Big Blue Huddle

Wow, this discussion went on a little bit if a tangent if we're talking Plunkett and Broadway Joe!

Listen, we know that Broadway Joe brought flamboyancy to the QB position like no man ever had before. To do it in New York, for the team in the "Upstart League," and guarantee and actually defeat the NFL, the narrative of the time was so overwhelming that he punched his ticket to Canton when he proclaimed "No, WE'RE kings of the hill," in referring to the AFL. It was a monumental moment in professional football history that is considered nearly as sacred as Neil Armstrong touching down on the moon and proclaiming "One small step for man ... one giant leap for mankind."

Jim Plunkett's rebirth in 1980 coincided with the opportunity which presented itself when teammate Dan Pastorini ended up getting injured. He became the first QB to lead a Wild Card team to a Super Bowl championship. He did so against the NFC Champion Iggles. Three years later both he, and Marcus Allen, took down the scoring machine that was Joe Gibbs' Redskins' offensive juggernaut. He kept the Raiders competitive for the remainder of his career. He should have already been elected to the HoF and it would be poetic justice if both he and Phil Simms could be granted access to Canton at the same time since both are worthy for the same reason.

Eli, as mentioned before, in toppling the Brady/Belichick empire twice, will get in next year.

Finally, if anyone has any objection to Drew Brees, they must have a bias against him. He was an amazing QB who was very good with San Diego but out of this world with Payton in New Orleans. In 2001, I was actually hoping the Giants might have considered taking a number out on him because I had a sense he was going to be a good one to whomever picked him.

Peace!

Simms and Eli should both be in the Hall of Fame, period.

Say what you want about Eli, the back end of his career was marred by an ignorant disregard of the OL by Reese, and bad HC hirings post Coughlin, who you can argue was scapegoated and let go a year or two too soon, he and Eli should have been able to go out on their own terms, at the very least they deserved better than they got.

Simms was the reverse, he started out with lesser talent around him, and that improved later on in the latter portion of his career, he also had stronger defensive support too IMO.

Both were great, both won multiple rings and have SB MVPs under their belt, both should be in at some point.

Quote from: MrGap92 on August 14, 2024, 05:41:35 PMSimms and Eli should both be in the Hall of Fame, period.

Say what you want about Eli, the back end of his career was marred by an ignorant disregard of the OL by Reese, and bad HC hirings post Coughlin, who you can argue was scapegoated and let go a year or two too soon, he and Eli should have been able to go out on their own terms, at the very least they deserved better than they got.

Simms was the reverse, he started out with lesser talent around him, and that improved later on in the latter portion of his career, he also had stronger defensive support too IMO.

Both were great, both won multiple rings and have SB MVPs under their belt, both should be in at some point.

Manning played to the end of his contract, how can you say he didn't go out on his own terms? You think he should've kept getting multi million dollar contracts until he felt like quitting? As for his career being marred by his poor offensive line, then Saquon Barkley should be a shoe in for the HOF and Daniel Jones should start in the pro bowl.

Quote from: Giant Jim on August 14, 2024, 07:12:58 PMManning played to the end of his contract, how can you say he didn't go out on his own terms? You think he should've kept getting multi million dollar contracts until he felt like quitting? As for his career being marred by his poor offensive line, then Saquon Barkley should be a shoe in for the HOF and Daniel Jones should start in the pro bowl.

A different owner than Mara and GM than Gettleman may have cut Eli 1-2 years before his contract was up.
I believe he was offered a backup salary to continue playing one more season.