call of the roll" of great first year QB's. Flacco is only the 8th rookie to start a play-off game in post merger history (So not counting Waterfield and Baugh). Flacco is the first rookie quarterback to win two playoff games in one year and wound up the year as the Ravens unquestioned maximum leader.

[KYPack]

Nobody likes this thread, eh?

Here's a wierd list I found of Rookie QB's

8 Rookie QB's to start a play-off game, post merger

Matt Ryan
Joe Flacco
Ben Roethlisberger
Shaun King
Todd Marinovich
Dan Marino
Jim Everett
Bernie Kosar

Todd Marinovich?, man I don't remember that one.

[retailguy]

Nobody likes this thread, eh?



I don't think it is that, but hell, Skinbasket is making an abject fool of himself again, in the other thread, and I think people are just watching him in wonder. If this tantrum doesn't work, I guess we'll see pages and pages of gay porn again...

As to your original thread, I don't remember a few of those QB's. I have heard of most of them, except for Greg Cook....

I hope that Ryan and Flacco haven't peaked, it was fun to watch and root for them last season. It would be really nice to have the sports media focus on somebody other than Brady & Manning.

I never liked Namath much, to much talk for me.

Marinovich had to be an injury replacement. I don't remember him ever having a string of good starts much less a string of starts.

[KYPack]

Nobody likes this thread, eh?



I don't think it is that, but hell, Skinbasket is making an abject fool of himself again, in the other thread, and I think people are just watching him in wonder. If this tantrum doesn't work, I guess we'll see pages and pages of gay porn again...

As to your original thread, I don't remember a few of those QB's. I have heard of most of them, except for Greg Cook....

I hope that Ryan and Flacco haven't peaked, it was fun to watch and root for them last season. It would be really nice to have the sports media focus on somebody other than Brady & Manning.

I never liked Namath much, to much talk for me.

Marinovich had to be an injury replacement. I don't remember him ever having a string of good starts much less a string of starts.

Todd started the Raiders play-off game in '91 against the Chiefs. He got his only regular season start against 'em the previous week and played well. He stunk in the play-off game and was out of the NFL in a couple years.

On April 3, 2009 he was arrested in Newport Beach after he failed to appear in court for a progress review for his 2007 arrest. He's a drug addict bum as we speak.

[retailguy]

Nobody likes this thread, eh?



I don't think it is that, but hell, Skinbasket is making an abject fool of himself again, in the other thread, and I think people are just watching him in wonder. If this tantrum doesn't work, I guess we'll see pages and pages of gay porn again...

As to your original thread, I don't remember a few of those QB's. I have heard of most of them, except for Greg Cook....

I hope that Ryan and Flacco haven't peaked, it was fun to watch and root for them last season. It would be really nice to have the sports media focus on somebody other than Brady & Manning.

I never liked Namath much, to much talk for me.

Marinovich had to be an injury replacement. I don't remember him ever having a string of good starts much less a string of starts.

Todd started the Raiders play-off game in '91 against the Chiefs. He got his only regular season start against 'em the previous week and played well. He stunk in the play-off game and was out of the NFL in a couple years.

On April 3, 2009 he was arrested in Newport Beach after he failed to appear in court for a progress review for his 2007 arrest. He's a drug addict bum as we speak.

91... Jeez that was a long time ago.

What a sad case. More money than he knew what to do with an he put it all up his nose, or in his arm, or whatever. pathetic.

Very few QB's play well as a rookie. Wish I could've seen Sammy Baugh play. too old for me.

Tell me about Greg Cook? Were you in bengal land then? Was it just injuries or did playing for the bengals help?

[Tarlam!]

Well, I for one love the thread, KY. Played hard, done good.

[falco]

Well, I for one love the thread, KY. Played hard, done good.

nice thread KY.

[red]

when did brady get his big break, was that his second year or his rookie year?

nvm, i looked it up. it was his second year

[KYPack]

Nobody likes this thread, eh?



I don't think it is that, but hell, Skinbasket is making an abject fool of himself again, in the other thread, and I think people are just watching him in wonder. If this tantrum doesn't work, I guess we'll see pages and pages of gay porn again...

As to your original thread, I don't remember a few of those QB's. I have heard of most of them, except for Greg Cook....

I hope that Ryan and Flacco haven't peaked, it was fun to watch and root for them last season. It would be really nice to have the sports media focus on somebody other than Brady & Manning.

I never liked Namath much, to much talk for me.

Marinovich had to be an injury replacement. I don't remember him ever having a string of good starts much less a string of starts.

Todd started the Raiders play-off game in '91 against the Chiefs. He got his only regular season start against 'em the previous week and played well. He stunk in the play-off game and was out of the NFL in a couple years.

On April 3, 2009 he was arrested in Newport Beach after he failed to appear in court for a progress review for his 2007 arrest. He's a drug addict bum as we speak.

91... Jeez that was a long time ago.

What a sad case. More money than he knew what to do with an he put it all up his nose, or in his arm, or whatever. pathetic.

Very few QB's play well as a rookie. Wish I could've seen Sammy Baugh play. too old for me.

Tell me about Greg Cook? Were you in bengal land then? Was it just injuries or did playing for the bengals help?

Cook is an NFL "Lost Treasure" kinda guy. Was only totally healthy for the first 3 games of the '69 season. Hurt his shoulder against the Chiefs. The whole thing was mysterious, nobody could really figure out what play was the one he was hurt on. He had a cannon arm. The player he most resembles is Marino. Danny had a little quicker release, Greg a stronger arm. That may sound crazy, but it's true.

Many football experts - including then Bengal's assistant coach Bill Walsh - say that had it not been for that injury, Cook may very well have gone on to be the greatest quarterback of all time. The NFL Network Top Ten series named Cook the #1 One Shot Wonder in NFL History.

He recovered to play the rest of the '69 season, his arm recovered, then deteriorated after crude attempts at surgery, no sports medicine then.

I didn't get here to the mid seventies & the locals were still talking about him and hoping he'd come back.

[falco]

Many football experts - including then Bengal's assistant coach Bill Walsh - say that had it not been for that injury, Cook may very well have gone on to be the greatest quarterback of all time. The NFL Network Top Ten series named Cook the #1 One Shot Wonder in NFL History.

He recovered to play the rest of the '69 season, his arm recovered, then deteriorated after creda attempts at surgery, no sports medicne then.

I didn't get here to the mid seventies & the locals were still talking about him and hoping he'd come back.

I saw that particular episode - had never heard of him before. Was very interesting.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Nobody likes this thread, eh?



I don't think it is that, but hell, Skinbasket is making an abject fool of himself again, in the other thread, and I think people are just watching him in wonder. If this tantrum doesn't work, I guess we'll see pages and pages of gay porn again...



And you just keep making him look right.

[Partial]

Very good list. Wish I had more opportunities to see Flacco I guess. I wasn't super impressed with him in my limited exposure.

[KYPack]

Very good list. Wish I had more opportunities to see Flacco I guess. I wasn't super impressed with him in my limited exposure.

That's a difference. You might've seen him have weak game on TV. He stunk in Tenn, fer instance.

I saw him in November. He threw a 70 yard pass to Mark Clayton that was a true seed. I was real impressed with that boy. Then if you look at the numbers, he was a big thing.

I really looked that stuff up to settle an argument after golf last weekend. We were arguing that Flacco and Ryan are the best pair of rookies in NFL history. Our opponents said no way.

So I looked this stuff up. Flacco and Ryan are the best pair of rookie QB's in NFL history by a pretty wide margin. Most guys you think were rooks were really in their second year.

[KYPack]

There is an interesting footnote to the stuff I dug up on Greg Cook. Cook's leading WR was a guy named Eric Crabtree. The highlight films they show around here always show a 70 TD bomb Cook threw to Crabtree. The ball travels all of the 70 in the air, hitting Crabtree in the hands right in the endzone, a true "holy shit' kind of pass.

Got me wondering if Eric Crabtree was related to Michael Crabtree. They are both WR's of similar size. Near as I can figure out, they are no relation. Michael Crabtree's father is named Michael Crabtree. They are from Dallas. Is Eric Crabtree a long lost uncle? I couldn't figure/google it out.

If any of our resident brainiac/research artists find out something, lemme know. I'm curious.

[packerbacker1234]

Favre's first year was hardly aweful. 9-7, 15td's and 13 ints, 3000+ yards.

He wasn't great, but he wasn't horrible either. Unless your going back to atlanta where he "didn't play".

I always consider the rookie season to be the first year you are teh starter.

[KYPack]

Favre's first year was hardly aweful. 9-7, 15td's and 13 ints, 3000+ yards.

He wasn't great, but he wasn't horrible either. Unless your going back to atlanta where he "didn't play".

I always consider the rookie season to be the first year you are teh starter.

No no, 1234.

That's what makes this list unique.

Accomplishments in their very first year with the team. There are a lot of guys who had great second years, but very few who were stellar in that year 1.

For instance, Brett threw 4 balls his rookie year. He's not "on the list".

[cpk1994]

Favre's first year was hardly aweful. 9-7, 15td's and 13 ints, 3000+ yards.

He wasn't great, but he wasn't horrible either. Unless your going back to atlanta where he "didn't play".

I always consider the rookie season to be the first year you are the starter.But by NFL rule, its your very first season in the league as a player and this is the context the list uses. So by the standard of the list, Favre was a non factor his rookie season.

[Patler]

If you are just looking at their rookie year performances, guys deserving consideration include Rick Mirer and Bob Griese. Griese made the pro-bowl as a rookie and immediately improved the Dolphins. Mirer turned around the Seattle offense his rookie year. Mirer was named rookie of the year by some organizations and set a number of rookie records. He flopped after that, but a great rookie performance.

[KYPack]

If you are just looking at their rookie year performances, guys deserving consideration include Rick Mirer and Bob Griese. Griese made the pro-bowl as a rookie and immediately improved the Dolphins. Mirer turned around the Seattle offense his rookie year. Mirer was named rookie of the year by some organizations and set a number of rookie records. He flopped after that, but a great rookie performance.

Both had solid rookie years. Mirer started all 16 games, a big achievement.

Neither Griese or Mirer topped Flacco's numbers. Mirer had 12 TD's - 17 ints.

Griese had 15 TD's - 18 ints.

You could swap Griese and Flacco on most lists. They had very similar rookie campaigns. Flacco had 14 TD's and 12 picks. Both Griese and Flacco had another thing in common. Both were on teams that had no QB going into the year. At years end, both guys were the team leader and were gonna be the QB there for a long time.

Mirer? Even when he had the job, you never felt he was the man and knew what he was doing.

[Patler]

If you are just looking at their rookie year performances, guys deserving consideration include Rick Mirer and Bob Griese. Griese made the pro-bowl as a rookie and immediately improved the Dolphins. Mirer turned around the Seattle offense his rookie year. Mirer was named rookie of the year by some organizations and set a number of rookie records. He flopped after that, but a great rookie performance.

Both had solid rookie years. Mirer started all 16 games, a big achievement.

Neither Griese or Mirer topped Flacco's numbers. Mirer had 12 TD's - 17 ints.

Griese had 15 TD's - 18 ints.

You could swap Griese and Flacco on most lists. They had very similar rookie campaigns. Flacco had 14 TD's and 12 picks. Both Griese and Flacco had another thing in common. Both were on teams that had no QB going into the year. At years end, both guys were the team leader and were gonna be the QB there for a long time.

Mirer? Even when he had the job, you never felt he was the man and knew what he was doing.

I'm not suggesting either was better than anyone else in particular, just that their rookie seasons deserve consideration for the "best ever" lists.

Hard to compare Griese to current day QBs statistically. He only played a 14 game schedule, the NFL was a far different place both offensively and defensively, and he was with a team in its second year of expansion. As I recall, when the Dolphins were formed, their expansion draft was limited to players at the bottoms of the AFL teams rosters only, so he didn't have a whole lot to work with.

My recollection of Mirer's rookie season is much different than yours apparently was. I followed Mirer closely from his time at ND. Saw most every game he played at ND, if not every one. I thought his rookie season was outstanding (for a rookie), and I thought the Seahawks were set at QB. They certainly relied on him that year, nearly 500 attempts. He was a huge part of their offense in 1993. Heck, he was their 3rd leading rusher. Seattle went from the NFL's worst offense (and one of the worst ever, scoring just 13 TDs in 16 games) to a middle of the league offense with Mirer the next year. They doubled their scoring on offense from the previous year, with Mirer being the big difference, their running game had Warren the year before.

[KYPack]

You made me look, ya bastard!

Well, yeah, he started 16 games and got progressively worse as his career progressed. With Mirer, I seem to remember all the stupid picks the boy tossed and never had a solid feel for him as a QB. As rookie years go, his year does bear mention.

Bob Griese, I always have good memories for that guy. Once he got rolling, I was always struck by the similarities between Bob Greise and Bart Starr. Quiet guys who were tough and determined. Both had a tremendous feel and understanding of the running game. Clutch guys who lead their teams without a lot of holler.

[Patler]

You made me look, ya bastard!

Bob Griese, I always have good memories for that guy. Once he got rolling, I was always struck by the similarities between Bob Greise and Bart Starr. Quiet guys who were tough and determined. Both had a tremendous feel and understanding of the running game. Clutch guys who lead their teams without a lot of holler.

I agree, a lot of similarities between Starr and Griese. I really liked Griese at Purdue. In his draft year there were thoughts that he could possibly be available for the Packers who picked #9, but the Dolphins took him at #4. There were thoughts by some that the Packers were quite interested in him as a successor to Starr, who was gong into his 12th season in 1967. Not a lot of players played into their late '30s in those years.

[Patler]

You made me look, ya bastard!

Well, yeah, he started 16 games and got progressively worse as his career progressed. With Mirer, I seem to remember all the stupid picks the boy tossed and never had a solid feel for him as a QB. As rookie years go, his year does bear mention.


:lol:

I think the reason Mirer had so many chances with so many teams after Seattle gave up on him after 4 seasons was because he was so good as a rookie. Many teams felt they were the ones who could bring out from him what he had shown as a rookie. The Bears gave him a big contract for the time, and team after team after team gave him chances after that, including a brief stint in GB. He lasted 10 years in the NFL.

[KYPack]

You made me look, ya bastard!

Well, yeah, he started 16 games and got progressively worse as his career progressed. With Mirer, I seem to remember all the stupid picks the boy tossed and never had a solid feel for him as a QB. As rookie years go, his year does bear mention.


:lol:

I think the reason Mirer had so many chances with so many teams after Seattle gave up on him after 4 seasons was because he was so good as a rookie. Many teams felt they were the ones who could bring out from him what he had shown as a rookie. The Bears gave him a big contract for the time, and team after team after team gave him chances after that, including a brief stint in GB. He lasted 10 years in the NFL.

Did he make the regular season roster with us?
Or was that the season Oakland picked him up?

I knew he tried out for us, & I thought he was on the roster for a bit, but it didn't appear on his NFL record.

[Cheesehead Craig]

You made me look, ya bastard!

Well, yeah, he started 16 games and got progressively worse as his career progressed. With Mirer, I seem to remember all the stupid picks the boy tossed and never had a solid feel for him as a QB. As rookie years go, his year does bear mention.


:lol:

I think the reason Mirer had so many chances with so many teams after Seattle gave up on him after 4 seasons was because he was so good as a rookie. Many teams felt they were the ones who could bring out from him what he had shown as a rookie. The Bears gave him a big contract for the time, and team after team after team gave him chances after that, including a brief stint in GB. He lasted 10 years in the NFL.
This almost sounds like how Vince Young's career is heading.

[Patler]

You made me look, ya bastard!

Well, yeah, he started 16 games and got progressively worse as his career progressed. With Mirer, I seem to remember all the stupid picks the boy tossed and never had a solid feel for him as a QB. As rookie years go, his year does bear mention.


:lol:

I think the reason Mirer had so many chances with so many teams after Seattle gave up on him after 4 seasons was because he was so good as a rookie. Many teams felt they were the ones who could bring out from him what he had shown as a rookie. The Bears gave him a big contract for the time, and team after team after team gave him chances after that, including a brief stint in GB. He lasted 10 years in the NFL.

Did he make the regular season roster with us?
Or was that the season Oakland picked him up?

I knew he tried out for us, & I thought he was on the roster for a bit, but it didn't appear on his NFL record.

I think he was the 3rrd QB for all of 1998, but never got into a game, so technically never was on a game day roster for the Packers.

[Guiness]

Marinovich had to be an injury replacement. I don't remember him ever having a string of good starts much less a string of starts.

Todd started the Raiders play-off game in '91 against the Chiefs. He got his only regular season start against 'em the previous week and played well. He stunk in the play-off game and was out of the NFL in a couple years.

On April 3, 2009 he was arrested in Newport Beach after he failed to appear in court for a progress review for his 2007 arrest. He's a drug addict bum as we speak.

Ah, the Robo-QB. Never ate a Big Mac.

He showed up in the CFL, then spent some time as a guitarist in a rock band. (no, I don't have any of their recording!)

[Fritz]

I'd be interested in QB's who were "one shot wonders" - guys that had great rookie seasons, then disappeared. In fact it'd be even more fun if they disappeared not because they got hurt, but because they stunk.

Any one know any names for that list?

[KYPack]

I'd be interested in QB's who were "one shot wonders" - guys that had great rookie seasons, then disappeared. In fact it'd be even more fun if they disappeared not because they got hurt, but because they stunk.

Any one know any names for that list?

Here's some

-Clint Longley - Miracle comeback for Cowboys, then obscurity)
-Marinovich
-Shaun King -Starts the play-off game for Bucs, but never develops
-Mirer
-Greg Cook Found a video of Cook. Check it out and you will see what I mean. http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d807434bc

This guy was incredible. One of the best roll-out QB's ever. Bill Walsh was adament that Cook could have well been the greatest of all-time.

There are a few more, feel free to post 'em!

[Patler]

How about a one game wonder? Don Horn was a first round draft pick intended to be Starr's replacement, but played only a handful of games for the Packers when Starr was injured. Horn was traded to Denver and started a few for them before they gave up on him too.

However, for one game in 1969 Don Horn was the best GB had ever had. 22/31 for 410 yards and 5 TDs. Only Lynn Dickey has passed for more yards in a single game, getting 418 yards 11 years after Horn. Horn's 5 TDs in that game tied Cecil Isabell, and was later tied by Dickey twice and Favre 3 times.

I remember that game well. After it, everyone felt sure the Packers were set at QB whenever Starr would retire. I'm not sure what happened to Horn, if it was injuries or what, he seemed to have so much potential in the brief glimpses we had of him, then the huge game. Nothing after that.