Bruins Leafs Game 6 Recap

Now, it’s time to be worried. The Bruins are in danger of repeating what they did last year by blowing a 3-1 lead. We have tormented the Leafs for years and now we’ve given them hope that they can turn the tables on us. Game notes below:

– Another slow start for the Bruins as they were outshot 12-1 in the first. If not for Swayman playing so well, these past two games could have been much more lopsided.

– The Bruins continue to not finish scoring chances late in the game. There were a couple golden opportunities to tie the game at 1 in the third and they just couldn’t put the puck home.

– McAvoy was way too aggressive on that last Leaf’s goal. He made a terrible step up that led to Nylander getting a breakaway. It’s another example of how the Bruins need to be more composed and keep their heads.

– Bruins coach Jim Montgomery, called Pasta out for not playing better. Hopefully, this lights a fire under him and he plays his ass off Game 7.

“Game 7. Anything can happen.” – Kevin Millar, former Red Sox first baseman. It’s one of the truest quotes in sports history. You absolutely never know what’s gonna happen in these winner take all games. The Leafs have the momentum and Matthews might be returning. But the Bruins are back at home and know they can’t blow this series lead, especially after last year. Let’s just hope they get it together and win.

Bruins Leafs Game 5 Recap

This was a game the Bruins did not deserve to win, but nonetheless, had plenty of chances to win. Below are my game notes:

– They were absolutely terrible in the first period and the first ten minutes of the 2nd period. They got outplayed, could not get anything going, and were lucky that Swayman played amazing last night to keep them in the game.

– Even though they improved their play the last half of the game, some common errors kept happening. They could not break the puck out and their composure was awful all night. They had so many in-zone turnovers that led to scoring chances and it looked like they couldn’t make a clean pass all night. They were dominated on faceoffs too.

– This is giving me echos of last year. The Bruins were up 3-1, then lost game 5 in OT at home and went on to lose the series.

– It would be one thing to simply lose the game. It’s hockey, that is going to happen. But the fact that the Maple Leafs – without Austin Matthews – outplayed them and the Bruins didn’t look like they came to play is a bad sign. The OT goal is a perfect example of that. Two Bruins forwards took a terrible change while the Leafs were on a rush, leaving the Bruins with three guys in the Dzone. Grzelcyk was playing Tavares, while McAvoy and Coyle were simply watching the puck instead of covering a guy. Tavares got the puck out front and McAvoy and Coyle weren’t in position and there was no backchecking forward there to cover Knies either and he got an easy rebound goal. That simply can’t happen in the playoffs.

– Despite their bad play, the Bruins still had multiple chances to win the game but were either stopped by Woll (who played great) or missed the net. Those are pucks they need to put home if they want to win the Cup.

– Now they have to go back to Toronto and try to win there, lest we have a Game 7. It’s time to put this game to rest and focus on Game 6.

Post Draft Thoughts

So much success in the NFL is based on where you play, especially at quarterback. No matter how much talent you have, a terrible organization, coach, and team can derail a career. Now that we know where the top 6 QBs and a couple other top prospects are playing, below I predict how their careers will turn out.

Caleb Williams:

Going to Chicago has historically been where careers go to die for QBs. However, if one QB can buck that trend, it’s Williams. He is so talented and the fact that his pro comparisons are Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes tells you how good he is. Unlike with Justin Fields, the Bears have actually done a great job of surrounding him with amazing weapons and a solid Oline. How great he will be will come down to how well the coaching staff develops him. Regardless, the Bears history of never having a QB throw for 4,000 yards or 30 TDs will end soon.

I think he will be a really good to great QB in the NFL. He will make multiple Pro Bowls and help the Bears compete in a really tough division. My main apprehension with him is he seems like a diva type player. That’s fine with wide receivers like TO and OBJ, but when it comes to quarterback, that type of personality tends to not work out. Look at guys in the league who are star QBs: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, etc. They are not controversial and outspoken personalities. They always say the right things and are tremendous leaders. I just get the vibe that Caleb will not be a great leader and might causes some issues off the field similar to Kyler Murray and Aaron Rodgers. Once again, I think he’ll be really good to great, but will definitely cause some headaches for the Bears.

Jayden Daniels:

It’s great to see another LSU QB have a massive progression, win the Heisman, and be a top pick in the draft. That shows how great his work ethic is. His athleticism is off the charts and he will be one of the most athletic QBs in the league right away. It’s also reassuring that Daniels put up the numbers he did while playing in the best conference in college. He will be able to make an immediate impact and having an OC like Kliff Kingsbury is also a plus.

My one apprehension with him is that he is not super well built. This is something that can be fixed, but with a terrible Oline and being a guy that runs so much, it could be an issue.

Overall, he has a pretty good group of weapons around him with Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson at WR and Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr at RB. I think he has an average to solid career as a starter, but is not anything special.

Drake Maye:

I have super high hopes for Maye. He was my favorite QB in this draft, so the fact the Pats got him at #3 is a steal in my opinion. He reminds me a lot of Andrew Luck and Justin Herbert in terms of his combination of size, athleticism, and arm talent. He will just have turned 22 at the start of next season and will have time to develop under Jacoby Brissett. He is extremely tough, is a great kid, and played well through some perseverance and tough situations last year.

The biggest question with Maye has nothing to do with him, but the Patriots. First off, they have the worst roster in the league, especially when it comes to Oline and WR. They drafted some wide receivers and offensive lineman after Maye, but they still need to surround him with weapons and guys who can block. Also, how will the coaches develop him? Jerrod Mayo is a defensive coach so it will mainly be the responsibility of Alex Van Pelt, who is relatively unproven.

I believe he will develop into the Patriots franchise quarterback. He has the tools to succeed in New England, with a big frame and big arm that will serve him well in the terrible Foxboro weather. He obviously won’t be Tom Brady, but I think he can be a better version of Drew Bledsoe. He should be a multiple time Pro Bowler and lead the Pats back to contention for years to come.

Michael Penix Jr:

Easily the biggest shocker of the draft. I was initially shocked by what they did, but the Falcons explaining why they did it helped me make more sense of it. I just don’t agree with their reasoning.

Penix is going to be 24 before the season starts and is maybe the most “pro-ready” QB prospect in the draft. But they drafted him to be the developmental, eventual starter. He should have some good weapons around him when he does start, but when will that be?

They owe Kirk Cousins a ton of money and realistically can’t get out of the contact until 2026 when Penix with be 26 himself. Cousins isn’t amazing but he’s a good enough starter who probably won’t play himself out of the position. With all the uncertainty and an odd situation, I think Penix doesn’t end up being a long-term starter in the league.

J.J. McCarthy:

I like McCarthy, but easily think he was the most overrated player this draft. Compared to the other 5 QBs taken, I think he easily was the worst prospect and was benefited by his team more than any of them. With that being said, he is going to basically the perfect situation. He has a really good offensive coach in Kevin O’Connell, the best WR in the league in Justin Jefferson, a top 3 TE in TJ Hockenson, one of the best young WRs in the league in Jordan Addison, and new RB Aaron Jones. They even have a good offensive line. Furthermore, McCarthy can develop behind Sam Darnold if needed.

I think McCarthy will have a career similar to the man he is replacing – Kirk Cousins. His situation is just too good to be a complete bust. I see him putting up solid numbers but not being a guy who can win his team big games and take them far in the playoffs.

Bo Nix:

Nix lands in a spot with a good head coach, but a team that really lacks weapons. He’s accurate and has a ton of experience, but I just don’t think he has that high of a ceiling. Sean Payton has also been very impatient and critical of his QB and team since taking over and I don’t think that’s a great situation for any rookie QB. I think Nix ends up playing a good bit as a rookie, but I don’t think his career will mount to much and he won’t be a long-term starter.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

I think he is the best player in this class and the most exciting by far. Getting to play for a good QB in Kyler is also huge for him. He’ll be a Day 1 starter and should be an absolute stud for years to come.

Brock Bowers:

I think Bowers fits into the Raiders mold well. The biggest question is who is gonna be the QB throwing him the ball and how good will they be. However, he’s so talented that he should make an immediate impact and he has other weapons around him so defenses can’t just key in on him. He should be a long-term starter and make a handful of Pro Bowls.

Other Quick Points

With 6 QBs taken in the first round and all these other amazing offensive players at marquee positions like WR and OT, I think this draft will go down in history as one of the best ever.

The fact that round 1 of the NFL draft had a higher average viewership than last year’s NBA finals once again shows why football is the king of sports in the US.

Xavier Worthy should be a great pick for Chiefs. He fits in so well with Mahomes and that offense. The Chiefs have rebuilt their WR corps into one of the better ones in the league in just one year, showing why they are the dynasty that they are.

It’s still so early, but the Bears – Panthers trade from last year might go down as the worst trade in NFL history. If Bryce Young ends up being a bust, while Caleb is a stud that’s bad enough. But on top of that, the Bears got one of the best WRs in the league, a starting tackle, a starting CB, and still have another 2nd round pick next year. This is something to keep an eye on.

Patriots Free Agency and Draft Recap

Below are some of the highlights (and some lowlights) of the Pats offseason so far.

Key Additions/Returners:

Drake Maye, QB: Wow, this could not have gone better. He would have been my top choice at QB even if we had the number 1 pick. He’s absolutely our guy. I’m happy we got him some new WRs and offensive linemen because we needed help there and still do. Now we need to let him develop and simaltaneously keep building up the team around him. Don’t have the reason he doesn’t succeed be because we didn’t give him anything to work with. Luckily, the great thing is that he can sit behind Jacoby Brisset for a year if needed and develop while we continue to build up our team in free agency and the draft next year. I don’t like the Joe Milton pick unless they end up moving him to TE. It makes no sense to have two rookie QBs that you need to develop, so hopefully he switches positions.

Ja’Lynn Polk, WR: I have high hopes for Polk. He was overshadowed by Romeo Odunze, but still had a great season for Washington. He’s got great size and should immediately become our WR1. In recent history, many stud WRs have been taken in the early 2nd round, so Polk could develop into a star WR for us.

Caedan Wallace, OT: He is a player with a low floor, but a high ceiling. He could end up contributing nothing or being a great player for years to come. It helps that he can play left tackle or right tackle, so hopefully he can make an impact his rookie year.

Jacoby Brissett, QB: I love signing Brissett to a 1 year deal for $8 mil. It is a perfect low risk move that gives us a potential bridge QB who is a great guy and teammate.

Mike Onwenu, G/T: Signing him to a 3 year deal for $57 mil is a little expensive, but I’m happy they kept him. Having a good offensive line is huge for a young QB and Onwenu can play both guard spots and right tackle so he’s a huge asset. The Pats have let great homegrown offensive lineman like Joe Thuney leave in recent years so I love that we kept Onwenu around.

Kendrick Bourne, WR: I think we overpaid him at 3 years, $33 mil, but its good to have our best WR from last year back. Ideally we draft a couple weapons and he is our number 3 receiver, but he’s still a good guy to have around.

Hunter Henry, TE: I feel similar about this signing as I do with Bourne. That being said, he’s our best red zone option and can be a great safety blanket for a young QB.

Kyle Dugger, S: The Pats placed the transition tag on him, then signed him to a 4 year $58 million deal. He’s a good player and seems like a good guy, but I don’t get why they shelled out such a big deal to a guy who is 28 and doesn’t play a premium position.

Christian Barmore, DT: The Pats signed Barmore to a massive 4 year deal worth up to $92 million. He’s now the 7th highest paid DT in the league and it’s the biggest non-Tom Brady contract in team history. They easily overpaid Barmore. However, the one thing that eases my disagreement is that only about $40 million is guaranteed. Seeing as the Pats have plenty of cap space and no real stars they need to resign soon, it still isn’t a good deal, but isn’t detrimental. Barmore was pretty good last year and let’s hope he now raises his game even more.

Key Depatures:

Mac Jones, QB: This was a great move. Having Mac there would be awkward for our new QB and the fact we got anything for him is huge. A 6th round pick isn’t amazing, but Brady was a 6th round pick so you never know what they could get.

Trent Brown, T: He was by no means that good, but losing your left tackle is important, especially with a new young QB. They need to replace him.

Overall, I’m very happy with how this offseason went. The Pats got their potential franchise QB and some WRs and offensive lineman in the draft, which were their three biggest needs. That shows that they are willing to invest significant time and draft capital into offensive players, which they have been terrible at the last decade plus. They also resigned some key lineman and receivers, while cleaning house by trading away Mac Jones. I don’t expect us to win a lot of games this year, but my hope is our young players can develop and the future will look bright.

Bruins – Leafs Game 3 Recap

The NHL postseason is in full swing and the Bruins – Maple Leafs series has been great so far. Takeaways from Game 3 and the series as a whole:

– I love that the Bruins have two great goalies they can play interchangeably. However, for the time being, Swayman should play unless he gets tired or stops playing so good.

– Auston Matthews is unbelievable. He’s one of those guys that scares you every time he touches the puck because he is so dangerous. He’s easily my favorite player to watch in the league, but watching him play my team in the playoffs may give me a heart attack.

– The Bruins have outplayed the Leafs so far and have done a lot of things well. One thing I’d like to see more of, is more big hits. While the Bruins have been physical, the Leafs have had some massive hits that helped swing momentum to their side. Big hits are one of the best things about playoff hockey and the Bruins need more of them.

– I’m a big fan of Charlie McAvoy, but he can frustrate me at times. He sometimes lacks awareness in the D Zone and is overly aggressive offensively yet it doesn’t often result in scoring goals for the Bruins. He’s our best defensemen and played well last night, but I’d like to see him play with some more discipline.

– The Bruins are relying on two young, unproven defensemen in Mason Lohrei and Parker Wotherspoon. In addition to having difficult last names to spell, they both made some costly turnovers that Swayman had to bail them out on. I hope they can get their composure together, because those types of mistakes can lose games.

– Lastly, I just want to say how great it is to have a guy like Brad Marchand on our team. Every other team and fan base in the league hates him and that makes us love him even more. The combination of grit, skill, and the ability to get under people’s skin is only matched by Matthew Tkachuk. Marchand has consistently performed great in the regular season and turns it to another level in the playoffs. He’s now tied for 1st in playoff goals and 2nd in playoff points in Bruins HISTORY. That is incredible, given how long the Bs have been around and all the great players we’ve had. He’s been great this series and we’ve been lucky to have him on our team the past 15 years. He’s a future Hall of Famer whether people want to admit it or not.

We recaptured home ice advantage which was huge. Now, we need to take complete control in Game 4. LETS GO BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUINS.

Best Players in the 2020 CFP

The 2020 College Football Playoff probably had the most talent we have ever seen in the CFP era. Take a look below at how loaded these teams were:

LSU

  • Joe Burrow, QB: 2019 All-American and Heisman Trophy Winner, 2020 1st Round Pick (1st), NFL Pro Bowler
  • Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB: 2020 1st round pick (32nd), 2x Super Bowl Champion
  • Ja’Marr Chase, WR: 2019 All-American and Fred Biletnikoff Award Winner, 2021 1st Round Pick (5th), NFL All-Pro
  • Justin Jefferson, WR: 2020 1st Round Pick (22nd), 3x NFL All-Pro, 2022 NFL OPOY, Most receiving yards by a player in their first 4 seasons
  • K’Lavon Chaisson, DE: 2020 1st Round Pick (20th)
  • Patrick Queen, LB: 2020 1st Round Pick (28th), NFL All-Pro
  • Grant Delpit, S: 2x All-American, 2019 Jim Thorpe Award Winner, 2020 2nd Round Pick (44th)
  • Derek Stingley Jr, CB: 2019 All-American, 2022 1st Round Pick (3rd)

Clemson

  • Trevor Lawrence, QB: 2020 ACC POY, 2021 1st Round Pick (1st), NFL Pro Bowler
  • Travis Etienne, RB: 2020 All-American, 2x ACC POY, 2021 1st Round Pick (25th), 2x 1,000 yard rusher in NFL
  • Tee Higgins, WR: 2020 2nd Round Pick (33rd), 2x 1,000 yard receiver in NFL
  • Justyn Ross, WR: 1,000 yard receiver in college, 2x Super Bowl Champion
  • Isaiah Simmons, LB: 2019 All American and Dick Butkus Award Winner, 2020 1st Round Pick (8th)
  • AJ Terrell Jr, CB: 2020 1st Round Pick (16th), NFL All-Pro

Ohio State

  • Justin Fields, QB: 2x Big Ten OPOY, 2021 1st round Draft Pick (11th)
  • JK Dobbins, RB: 6th in Heisman voting in 2019, 2,000 yard rusher in college, 2020 2nd Round Pick (55th)
  • Garrett Wilson, WR: 2022 1st round pick (10th), 2x 1,000 yard receiver in NFL, 2022 NFL OROY
  • Chris Olave, WR: 2022 1st Round Pick (11th), 2x 1,000 yard receiver in NFL
  • Jameson Williams, WR: 2022 1st Round Pick (12th)
  • Wyatt Davis, G: 2x All-American, 2021 3rd Round Pick (86th)
  • Jonah Jackson, G: 2020 3rd Round Pick (75th), NFL Pro Bowler
  • Chase Young, DE: 2019 All-American, 2019 Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik Award Winner, 2020 1st Round Pick (2nd), NFL Pro Bowler, 2020 NFL DROY
  • Damon Arnette, CB: 2020 1st Round Pick (19th)
  • Jeff Okudah, CB: 2019 All-American, 2020 1st Round Pick (3rd)

Oklahoma

  • Jalen Hurts, QB: 2016 SEC OPOY, 2019 Heisman Runner-up, 2020 2nd Round Pick (53rd), NFL All-Pro
  • Rhamondre Stevenson, RB: 2021 4th round Pick (120th), 1,000 yard rusher in the NFL
  • CeeDee Lamb, WR: 2019 All-American, 2020 1st Round Pick (17th), 2x NFL All-Pro
  • Creed Humphrey, C: 2021 2nd Round Pick (63rd), NFL All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl Champ
  • Kenneth Murray, LB: 2020 1st Round Pick (23rd)

As a bonus, check out how good the 2019 Alabama team was who finished ranked EIGHTH in the AP Poll:

  • Tua Tagovailoa, QB: 2018 All-American and Maxwell Award Winner, 2020 1st Round Pick (5th), led NFL in Passer Rating in 2022, NFL Pro Bowler
  • Mac Jones, QB: 2020 All-American and Davey O’Brien Award Winner, 2021 1st Round Pick (15th), NFL Pro Bowler
  • Najee Harris, RB: 2020 All-American and Doak Walker Award Winner, 2021 1st Round Pick (24th), NFL Pro Bowler
  • Henry Ruggs III, WR: 2020 1st Round Pick (12th)
  • Jerry Jeudy, WR: 2018 Fred Biletnikoff Award Winner and All-American, 2020 1st round pick (15th)
  • Jaylen Waddle, WR: 2021 1st Round Pick (6th), 3x 1,000 yard receiver in the NFL
  • DeVonta Smith, WR: 2020 Heisman Award Winner, 2021 1st Round Pick (10th), 2x 1,000 yard receiver in NFL
  • John Metchie, WR: 2022 2nd Round Pick (44th)
  • Landon Dickerson, G: 2020 All-American and Dave Rimington Trophy Winner, 2021 2nd Round Pick (37th), 2x NFL Pro Bowler
  • Alex Leatherwood, T: 2020 All-American and Outland Trophy Winner, 2021 1st Round Pick (17th)
  • Evan Neal, T: 2021 All-American, 2022 1st Round Pick (7th), 
  • Jedrick Wills Jr, T: 2020 1st Round Pick (10th)
  • Trevon Diggs: 2020 2nd Round Pick (51st), NFL All-Pro
  • Patrick Surtain II: 2020 All-American and SEC DPOY, 2021 1st Round Pick (9th), NFL All-Pro

The five teams above provided a whopping 31 first round picks in the 2020-2022 NFL Drafts. An absolute crazy amount of talent on those five squads. If your looking for something to do just pull up some highlights from these teams 2019 seasons and you’ll be entertained for hours.

Belichick vs Kraft Beef Reaction

It’s sad to see what has become of two of the core members of the Pat’s Dynasty. Bill’s name has been dragged through the mud the past four years as people have said he is an incompetent GM and an out of touch coach. Now, its gotten to the point where Bill couldn’t get a job in the latest hiring cycle and his future as a head coach is in jeopardy.

What’s made the Bill situation more awkward is the role that Kraft has seemed to play in the smearing of Bill’s name. Reports have come out for the last five or so years about Kraft not liking Belichick and saying a demeaning thing here and there. But this offseason, it has turned into a full frontal assault on Bill.

First, the documentary, “The Dynasty,” came out. A lot of former Pats have called it terrible, and it seems like a hit piece Kraft helped make to simultaneously shit on Belichick, while also making himself look good so he can get into the Hall of Fame. Now, a report has come out that Kraft has been talking about Bill behind his back to sabotage Bill and prevent him from getting a job. The article stated a big reason for this is that Brady has left and had success and if Bill does the same, then Kraft looks like the reason the Pats dynasty failed and the least important of the three. Kraft’s main hope of looking good is if Bill doesn’t get a job and he can rebuild the Pats to a title contender.

It has gotten to the point that people are now defending Bill and shitting on Kraft, which I never thought I’d see. It’s also important to remember that while I’m sure there’s some truth to all of this, it also is likely getting blown out of proportion to make it into an entertaining story.

Regardless, this is tough as a Pats fan because I really like both of them. I think Bill is the greatest coach and GM ever, and Kraft is the greatest owner of all time. Both completely deserve a spot in the Hall of Fame and every Pats fan should be grateful for both of them. I think time is what’s needed to heal this relationship. After a couple years, I’m sure the beef will mostly subside and they’ll be thankful for each other and what they were able to accomplish together.

Current Quaterbacks Going to the Hall Of Fame

No Doubt

Aaron Rodgers: A four time MVP who throws the prettiest ball of all time. He’ll be a first ballot HOF and no one will bat an eye.

Patrick Mahomes: He is putting up numbers and accolades at a faster pace than any QB ever. It pains me to say, but he will make a run at the NFL GOAT and at minimum should be on the Mt. Rushmore for QBs if he stays healthy.

Lamar Jackson: Every player who has won the MVP award multiple times has or is guaranteed to go to the Hall of Fame. For that reason, plus the fact that he is probably the best athlete and running QB ever, I think Lamar has punched his ticket to Canton and he still should have many productive years left.

Likely In

Russell Wilson: Forget the last two years. He’s a nine time Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl Champ, an All-Pro, and the QB of a legendary team. I do think he needs one more MVP/OPOY/All-Pro type season to guarantee himself a spot. The one thing that could keep him out is if his play continues to be this ugly moving forward.

Young, but will eventually make it

Justin Herbert: I think his floor is a Dan Marino type career where his team lets him down but he puts up all time numbers. If he can even win one Super Bowl, I think he goes down as a Top 10 QB ever. Getting Jim Harbaugh will only help him.

Joe Burrow: He is a gamer and a winner. I think the Bengals will win at least one Super Bowl and he’ll have many individual accolades. He’s also the only active QB who has shown he can consistently beat Mahomes.

Missing Out

Josh Allen: His play is absolutely amazing but playing like Superman has its consequences. I think he takes too many hits and it will lead to him having too short of a career to do what he needs to make the Hall.

Matthew Stafford: I don’t get the Hall buzz for Stafford. He has made two Pro Bowls, never been an All-Pro, never been considered a Top 5 QB, and never won a major award. It’s not even a question, he’s out.

Quarterbacks Hall of Fame Chances

The infinite question of whether a QB belongs in the Hall of Great or the Hall of Fame. Below I’ll detail recently retired QBs and whether I think they will make the Hall and whether I think they should make the Hall (there’s a difference.)

Matt Ryan

Career Highlights: 4 Pro Bowls, 1x All-Pro, 2016 MVP, 2016 OPOY, 7th in Career Passing Yards, 9th in Career Passing Touchdowns, 0-1 in Super Bowls

Matt Ryan was an amazing player who will always be remembered for a bad thing. 28-3 will be his legacy forever. It’s the first thing you think of when you think of him. He put up great numbers and even won an MVP. But not only did he not win a Super Bowl, he chocked it away in magnificent fashion. That, combined with not consistently being a Top 5 QB, will leave him out.

Will he make it: No

Does he deserve to make it: No

Ben Roethlisberger

Career Highlights: 6 Pro Bowls, 5th in Career Passing Yards, 8th in Career Passing Touchdowns, 2-1 in Super Bowls

Big Ben was always one of the most overrated players in the league. He put up numbers and won 2 Super Bowls, however, those Super Bowls were in spite of him, not because of him. His TD-INT ratio was 3-5 in those games and he never won Super Bowl MVP. Plus, he was never an All-Pro and we never thought of him as a guy who was consistently a Top 5 QB in the league.

Will he make it: Yes

Does he deserve to make it: No

Phillip Rivers

Career Highlights: 8 Pro Bowls, 6th in Career Passing Yards and Touchdowns

Another guy who really needed a Super Bowl win to secure his legacy. Unfortunately, he had to deal with Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and other great AFC QBs throughout his career and never even made it. Combine that with no All-Pros and no big awards and he shouldn’t make it.

Will he make it: No

Does he deserve to make it: No

Eli Manning

Career Highlights: 4 Pro Bowls, 10th in Career Passing Yards and Touchdowns, 2-0 in Super Bowls, 2 Super Bowl MVPs

The ultimate underdog. Eli underwhelmed in the regular season, but shined in the playoffs. Unlike, Big Ben, he excelled in the postseason during his 2 Super Bowl runs. The first thing you think of with him is stopping the Pats from going undefeated in 2007. Then he preceded to beat them again in 2011. That’s a guy who deserves a Hall of Fame spot.

Will he make it: Yes

Does he deserve to make it: Yes

Cam Newton

Career Highlights: 3 Pro Bowls, 1x All-Pro, 2015 MVP, 2015 OPOY, 2nd in Career Rushing Yards by a QB, 1st in Career Rushing Touchdowns by a QB, 0-1 in Super Bowls

He was absolutely amazing to watch in his prime. But his style of play that made him so great, also led to him taking so many hits and shortened his career. He helped usher in the new style of dual threat QBs and was the greatest rushing QB ever. Unfortunately, he wasn’t a prolific enough passer to warrant being in the Hall of Fame.

Will he make it: No

Does he deserve to make it: No

Andrew Luck

Career Highlights: 4 Pro Bowls

I think Luck is the best QB on this list and if I was starting a team, I would pick him over all of these guys. Unfortunately for him and NFL fans, the Colts couldn’t protect him and he retired early. If he played as long as Eli, Rivers, or Big Ben did, he would’ve been in without a doubt. But health is a huge part of football and that was the one thing he didn’t have.

Will he make it: No

Does he deserve to make it: No

Rookie QB Strategy

Every time a team drafts a potential franchise QB, the fanbase is pumped up but often gets let down. The truth is, that a huge determinate of a QB’s success is where they end up. Even a guy like Andrew Luck, who was one of the best QB prospects ever, played great for the Colts but had his career shut down due to his front office not being able to protect him. Below is what I think teams should down before/after drafting their future QB.

First, they need to build the team around him. With few exceptions (i.e. Luck) you can’t just draft a QB onto an awful team and expect things to turn around. It’s much smarter to draft a QB onto a team that has pieces around him. Start with a solid O-Line that can protect him. Then you want 1 or 2 good to great playmakers he can get the ball to and make him look good. Finally, an, at minimum, average defense that won’t lose him games in which he’s played well enough to win.

QBs should play as soon as possible. If a QB isn’t remotely ready or you have a capable guy ahead of him, then I get it. But if he is the best option you have, why not play him and let him get experience? The first year might suck, but if they are going to be a future star, then it should make them better. Trevor Lawrence had Urban Meyer his first year and has still developed into a good QB.

There are 3 types of exits for QBs after you have drafted them. If after one year they show complete ineptitude and are a bad locker room guy, then its time to move on. After year 2, if they have not shown flashes that they can be great, then its time to move on. Finally, by the end of year 3, if they have not developed into a good QB, it is time to move on. Devoting more than 3 years to a guy who isn’t the answer is unwise. Especially because every current star QB who has been drafted the last 10 years, has shown his talent by the end of year 3.