The 1983 NFL Draft: One huge mistake...

[BooCocky]

Most football fans know the 83 draft was huge. The draft consisted of three Hall of Fame Quarterbacks Jim Kelly, John Elway and Pittsburgh's own Dan Marino. That draft also consisted of four quarterbacks who have played in a Superbowl with Eason being the fourth.

Going into the College season that year Marino was regarded as a heisman candidate and a possible winner but his senior season was a big disappointment. So big he fell in the draft.

John Elway was the first player selected in the draft and obviously the first QB. Todd Blackledge the State Penn QB went 7th to Kansas City and Jim Kelly the third QB taken went number 14 to Buffalo. Marino fell all the way to number 27 where the Miami Dolphins went ahead and selected him.

John Elways turned out to be one of the greatest QB's to ever play the game and Kelly was no slouch. He played in four superbowls, even though he never won one, he did have the opportunity to win four. Not many QB's can say that.

But now here comes a big miss, Kansas City was in desperate need of a QB. So they went ahead and selected Blackledge. His career never panned out like his Collegiate career did. 25 other teams pretty much had the opportunity to select Marino and they didn't. Look what they all missed out on, Marino went on to have the greatest passing career of all time while Eason and Blackledge played a combined 14 years in the NFL. Did Kansas City or the New England Patriots make the biggest mistake of all time?

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

Who's to say that Marino would have been any good with KC or New England? Furthermore, who's to say that Todd Blackledge wouldn't have had a Hall of Fame career had he played for Miami?

There are more things to consider than simply stats alone when doing the "what if" game. Marino was playing for a GREAT coach, and had he not played for Shula, his career might have been markedly different.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Ricky, that's like saying "maybe Ryan Leaf would be the greatest QB ever right now if he'd landed on the Colts and not the Chargers." The fact is, the Cheifs have been one of pro sports less consistent franchises for a LONG TIME now, and with Marino at the helm, they may well have taken the team to a title.

Except for his ball-holding. Had Marino held the ball laces out, Ray never would have missed that kick. Dan Marino should die of gonorrhea and rot in hell.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

Ricky, that's like saying "maybe Ryan Leaf would be the greatest QB ever right now if he'd landed on the Colts and not the Chargers." The fact is, the Cheifs have been one of pro sports less consistent franchises for a LONG TIME now, and with Marino at the helm, they may well have taken the team to a title.

Except for his ball-holding. Had Marino held the ball laces out, Ray never would have missed that kick. Dan Marino should die of gonorrhea and rot in hell.

No...Ryan Leaf would NOT have been the greatest QB ever right now with Jim Mora as a mentor. Mora would have set Leaf over the edge even faster, I think. Manning had his father, too...and well...he's just THAT good.

But you are telling me that Marino is no different if he lands in KC or New England? Butterfly effect dude...chaos theory...everything changes.

 

[BooCocky]

Yeah but look what Marino accomplished and he was always an excellent passer. You can't teach that kind of passing and in Miami he had to do it all himself. If they didn't score 28 points the Dolphins lost. And that kind of passing you can't teach. The Chiefs or the Pats made a huge mistake. They passed on the greatest pocket passer of all time for guys who played 7 years in the NFL. Marino played like 16. Not only do they have longevity at the QB position they have someone who can win games. That's something Blackledge failed to do and pretty much the same thing Eason failed to do. Marino might not have all the passing records ( before Favre broke em) but he would of had a good career if he ended in either KC ow New England...

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

So, then going by this argument...did every NFL team (except 1 of course) make a mistake in 2000 when they all passed up on drafting Tom Brady? He's got more rings than anyone right now, so did the Steelers make a big mistake in instead drafting Tee Martin with pick 165?

Maybe bad luck...but a mistake? How can you REALLY know these things?