The Quarterback Project

I simply cannot stop thinking about how much the Chiefs have been destroyed through their many years of AFL-NFL play by not having a quarterback that they have drafted and developed. Because of this not-quite-so-consuming-as-it-seems obsession, I have taken some spare down-time to look a bit into the meaning of having that guy (or not having him as the most relevant case may be), and I have indeed come across some very interesting things.

First of all, back in October of 2008 after a game the Chiefs played against the Panthers, my blog post unofficially commenced The Quarterback Project when I discovered the extent to which a team truly must have a Hall-of-Fame caliber quarterback or you are just not going to have a chance to win the Super Bowl. Could your not-HOF QB get you there once and by chance get your team to win it? Sure, but I discovered those instances are very rare and very far between.

Here is that post, and I'm not going to repeat all the significant information here. I will say that since that post, I've slightly shifted a few of my considerations for who should be where. For instance, I've moved Peyton Manning up to the "Hall-of-Fame great" category, and while he and Tom Brady are still active, I don't think anyone could doubt they'll both be in the Hall. I also noticed a few of them are in the Hall but I don't have them at "10," but that's because I just don't think they rise to the greatness of that level -- people like Joe Namath and Bob Greise. Again, as I mention in the post, this is certainly up for debate, but I don't think anyone can argue with the general placement.

Anyway, here's that list again, updated for 2012: (* indicates still active)

10: (Hall-of-Fame great) Troy Aikman (3 Super Bowl wins all together), Terry Bradshaw (4), Tom Brady* (3), John Elway (2), Brett Favre (1), Peyton Manning* (1), Joe Montana (4), Roger Staubach (2), John Unitas (1), and Steve Young (1). 22 total Super Bowl wins among them.

9: (Hall-of-Fame great but not the greatest) Len Dawson, Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms, Bart Starr. 6 total Super Bowl wins.

8: (Near great) Drew Brees*, Eli Manning*, Kurt Warner. 4 total wins.

7: (Very good) Ben Roethlisberger*, Aaron Rodgers*, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler. 5 total wins.

6: (Good) Bob Griese, Jim McMahon, Joe Theismann, Mark Rypien, Doug Williams. 6 total wins.

5: (Average) Brad Johnson. 1 total win.

4: (Fair) Trent Dilfer, Jeff Hostetler. 2 total wins.

3: (Poor) No one

2: (Dirt poor) No one

1: (Worthless) No one

For the purposes of this particular post, to analyze the immense value of a drafted and developed quarterback, you'll see that of the 29 quarterbacks on that list, a full 20 of them (36 wins all together among the 46 Super Bowls so far) were drafted and developed by the team for which they won the title. I am counting John Elway and Eli Manning in that category, for even though they were not drafted by that team, after the draft they were immediately shipped off to the team, so they established themselves there as if they were. Once again, see the post for more qualifying information, but the main thrust of this post is the same as it is with all the others:

The Kansas City Chiefs.

Why haven't they even been in a Super Bowl since the merger? Since 1970? Since the last time they won the thing? Yes I am indeed very very very very very proud of them for that. But since then?

It has been abysmal. Let's face it. We've only even made the AFC Championship game once. Eeyralphh.

And the main main mainest answer of all?

They just haven't had that quarterback.

Now let me make this clear. There have been a number of quarterbacks that I have been extraordinarily proud to have lead our team. Don't get me wrong. Joe Montana is my favorite player of all time. Steve DeBerg's year in 1990 was, to me, one for the ages. Trent Green was brilliant for us, he really was. I could name a few others in several instances that just made a Chiefs fan proud. And I'm not even mentioning Len Dawson, but that almost goes without saying.

But here's the bazillion dollar question.

Do we actually want to win the Super Bowl or not?

So what I did to get some grasp of all this was to go through all the teams, just to see which team has had the worst time with drafting quarterbacks. Knowing about the Chiefs awful record of drafting and developing (D&D) quarterbacks of their own, I was sure they would be the worst. I found that indeed there were some other teams that were really, really bad with it, but after it is all said and done, I think I could confidently conclude that yes, indeed...

The Chiefs are the worst.

So, let's dive into The Quarteback Project and look at each team -- yes, I want to be exhaustive this time. Yes, all of this comprises my opinion, but I try really hard to align that opinion with the facts. If you disagree, let me know, fine, but I think you'll find that I do give the highest honor to the truth about things. And yes, if you are a resolute Chiefs fan, you'll probably need that resolve to shield you from the ugliness that is about to follow.

What I'm doing here is looking at all the quarterbacks drafted from 1960 when the AFL came into existence and was considered sort of an unofficial starting point of the modern era. Sure, some will say it was 1958 with the Colts-Giants "Greatest Game Ever," but that's close enough. I'm then going to just look at those quarterbacks -- I really focused on those in the top three rounds -- as well as a few others of note selected from other rounds to see how many of them each team has actually received some pretty decent mileage from.

There are the very rare Tom Brady's, but they are extraordinarily rare. I should say that as I went over the list, I was kind of surprised by the number of highly drafted QB's all over the place who themselves were complete busts. That is not surprising, though, when you think that in any professional team athletic endeavor, some players will just emerge as better than others. The "bad" ones may not have necessarily been that bad at all, it is just that we pay more attention and award more accolades to the better ones. We should also keep in mind the myriad situations where a QB is really pretty good but working with a rotten team that simply drags his entire reputation down with it, and the instances where an actually much-less-talented guy is blessed to have a high quality team around him.

The fact remains, however, that if you aren't going to get a guy somewhere in the top three rounds, somewhere among the top 100 players coming from the college ranks each year, you aren't really serious about getting to the promised land. And even then it really should be from among the top ten or twenty players at that.

But again, what is the observable record for each team getting good play from their own drafted and developed quarterbacks? Let's just do this alphabetically:

Arizona: They've had really only two good quarterbacks that they D&D'ed: Jim Hart and Neil Lomax. Hart was signed as a free agent just as if he'd been drafted and was pretty good for them through the 70's. Lomax (2nd round, 33rd overall) was a stud who I believe went to quite a few Pro Bowls. Matt Leinhart (1/10) and Kelly Stouffer (1/6) were their most notable busts.

Atlanta: This team was a beast with D&D'ing QB's, but they never got the best Falcons success from them. Matt Ryan (1/3) is their latest highly drafted guy, but he's been a bit disappointing so far. Their first solid D&D QB was Steve Bartkowski (1/1), who was terrific. Chris Miller (1/13) and Michael Vick (1/1) were also good QB's, and interestingly they drafted Brett Favre (2/33) and Matt Schaub (3/90) just before sending them elsewhere where they shined.

Baltimore: The main guy they got, have, and who has always taken them far is Joe Flacco (1/18).

Buffalo: Jim Kelly (1/14) was their main guy, and they also did well with Joe Ferguson (3/57) early in the 70's, but he was known mostly for just handing the ball to O.J. Simpson.

Carolina: Their big prize is Cam Newton (1/1), who just finished a fantastic rookie season. That team already has their super D&D guy.

Chicago: Rex Grossman (1/22) got them to the Super Bowl in '06 -- in fact do you know that Grossman is the last QB for a Super Bowl team who is not on that list above? Way back in '06?! That is, the losing QB's in the last five Super Bowls have been Brady, Roethlisberger, Manning P, Warner, and Brady -- all on the list of already super Super Bowl-winning QB's. Doesn't this say something to the value of those QB's?! The Bears also had Jim McMahon (1/5), Jim Harbaugh (1/26) (for a while), and Bobby Douglass (2/41) who was known mostly for his great running ability.

Cincinnati: Andy Dalton (2/35) is their rookie who had a terrific year, but earlier they got wonderful work from Boomer Esiason (2/38) and Ken Anderson (3/67). Greg Cook (1/5) deserves mention because he was an amazing QB who had his bright career ended by an awful injury. Busts may include Carson Palmer (1/1) who hadn't really done what was expected (he's now on the Raiders) and does include Akili Smith (1/3) and David Klingler (1/6).

Cleveland: Oh my oh my, who can forget Tim Couch (1/1) and Brady Quinn (1/22). Those two guys alone should make this the top worst QB D&D team, but sadly for them they can't claim that notoriety, because in 1985 they did get a splendid quarterback in Bernie Kosar, who practically abused the system to allow the Browns to get him through the supplemental draft. This team also got some decent play from Mike Phipps (1/3).

Dallas: Troy Aikman (1/1). Danny White (3/53). Roger Staubach (taken very low in the 1964 draft because his Naval commitment needed to be honored). Even Craig Morton did well for them.

Denver: One of the most revealing things The Quarterback Project has showed me was that when a team can get a super studly quarterback in the draft, they can actually use their high picks for the next several years to get guys that will help the team in other areas not quarterback. This was the case with the Broncos, who didn't draft John Elway (1/1), but it was as if they did because they plucked him right away from Indianapolis. He was so good for them that Denver didn't pick a high QB in the top rounds until '92, and even then, why? It was also very-not-so-great Tommy Maddox (1/25). Anyway, teams like the Broncos were so successful in large part because they truly could have that extra draft advantage for years. And I can't refuse to mention Tim Tebow (1/25), who for all the questions about his ability has still infused the NFL with a tremendous jolt of popularity.

Detroit: A poor QB drafting team to be sure (and their playoff record -- or non-record as the case may be -- demonstrates this). They still have Matthew Stafford (1/1) now, and he's been great when he's not been injured. They also got some decent play from Charlie Batch (2/60) and Greg Landry (1/11). Mention must be made of the whole Joey Harrington (1/3) mess that many believe belied his talent.

Green Bay: Aaron Rodgers (1/24), nuff said. Bart Starr was also a D&D'ed guy, and the Packers actually got good mileage from a number of lower drafted guys, like Don Majkowski. The way the Packers got Brett Favre made him almost a pure D&D guy, but he was actually in for a few plays with Atlanta for a season before being instrumental in making the Packers great during the 90's.

Houston: David Carr (1/1) was their big pick-up, but he played for a woeful expansion team. They haven't really been around long enough to see how much a good D&D'ed guy would mean for them. This year low drafted T.J. Yates was their third string guy who came in when Matt Schaub and their second-string QB got injured, and he still led them into the playoffs.

Indianapolis: Peyton Manning (1/1), nuff said. In fact, (to say more) the Colts have not drafted a QB anywhere near high since he was picked in '98. No wonder they've done so well. I should add, though, that they did also get good play from Bert Jones (1/2) in the early 70's.

Jacksonville: This team is one of those that just didn't draft QB's high. I noticed New Orleans and Washington were other teams that just didn't do that. They did get a major bust with Byron Leftwich (1/7). Since they've only been around for, what, 17 years, the D&D assessment range is very small. The first part of their history was taken up by expansion team pick-up Mark Brunell, who did great for them, and the second part by David Garrard who was a 4th round draft selection.

Kansas City: I'm going to save Kansas City for later. (Hey, why spoil all this fun looking at all these really good D&D'ed guys from allll the other teams?...)

Miami: Dan Marino (1/27), nuff said. Okay, I'm going to say more... and that more is Bob Greise (1/4). Nuff said now.

Minnesota: Fran Tarkenton is the obvious one, but you should also remember Tommy Kramer (1/27), who was a really good QB for them in the 70's, I think early 80's. Wade Wilson also did well for them, plucked in the eighth round. Daunte Culpepper (1/11) also had some early success for the Vikings, making a few Pro Bowls himself. By the way, are you noticing how many guys who stay with their original team for a bit and are at least a little bit good are mostly all first rounders? It kind of means something to have that one guy drop right into your hands in the the first round of the draft every once in a while, doesn't it?... (That whimper, just at the end of that statement, there, was from a Chiefs fan, by the way, just in case you didn't quite catch that...)

New England: Okay, do I have to say "Tom Brady, nuff said"? No, because I have to add Drew Bledsoe (1/1) (who still got them to the Super Bowl in '96), Tony Eason (1/15) (who got them there in '85), and Jim Plunkett who was a No. 1 overall pick who did okay in his rookie year but jettisoned only to eventually land in Oakland where he won two Super Bowls for the Raiders.

New Orleans: Archie Manning (1/2) was a phenomenal quarterback on a wretched Saints team.

New York Giants: They too have benefited from doing very well with drafting quarterbacks. Since 1960 they've only drafted three in the first three rounds. That's all they've needed, really. Phil Simms (1/7) from '79 got them a long, long way. They picked Philip Rivers (1/4) in '04, but instantly traded him for Eli Manning (1/1) who's won them two Super Bowls. Hey, even Jeff Hostetler (3/59), a back-up his entire time with the Giants, got them their '90 Super Bowl win.

New York Jets: Sure many people think Mark Sanchez (1/5) should be better, but ya know? He's still gotten the Jets to two consecutive AFC championship games, in '09 and '10. Chad Pennington (1/18) was good, and I think Ken O'Brien (1/24) was even better. I also think Richard Todd (1/6) was a fine talent -- I really liked watching how he fired the ball. And who was that other guy?... Um, Joe, somebody... Namath or something like that?...

Oakland: This is one team that could very well challenge the Chiefs in the bad QB drafting game, I have to admit. JaMarcus Russell (1/1), Todd Marinovich (1/24), Marc Wilson (1/15). Can't say I'm not unpleased. But hey, they still have it all over the Chiefs with their one, solid, D&D'ed guy, Ken Stabler (2/52).

Philadelphia: Donovan McNabb (1/2) was very good for them. So was Randall Cunningham (2/37). Yes, not the best overall Eagles quarterback showing through the years, but then, yet again, how many Super Bowls have the Eagles won?...

Pittsburgh: These guys haven't had just one great D&D QB, they've had two: Terry Bradshaw (1/1) and Ben Roethlisberger (1/11). Not fair. They also got some nice play from Kordell Stewart (2/60) and Neil O'Donnell (3/70), though I know how much Steeler fans loathe these guys for just not being Bradshaw or Roethlisberger. That's Steeler fans for you.

San Diego: Again, involved in the Rivers-Manning switcharoo, and while the Chargers haven't done anything Super Bowl-ish in Rivers' tenure, he has still been a spectacular quarterback for them. Throw in Drew Brees (2/32), Dan Fouts (3/64), and John Hadl and you have a very successful D&D team, the notorious Ryan Leaf (1/2) debacle notwithstanding.

San Francisco: As much as everyone lauds the Niners for getting such good play from such low-drafted Joe Montana (3/82), he was still picked in the third round, so it wasn't as if he should have been some kind of surprise. Alex Smith (1/1) is their guy now, and he's had a hard time of it with a very disjointed team. He did great this year under Jim Harbaugh and won a clutch playoff game against the Saints, so he may have it in him to do well for some time.

Seattle: This has been a poor D&D team, too, with a classic bust in Dan McGwire (1/16), except that they still have one good solid QB they can hang their D&D hat on: Dave Krieg. Undrafted, he still signed and worked his way to being one of the top QB's in the league.

St. Louis: Sam Bradford (1/1) is their guy now, and he's a good one. (With these very young guys, like Stafford of Detroit and Dalton of Cincinnati, it will still take a while to see if they pan out, yes, but their early play has been pretty good.) Jim Everett (1/3) was drafted by Houston, but he went right to the Rams so it was as if he was drafted by them. Roman Gabriel was a very good signal caller for them in the late 60's, early 70's. And who can forget Kurt Warner, undrafted, but in one magical year, 1999, he just exploded for them. He went on to help the Rams be dominant in the early 00's and continued his great play later with Arizona.

Tampa Bay: Josh Freeman (1/17) is their great hope now, but they also had Vinny Testaverde (1/1) (didn't do so well with a poor Bucs team) and Doug Williams (1/17) (who did do well leading the Bucs to the NFC championship game in '79). Tampa Bay also drafted Steve Young, but didn't do very well developing him and shipped him to San Francisco where he flourished.

Tennessee: Vince Young (1/3) was a recent bust, but they had Steve McNair (1/3) who led them to the 1999 Super Bowl. When they were the Oilers before they had the services of Warren Moon for a long period of time, they drafted Dan Pastorini (1/3) and he did well enough to get them playoff action in the late 70's.

Washington: Again, the Redskins never drafted QB's high. They got a Super Bowl from D&D'ed Mark Rypien who was a sixth round selection, but guys like Joe Theismann (drafted originally by Miami) and Billy Kilmer (San Francisco) were pick-ups from elsewhere. Jay Schroeder (3/83) was servicable for a while, and as far back as 1961 they got Norm Snead who did some good things for them before going off to Philadelphia.

Now to the Chiefs.

Only thing is, this introduction has been quite expansive (and I'd still like to delve much deeper into each team!) I'm going to have to return to The Quarterback Project with a different post for next time, just to address the Chiefs in this whole picture. I'll shoot for next week so this post and its meaning can settle firmly in the minds of those who still need some convincing about the stratospherically significant impact a fine D&D'ed quarterback has on a team.

I don't think for a second that Scott Pioli doesn't know all this.

But then, really, what is all this for?

It's all just therapy, really.

And for Chiefs fans without a single truly meaningful D&D'ed QB in its entire history, unlike, well, every single other team on this list, it is very important that we therapize. I guess.

Anyway, the full lowdown on the history of Kansas City Chiefs quarterbackitude and their D&D activity -- err, their bountiful lack of it -- next time...

(And a quick note: If you see any discrepancy about information I've put together here, I'd love to hear about it! I want it to be as accurate as it can be, so corrections are most welcome. Also invited are the best takes regarding the opinions -- robust debate is also welcome!)
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[Here is the post that details the Chiefs QB D&D history. Warning: parental discretion is advised...]
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