Category: Touchdown Wire

The 14 Alabama quarterbacks who were drafted by the pros

Alabama has always been one of the best programs in college football, but its record of sending starting quarterbacks to the NFL has been much more spotty. Though it can claim such Hall of Fame legends as Bart Starr, Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler, …

Alabama has always been one of the best programs in college football, but its record of sending starting quarterbacks to the NFL has been much more spotty. Though it can claim such Hall of Fame legends as Bart Starr, Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler, it’s been decades since a Crimson Tide signal caller has been effective in the pro ranks.

Indeed, before A.J. McCarron won two games with the 2015 Bengals, it had been 28 years since an Alabama alumni (Jeff Rutledge, 1987) had won a game as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

With Tua Tagovailoa’s big day coming up, here’s a look at the 14 Alabama quarterbacks who have been drafted by the pro ranks and how they did.

A.J. McCarron — 2014

(Photo by John Grieshop/Getty Images)

5th round, 164th pick, Bengals

McCarron won back-to-back national titles as a starter at Alabama and was also at the school for the 2009 title. Success in the NFL hasn’t come quite as easily, though. McCarron has only started four games over his six-year career. He played for the Texans in 2019 and recently re-signed with the team for the 2020 season to be Deshaun Watson’s backup.

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Here’s why we should have known Johnny Manziel was gonna be an NFL bust

Johnny Manziel (aka Johnny Football) became one of the biggest flameouts ever. Let’s look back at a coupe of the past comments regarding his NFL potential.

Yes, it’s that time of year when NFL fans, analysts and experts get excited about NFL Draft prospects, especially “potential” franchise quarterbacks.

But, man, have a lot of people been wrong.

Johnny Football is one of the biggest flameouts ever. He was drafted late in the first round of the 2014 Draft so it wasn’t a huge gamble by the Browns.

Still, many people had high hopes. Others didn’t.

Let’s look back at a couple of the past comments regarding his NFL potential.

And obviously, his off-the-field behavior should have sent up huge red flags, but we’re talking just about his game-day plays and how that should also give NFL GMs and scouts cause to pause and think about a college QB’s NFL future.

The most telling observation came fronm college football analyst and former NFL quarterback Gary Danielson when he compared Manziel to another Heisman winner, Ty Detmer. (Granted, Detmer was drafted in the ninth round; Manziel in the first, but still)

Uh-oh.

That should have been a strong heads-up as to how Manziel’s QB style was going to play out in the NFL. And he and Detmer did do similarly great things but so did Adam Morrison and Jimmer Fredette during their college basketball careers — to make a dual-comparison — and everyone knows how their NBA stints turned out.

Anyhow, Mel Kiper, who was initially onboard the Manziel-hype train, jumped off early but Skip Bayless stayed strongly opinionated full-steam ahead.

Finally, this is a reminder to all fans, not just Browns fans (but seriously, be worried about Baker Mayfield’s regression last season), that sometimes Draft Night joy just doesn’t work out for your team down the road — particularly when it comes to quarterbacks.

Green Bay Packers legend, Hall of Famer Willie Davis dies at 85

Davis was an All-Pro five times, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers, who won Super Bowls I and II. Playing for the legendary Vince Lombardi, Davis also won five NFL championships (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967).

Pro Football Hall of Famer and Green Bay Packers legend Willie Davis died Wednesday at 85.

Davis was an All-Pro five times, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers, who won Super Bowls I and II. Playing for the legendary Vince Lombardi, Davis also won five NFL championships (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967).

Davis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981 and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team from the 1960s and Walter Camp Man of the Year in 1986.

Per the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

“It is with great sadness the entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Willie Davis,” Hall of Fame president and CEO David Baker said in a statement. “Willie’s extraordinary athleticism was an undeniable factor in Green Bay’s winning tradition of the 1960s under Coach Lombardi. He helped the Packers through an unprecedented championship run and to two Super Bowl victories. Willie was a man of true character on and off the field. The Hall of Fame will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration to future generations.”

 

 

NFL: The first 100 days of a tumultuous 2020

The first 100 days of 2020 saw lots of news and movement in the NFL.

The tumultuous year 2020 is 100 days old. It feels like it has lasted a century. A look at the first 100 days of the year through the NFL news cycle, which, as we know, is always in full spin.

January 1: Redskins hire Rivera

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Redskins named Ron Rivera their new head coach, and he promptly hired Jack Del Rio as his defensive coordinator.

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Guess which eight NFL players were unamiously voted to the 2010s All-Decade Team

OK, so you NFL fans should be able to nail this quiz.
But, there might be a couple of miss-guesses and surprises for you and your friends and family members who are quarantined and playing family-time trivia.

OK, so you NFL fans should (maybe) be able to nail this quiz.

However, there might be a couple of miss-guesses and surprises for you and your friends and family members who are quarantined and playing family-time football trivia.

Anyhow, The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 48-member selection committee revealed their collective choices Monday and it’s a solid list.

They picked 52 players and two head coaches — just two?! yeah, they don’t play — and while you can look at everyone who made the list, it’s the unanimous ones we’re showcasing here because they’re all likely future Hall of Famers.

Tom Brady (QB)

(Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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The 20-season club: These 21 players are the NFL’s true iron men

When Drew Brees plays his first game in 2020, he’ll join a small club of players who have logged 20 seasons in the NFL. To date, just 21 men have reached that exclusive mark of longevity. It’s an interesting mix of kickers and quarterbacks, Hall of …

When Drew Brees plays his first game in 2020, he’ll join a small club of players who have logged 20 seasons in the NFL.

To date, just 21 men have reached that exclusive mark of longevity. It’s an interesting mix of kickers and quarterbacks, Hall of Famers and journeymen.

Tom Brady is a member. So is Brett Favre. But who else reached the two-decade mile marker? Let’s take a look, starting with …

George Blanda: 26 seasons

(Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports)

There are a few quarterbacks on this list and a lot of kickers. But only one was both a quarterback and kicker. Blanda played until the age of 48 after both throwing and kicking for the Bears, Colts, Oilers and Raiders. His final start under center came at the age of 41, but kicked for seven more seasons. He still owns the record for most extra points made (943) and attempted (959). He died in 2010 at the age of 83.

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Watch: Top NFL Draft prospect shows off strength by pushing a Ford truck like a blocking sled

Wait until you see this awesome oomph. Mekhi Becton, an offensive left tackle out of Louisville who is a certain first-round pick in next month’s draft, is a massive dude and wait until you see what he did.

Wait until you see this awesome oomph.

Mekhi Becton, an offensive left tackle out of Louisville who is a certain first-round pick in next month’s draft, is a massive dude.

The 20-year-old is 6-foot-7 and weighs between 365-370 depending on the web site or the day.

Even by NFL standards, that’s enormous. But he also has great feet and instincts which is what every NFL team wants in an OT to protect their franchise quarterback. (Think Arizona Cardinals).

Becton is already on every NFL scout’s radar because of what they see on film but this clip of him “sledding” a Ford F-150, “driven” by NFL offensive lineman specialist Duke Manyweather — who kept pushing the breaks to make it more difficult for Becton — could push him up into a top-10 selection.

Take a look and tell me teams aren’t going to be even more intrigued.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The best shortened-season performances including Jerry Rice in 1987

The NBA and NHL will be lucky to get in a full playoff if they even return. Major League Baseball certainly won’t play a full 162-game schedule. And who knows about the NFL? But while coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the calendars of every sports …

The NBA and NHL will be lucky to get in a full playoff if they even return. Major League Baseball certainly won’t play a full 162-game schedule. And who knows about the NFL?

But while coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the calendars of every sports league, each organization has experience with playing shortened seasons. They’ve always adapted, just as the players within them have.

With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the best short season performances from athletes of every stripe.

Mark Moseley

(Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports)

A players’ strike shortened the NFL season to only nine games and there were some weird results. The biggest one: A placekicker being named MVP! Moseley won the award by making 20 of 21 field goals for the Redskins (though none over 50 yards) and recorded 76 total points. Moseley is the only pure special teams player to ever win MVP (Kicker Lou Groza won in 1954, but was also an offensive tackle at the time.)

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