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Today's QBs come up short

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Posted: Friday November 05, 1999 01:05 PM

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Football players are bigger, stronger, faster. I think that's a given. Freaked up to undreamed of size (thanks to the weight rooms and the steroid labs), moving at higher speeds than big guys ever had a right to hope for, they would walk over the athletes of the past -- or so the party line goes. So answer this one for me, please: How come the quarterbacks of yesterday were better?

You say they weren't, and that's simply an old-timer's pipe dream? O.K., I've done a chart: Quarterbacks of 20 years ago vs. quarterbacks of today, team by team. I didn't go back further because the game was too different, but in '79 they were in the second year of the new rules that are still in effect. Before I got the chart together, I kind of figured 1979 would win, but not by the margin I came up with. And believe me, I've bent over backward in favor of the current crop, even though my heart was with the older vintage. By teams, here are my match-ups.

AFC Team 1979 QB Edge 1999 QB Baltimore/ Indianapolis Colts Greg Landry, taking over for an injured Bert Jones. 1999 Peyton Manning Buffalo Bills Joe Ferguson 1999 Doug Flutie Cincinnati Bengals Ken Anderson 1979 Jeff Blake or Akili Smith, take your pick. Cleveland Browns/ Baltimore Ravens/ Cleveland Browns Brian Sipe 1979 Scott Mitchell, followed by Stoney Case, followed by Tony Banks, followed by ? for the Ravens, Tim Couch for the new Browns. Denver Broncos Craig Morton, 36, still with a few productive years left but clearly on the downside. 1999 (You'll have to admit that I'm being uncommonly generous to '99.) Brian Griese Houston Oilers/ Tennessee Titans Dan Pastorini, 30, and in his last year as a full-time starter. The Oilers were a playoff team in those days and the most serious rival for the Super Bowl Steelers. 1999 (How can I be more fair -- to McNair?) Steve McNair Kansas City Chiefs Steve Fuller, not well remembered, but a tall guy with a strong arm. tie Elvis Grbac Miami Dolphins Bob Griese, 34, and in his last year as a starter. His back-up was a young (28) Don Strock, one of the great relievers in NFL history. tie Dan Marino relieved by Damon Huard. No way of calling this one, since there's no way of telling when Marino will be back, and how effective he'll be upon his return. New England Patriots Steve Grogan, mainly remembered as a galloping type of runner who bulled his way for first downs, but he was much more: a terrific team leader and a great long-ball thrower who averaged 16 yards per completion in '79, a mark way out of reach of the current crop. 1999 Drew Bledsoe New York Jets Richard Todd 1979 Rick Mirer or Ray Lucas, when his ankle heals. Oakland Raiders Ken Stabler 1979 Rich Gannon Pittsburgh Steelers Terry Bradshaw 1979 Kordell Stewart San Diego Chargers Dan Fouts 1979 Erik Kramer or Jim Harbaugh, whomever is throwing fewer interceptions that week (are you beginning to get the drift ofthis thing?). Seattle Seahawks Jim Zorn, a real action quarterback who, in '79, led the talent-thin, recent expansion team to its second straight winning season. 1979 Jon Kitna, who in time will be a fine QB but is still not quite there yet. AFC tally: 1979 wins, 7-5-2 NFC Team 1979 QB Edge 1999 QB Atlanta Falcons Steve Bartkowski 1979 Chris Chandler, when available, otherwise it's Tony Graziani. Chicago Bears Mike Phipps 1979 Shane Matthews or Cade McNown (granted, Phipps was only a journeyman, but that's still a better journey than the one that's taking place now). Dallas Cowboys Roger Staubach, 37, and in the last year of his career, forced to retire because of multiple concussions (sound familiar?). Yes, he was old, but he threw 27 TDs and only 11 interceptions, and his rating of 92.3 led the NFL. 1979 Troy Aikman. In his defense, Staubach was throwing to Tony Hill and Drew Pearson, Aikman to Rocket Ismail and Ernie Mills. Detroit Lions Jeff Komlo, relieving an injured Gary Danielson. 1999 Charlie Batch Green Bay Packers David Whitehurst 1999 Brett Favre Los Angeles/ St. Louis Rams Vince Ferragamo, in relief of Pat Haden, and leading the Rams to the Super Bowl. 1999 (Yes, I'm a believer.) Kurt Warner Minnesota Vikings Tommy Kramer, 24, and just starting to come on. tie Jeff George, relieving Randall Cunningham. New Orleans Saints Archie Manning 1979 One of the Billy Joes, Hobert or Tolliver, or both. New York Giants Phil Simms, second year with the club, first year as a starter. 1979 Kent Graham, holding off the challenge from high-priced import, Kerry Collins. Philadelphia Eagles Ron Jaworski, in his prime, one year away from the Super Bowl. 1979 Doug Pederson, with Donovan McNabb waiting, waiting. St. Louis/ Arizona Cardinals Jim Hart, 35, and in his 14th season of an amazing 19-year career. 1979 Dave Brown, until Jake Plummer's broken finger heals. Two years ago I'd have given Plummer the edge, but he has regressed badly. San Francisco 49ers Steve DeBerg, locked into Bill Walsh's new offense and setting an NFL record for most passes completed in a season, while rookie Joe Montana watched from the bench. 1979 Jeff Garcia, with Steve Young out indefinitely, so we must go with Garcia here. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Doug Williams 1979 Eric Zeier taking over for Trent Dilfer, who still might regain his starting job. Stay tuned. The season is young. Washington Redskins Joe Theismann, 30, but still with two Super Bowls and two Pro Bowls ahead of him. 1979 Brad Johnson, a fine QB, but not yet in Theismann's class. NFC tally: 1979 wins, 10-3-1 FINAL TOTALS: 1979 wins, 17-8-3

What do I see that jumps out at me? Personalities. They had 'em 20 years ago, lots of them, each with a distinctive style. Archie Manning, Dan Fouts, Roger Staubach, Ken Anderson, Ken Stabler, Terry Bradshaw, Phil Simms, Ron Jaworski, Joe Theismann, Jim Hart -- there are 10 names for you of QBs who either are in the Hall of Fame or have been candidates. How many do you see from this era? Maybe four of the veterans, Steve Young, Dan Marino, Troy Aikman and Brett Favre, but all except Favre are on the downside.

If something super emerges from the current crop of youngsters, well, I guess I'll redo the chart a few years down the road. But then the Class of 1983 will get into the act, with guys like Marino and John Elway and Jim Kelly lining up alongside the old-timers.

What I see in the youngsters now, though, is a rather slavish attention to being good little boys, doing what the coach tells them, taking what the defense gives them (God, I hate that phrase), and not doing anything to cost the team the game. Could you imagine anyone trying to coach a Fouts or a Stabler that way? Result: a gray mass of dinkers. Exceptions -- Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner, so far.

Final observation -- I still love the game, but I hate what the geniuses in the coaching booths are doing to the young QBs. Or maybe they're just not that good to begin with.

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