Proof that Teams Are Wasting Their Players Prime Years and Windows

[Fritz]

Fouts had about 5 years of being Marino-like, from 1979-83 or so. During those years he was the best QB in the NFL, but he also got the Chargers to the playoffs in most if not all of them.

So, since the Chargers never did get to a SB during that time, the question remains as to whether somehow his GM "failed" him or the team or the fans.

I recall watching Fouts on TV; the guy really did have a rocket arm but was not mobile. What stands out more to me is how damn, damn good Kellen Winslow was. That guy was the prototype for today's TE/receiver types, like Jimmy Graham and all, except that if I recall correctly, Winslow could block, too.

[vince]

I don't get this

Are you saying Rivers is a super star QB ? He is not. Good but I would never say he is great


And Dan Fouts....played in a different era that today's NFL

You didn't read the article did you? This is an old, overused, oversimplified and tired argument.

You see, the problem is that NFL teams are wasting primes. Not just some of them. All of them. All of the teams are wasting all of the primes.
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Additional research revealed that the Patriots have also wasted Tom Brady’s prime:
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NFL front offices started freely admitting they’ve wasted the primes of first ballot Hall of Famers Here’s Jim Irsay on the Peyton Manning Colts:
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Even though Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger has two rings, his prime is anything but safe:
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Andrew Luck has not even entered his prime, and already, his prime has been dashed by an NFL that just isn’t trying hard enough.
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And the disease has spread to other positions, as hometown hero and left tackle Joe Thomas has seen his prime destroyed:
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The stories kept on coming. Drew Brees’ prime fared no better than Brady’s:
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Cam Newton, fresh off a Super Bowl appearance, isn’t safe:
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It’s not a huge shock that some of the second tier of quarterbacks like the Falcons’ Matty “Ice” Ryan, have had their primes wasted.
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And Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers’ prime has certainly taken a beating.
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Perhaps no one’s prime has been wasted as carelessly as Dallas Cowboy quarterback Tony Romo’s. Jerry Jones’ constant meddling and porous defenses have squandered more prime years than almost any other front office.
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The Dan Marinos and Jim Kellys of the world would have been perfectly happy with a single ring, but prime inflation has been consistent, and even mediocre talents with two Super Bowl victories cannot escape the prime-wasting epidemic.
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The primes of several big name quarterbacks are not being realized, and the lack of Big Moves to provide the support that they need is appalling.
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The 2011 NFL playoffs featured 12 teams. Four of those teams were quarterbacked by certain hall of famers (the Patriots, Steelers, Packers, and Saints). Several other teams were led by good quarterbacks or borderline Hall of Famers (the Giants and Falcons). Yet, despite the appearance of 6 quarterbacks with excellent primes, only Eli Manning’s prime was not wasted. When five of six primes are being wasted every season, your league has a huge problem.
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Solving this issue is no easy task. NFL teams could sign more good players, but whether it is due to the high injury rate or the concussion epidemic, good players are in short supply. For example, the Seattle Seahawks employ tackle J’Marcus Webb, the Vikings still have Trae Waynes on the roster, and the Chicago Bears actually start Jay Cutler at quarterback. Without additional good players in the league, more and more primes will go to waste, and the league may have to look to adding additional Super Bowls to preserve the primes they do have.

If all it took was a QB it'd be easy but that's why Dilfer has a title and Marino doesn't. Each team has the same limited financial resources to spread as efficiently as possible to acquire as much depth of talent to overcome injuries and make runs at titles. A lot has to come together to consistently make runs. Even more has to come together at the right time to win it. I'd say Ted's done better at putting the team in position more consistently than all but one.

[Pugger]

and Eli has two wins and he's not near elite
Does that go back to the GM ?

Perhaps rings shouldn't be used to measure a player's greatness. Marino never won a ring and he is considered one of the best ever.