tony hipchest
01-11-2008, 11:35 AM
no big news here, but still a good read, especially with big ben looking ahead to his next contract. this also goes along the lines that you really cant judge a draft class until after the 3rd year (something kirwan vehemently adheres to).
http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsessionid=BB88B8A731F44835912D9AFC271DF840? id=09000d5d805d0f97&template=with-video&confirm=true
After this past weekend of wild-card action, it's clear the QB Class of 2004 is officially a success.
If I told you four years ago that the money spent on the top three quarterbacks in the first round of the 2004 draft would guarantee that all would deliver a playoff win by their fourth season, most would agree it was money well spent.
Ben Roethlisberger won a Super Bowl in his second year, Eli Manning made the playoffs three years in a row and got his first postseason win Sunday, and Rivers wrapped it up his first playoff victory in two tries in the late game on Sunday.
Big Ben, Manning and Rivers are not finished products by any means, but the teams that drafted them are not afraid of the next contract; the future looks bright for the next 6-8 years for those three guys, barring injury, of course. They have already played in a combined 12 playoff games, and Rivers and Manning are guaranteed at least one more. Fourteen playoff games in four seasons is pretty darn good.
Take a look at their numbers over the first four years, including playoffs. They may not be the 1983 draft of Dan Marino, Jim Kelly and Kenny O'Brien, but they have a chance to do some great things, and none of them are a bust. Don't forget that Matt Schaub is also a member of the class of 2004.
The Class of 2004: Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers have a combined 7-5 record in the playoffs.
Three young QBs proving their worth
Ben Roethlisberger Eli Manning Philip Rivers
Att. 1,604 1,805 1,012
Comp. 1,026 987 611
TDs 96 77 45
INTs 65 64 47
Sacks 160 93 57
Playoff record 5-2 1-2 1-1
As the draft talks start up in earnest in the coming weeks, keep in mind the NFL is a quarterback-driven league. And if anyone in the draft looks at all like Roethlisberger, Manning or Rivers, a team has to take him and hope he delivers like these guys have so far: 218 touchdown passes in four years and a few postseason appearances before their rookie contract is up.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story;jsessionid=BB88B8A731F44835912D9AFC271DF840? id=09000d5d805d0f97&template=with-video&confirm=true
After this past weekend of wild-card action, it's clear the QB Class of 2004 is officially a success.
If I told you four years ago that the money spent on the top three quarterbacks in the first round of the 2004 draft would guarantee that all would deliver a playoff win by their fourth season, most would agree it was money well spent.
Ben Roethlisberger won a Super Bowl in his second year, Eli Manning made the playoffs three years in a row and got his first postseason win Sunday, and Rivers wrapped it up his first playoff victory in two tries in the late game on Sunday.
Big Ben, Manning and Rivers are not finished products by any means, but the teams that drafted them are not afraid of the next contract; the future looks bright for the next 6-8 years for those three guys, barring injury, of course. They have already played in a combined 12 playoff games, and Rivers and Manning are guaranteed at least one more. Fourteen playoff games in four seasons is pretty darn good.
Take a look at their numbers over the first four years, including playoffs. They may not be the 1983 draft of Dan Marino, Jim Kelly and Kenny O'Brien, but they have a chance to do some great things, and none of them are a bust. Don't forget that Matt Schaub is also a member of the class of 2004.
The Class of 2004: Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers have a combined 7-5 record in the playoffs.
Three young QBs proving their worth
Ben Roethlisberger Eli Manning Philip Rivers
Att. 1,604 1,805 1,012
Comp. 1,026 987 611
TDs 96 77 45
INTs 65 64 47
Sacks 160 93 57
Playoff record 5-2 1-2 1-1
As the draft talks start up in earnest in the coming weeks, keep in mind the NFL is a quarterback-driven league. And if anyone in the draft looks at all like Roethlisberger, Manning or Rivers, a team has to take him and hope he delivers like these guys have so far: 218 touchdown passes in four years and a few postseason appearances before their rookie contract is up.