Greatest Rookie years ever!

[Upnorth]

I am taking a break agonizing over the packers defensive problems and though why not start another good fight!
So who had the greatest rookie year? Newton's was amazing in so many ways, and he most definatly earned the OROY award this year, but was it the greatest ever?
My money would be on LT's rookie year, not only was he the rookie of the year but also the player of the year.

Who would you say had the greatest rookie year ever and why?

[Smidgeon]

I saw an article about this a couple weeks ago. I can't remember it, but the author basically said that it's fair to say that Newton's had the greatest rookie QB year, but not the greatest as a rookie. Several running backs were scoring machines as rookies, and like you said, LT was the defensive player of the year.

[hoosier]

Hard to compare players from different positions, especially in light of the importance of the QB in today's NFL. I don't think other eras have seen one position play such a dominant role. But for argument's sake, here are a couple of examples of rookies who emerged as the best or among the best at their position and even began to redefine their position:

RB: Earl Campbell, with Billy Sims a close second (Campbell was just a runner, Sims was a dual threat).
WR: Randy Moss
DB: Ronnie Lott
DL: Reggie White

[ND72]

Do you guys remember Randy Moss' rookie year? holy balls that was bad. My senior year of high school, vikings went from good to amazing..but still chokers.

[Patler]

Eric Dickerson should be considered. He had 1800 yards rushing, 52 receptions, and 20 TDs as a rookie.

[Cheesehead Craig]

I gotta go LT. Like upnorth said, he was the Def POY his rookie season. 9.5 sacks and was a phenominal disruptive force.

[red]

i'm too young to have remembered LT

but moss's rookie year blew me away

but honestly, cam is playing at the hardest spot to figure out. who was the last rookie qb that even had a good first year?

[ND72]

I'll give credit to Cam...I really thought he'd be a talented guy, but not to the level he got himself. Interested to see how year 2 goes for him. Last QB to really come in like him is probably Peyton Manning.

[mraynrand]

who was the last rookie qb that even had a good first year?

Dalton

[mraynrand]

More recently, Peterson had a pretty good rookie year for an 8-8 Vikings team.

[Upnorth]

I saw an article about this a couple weeks ago. I can't remember it, but the author basically said that it's fair to say that Newton's had the greatest rookie QB year, but not the greatest as a rookie. Several running backs were scoring machines as rookies, and like you said, LT was the defensive player of the year.

I originally worded it so someone would call me out on LT the RB, but I did mean Taylor.

I did not even think of Randy Moss with definatly the best WR rookie year.

One last though in this post, RED IS YOUNG? Man i thought you were older by the way you post!

[mraynrand]

Ed Reed

[Tarlam!]

One last though in this post, RED IS YOUNG? Man i thought you were older by the way you post!

No, Red is old. He's just senile.

[sheepshead]

Considering its QB on the worst team in football last year, Newton has to get the nod. LT, Barry Sanders, I think Gale Sayers put up some numbers if I remember Brian's Song references correctly.

[MJZiggy]

I originally worded it so someone would call me out on LT the RB, but I did mean Taylor.

I did not even think of Randy Moss with definatly the best WR rookie year.

One last though in this post, RED IS YOUNG? Man i thought you were older by the way you post!

Define young...