Another survey of sorts...Heisman QBs

[The Gipper]

Here is another survey of sorts. I am going to list here the players that were listed as QBs in college that won the Heisman Trophy. Tell us whether you think these guys were a bust or a plus as a pro football player. (some will be obvious) For the last few, give your prediction on bust vs. plus:

Davey O'Brien

Angelo Bertelli

Johnny Lujack

Paul Hornung#

Terry Baker

Roger Staubach*

John Huarte

Steve Spurrier

Gary Beban

Jim Plunkett

Pat Sullivan

Doug Flutie

Vinny Testaverde

Andre Ware

Ty Detmer

Gino Torretta

Charlie Ward

Danny Wuerffel

Chris Weinke

Eric Crouch

Carson Palmer

Jason White

Matt Leinert

Troy Smith

Tim Tebow

Sam Bradford

#Hornung in Pro Football HOF, but as a running back, not a QB

*Staubach, surprisingly is the ONLY QB on this entire list who is in the PFHOF as a QB!

[The Gipper]

@the-gipper said:

Here is another survey of sorts. I am going to list here the players that were listed as QBs in college that won the Heisman Trophy. Tell us whether you think these guys were a bust or a plus as a pro football player. (some will be obvious) For the last few, give your prediction on bust vs. plus:

Answering my own survey:

Davey O'Brien.....bust, only played 2 below average years in the pros

Angelo Bertelli .....bust, only played 3 below average years in the pros

Johnny Lujack.....bust, only played 3 average years in the pros

Paul Hornung# ..... plus, see below

Terry Baker.....bust

Roger Staubach*.....obvious plus, see below

John Huarte.....bust

Steve Spurrier.....bust

Gary Beban.....bust

Jim Plunkett.....plus, 2 SB wins

Pat Sullivan.....bust

Doug Flutie.....plus, in my opinion

Vinny Testaverde.....plus, in top 10 in all career passing categories

Andre Ware....bust

Ty Detmer.....probably bust, though had decent career as a backup

Gino Torretta.....bust

Charlie Ward.....bust

Danny Wuerffel.....bust

Chris Weinke.....bust

Eric Crouch.....bust

Carson Palmer.....plus

Jason White.....bust

Matt Leinert....so far, bust, may be too early. Prediction: he won't make it.

Troy Smith.....so far, bust, but may be too early. Prediction: better chances than Leinert, but needs right team.

Tim Tebow.....if he becomes even average, that would be a surprise. Prediction: Eric Crouch Jr.

Sam Bradford.....a little better chance, though I see him as average at best. A Ty Detmer like career is my prediction.

#Hornung in Pro Football HOF, but as a running back, not a QB

*Staubach, surprisingly is the ONLY QB on this entire list who is in the PFHOF as a QB!

[The Gipper]

As I count it, only 6 of the 26 QB Heisman Trophy winners have had positive professional football careers, and one of them: Hornung, was in a position other than QB. (With about 4 "incompletes" out of the bunch)

[The Gipper]

Here is the other side of the coin. The following are the Quarterbacks who have been taken with the overall #1 pick in the draft. Rate these guys on whether they were busts, successes or whatever:

Angelo Bartelli

Frank Dancewiscz

Harry Gilmer

Billy Wade

Bobby Garrett

George Shaw

Paul Hornung

King Hill

Randy Duncan

Roman Gabriel (AFL)

Terry Baker

Jack Concannon (AFL)

Terry Bradshaw

Jim Plunkett

Steve Bartkowski

John Elway

Vinny Testaverde

Troy Aikman

Jeff George

Drew Bledsoe

Peyton Manning

Tim Couch

Michael Vick

David Carr

Carson Palmer

Eli Manning

Alex Smith

Jamarcus Russell

Matthew Stafford

[The Gipper]

@the-gipper said:

Here is the other side of the coin. The following are the Quarterbacks who have been taken with the overall #1 pick in the draft. Rate these guys on whether they were busts, successes or whatever:

My review of them.

Angelo Bartelli....pro bust, see prior post

Frank Dancewiscz.....bust, played only 3 years, 2 as a defensive back

Harry Gilmer......basically a bust. Only started 13 games in 8 year career. A backup

Billy Wade....Should be considered a plus player. Won the NFL title as QB of the Bears in 1963. A tough guy.

Bobby Garrett....Bust. Drafted by the Browns, but traded to Green Bay. Only played one year, throwing 30 career passes.

George Shaw....Basic bust. 8 years, only 29 starts. A career backup

Paul Hornung...Hall of Fame career as a running back.

King Hill....Bust essentially. Had a 12 year career, but as a backup. Only 29 career starts.

Randy Duncan...Big Bust. Played in only 2 games in his career.

Roman Gabriel (AFL) A plus. Several Pro Bowl and playoff years with the Rams.

Terry Baker....Bust

Jack Concannon (AFL)....Neither plus nor bust. Some good years with the AFL Pats and Eagles. Injured.

Terry Bradshaw...Hall of Famer

Jim Plunkett... Plus. Borderline Hall of Famer. QBd 2 Super Bowl winners

Steve Bartkowski....Should be considered a plus probably. A couple or 3 Pro Bowl years, plus a couple of playoff years.

John Elway....Hall of Fame career

Vinny Testaverde.....plus, borderline, not quite Hall of Fame career

Troy Aikman....Hall of Famer

Jeff George.....Bust. Never got his act together

Drew Bledsoe....Plus. QBed a team or two to the SB. Among all time career leader in several passing stats.

Peyton Manning..... Will be a Hall of Famer, obviously

Tim Couch.....Bust, but could have done better.

Michael Vick....Bust at this point.

David Carr....Bust

Carson Palmer....plus career. Has work to do to be what we think he should be

Eli Manning. Plus career so far. QBed a Super Bowl champion

Alex Smith....Bust so far

Jamarcus Russell....looking like a major bust so far

Matthew Stafford....looks like he could have a good career.