Honestly given the perception of the QBs at the time they were drafted...

[CAVSS]

Bradford's only question mark was his injury, but he dispelled that in his pro day. The only one I was surprised with was Flacco. He played against nobody in college and couldn't even win out the starting job at his original school. I guess the same could be said for Cam Newton at Florida.

Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, nor Jesus himself could have beaten out The Golden Calf of Bristol in Florida. If you haven't been to Gainesville since the The Golden Calf of Bristol era then you probably can't fathom just how much those people worship The Golden Calf of Bristol. There is a ridiculously large bronze statue of him in front of the stadium already. Its actually quite blasphemous.

[frash.exe]

Its not neccesarily my opinion to trade down.

I have mixed feeling and I am hoping whatever we do works out to be great!

The consensus is more than likely pissed about the crop of talent available for the #1. Most of us had high hopes to draft Andrew Luck and perhaps if we did draft him, he could make up for lapses in other areas (run stopping etc).

True he would have not played DT himself, but he is such a highly touted talent that he may have changed games with his brilliant qb play. (Note how long the defense stayed on the field due to Jimmy's blunders)

Of course this is all in theory, but he was considered to have no flaws and "the next big thing". So now we are stuck with no second round pick (33 overall have you, practically a first) and we must choose alot of shaky (at least compared to Luck) QB's to choose from.

Once again, my emotions on the draft, Cam, and #1 pick are all mixed. I hope whatever we do kicks ass.

i don't think we had a real shot at luck. everybody here underestimated the fact that he was still a redshirt sophomore (2 years of eligibility left for him) and committed to getting his degree. I made that mistake too. No doubt he is as polished as it gets not only this year (if he declared) but most other years if you insert him into those QB classes for comparison.

However, I was trying to answer your original question by saying that perhaps the consensus doesnt jump to conclusions and maybe the consensus doenst think the QB's are untalented.

criticism is coming from almost every single direction

[frash.exe]

Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, nor Jesus himself could have beaten out The Golden Calf of Bristol in Florida. If you haven't been to Gainesville since the The Golden Calf of Bristol era then you probably can't fathom just how much those people worship The Golden Calf of Bristol. There is a ridiculously large bronze statue of him in front of the stadium already. Its actually quite blasphemous.

[Mr. Scot]

...would you say that any of these guys were good enough to spend a first round pick on?

I remember people saying Ryan wouldn't amount to anything (few), Bradford was damaged goods, nobody had Flacco near the first round, Freeman would set the bucs back years, Mark Sanchez was taking advantage of a "weak" QB class by declaring early and would be drafted earlier than he should. Gabbert's been getting flak because he "HASN'T THROWN ENOUGH TDS" yet he threw one less for his college career than both Sanchez and Flacco and only four less than Freeman (and if you only go by the last two years for each, he actually had more than Freeman).

are this year's picks not extraordinary or are you guys just being irrationally hypercritical like you've always been?

If you want to talk perception, the perceptions of Ryan Leaf, Alex Smith, David Carr, Tim Couch, Akili Smith and others was that they'd be superstars.

It's a down year in the quarterback market. It happens.

[firstdayfan]

I think it comes down to people being afraid of being bad more than they want to be good. Which is understandable...a bunch of 8-8 seasons is much better than 2-14.

What I think is odd is that the panthers don't seem to be interested in Gabbert...not sure why. I guess that's the only possible smokescreen I've seen so far. Imagine this...I even heard that the Bills could "pay us" for Newton (which we take) and then we take Gabbert who we wanted all along. But honestly I think they just don't like him...they didn't even show up at his pro day.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I agree with the OP on the original topic and the reason why Cam should be over Gabbert is for one simple fact

You can teach Cam how to pass and move his feet like Gabbert (Or whatever all of the analysists say that Gabbert does far better than Cam), but you CAN'T teach Gabbert, Cam Newton's athleticism and dynamic play making ability.

[frash.exe]

the gabbert thing was just an example of people's hypercriticism on here. I'd be very happy if we picked either him or Cam.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

If you want to talk perception, the perceptions of Ryan Leaf, Alex Smith, David Carr, Tim Couch, Akili Smith and others was that they'd be superstars.

It's a down year in the quarterback market. It happens.

Since 1970 Couch, Smith, and Carr are the only busts at #1. I would say odds are that if the Panthers take Newton or hell even Gabbert that they can and will succeed.

[Mr. Scot]

Since 1970 Couch, Smith, and Carr are the only busts at #1. I would say odds are that if the Panthers take Newton or hell even Gabbert that they can and will succeed.

You forgetting JaMarcus?

And Leaf wasn't taken at #1 but easily could have been. Ditto Akili Smith.

[Mr. Scot]

I think it comes down to people being afraid of being bad more than they want to be good. Which is understandable...a bunch of 8-8 seasons is much better than 2-14.

What I think is odd is that the panthers don't seem to be interested in Gabbert...not sure why. I guess that's the only possible smokescreen I've seen so far. Imagine this...I even heard that the Bills could "pay us" for Newton (which we take) and then we take Gabbert who we wanted all along. But honestly I think they just don't like him...they didn't even show up at his pro day.

I wouldn't be the least bit afraid of a QB at #1 if it were Luck or someone of that caliber.

The candidates available this year? Not so much.

[Mr. Scot]

Quarterbacks taken #1 since 1970

2010 - Sam Bradford (jury's still out)

2009 - Matthew Stafford (ditto; he's hurt a lot)

2007 - JaMarcus Russell (megabust)

2005 - Alex Smith (shouldda picked the other guy bust)

2004 - Eli Manning (good, but not great like his his brother)

2003 - Carson Palmer (overrated, but good)

2002 - David Carr (big ole bust)

2001 - Michael Vick (washed out in Atlanta, redemption in progress at Philly)

1999 - Tim Couch (sofa bust)

1998 - Peyton Manning (superstar)

1993 - Drew Bledsoe (underachiever)

1990 - Jeff George (head case bust)

1989 - Troy Aikman (superstar)

1987 - Vinny Testaverde (journeyman)

1983 - John Elway (superstar)

1975 - Steve Bartkowski (so-so)

1971 - Jim Plunkett (became better later in career)

1970 - Terry Bradshaw (superstar)

Based on that sample, your odds of getting a superstar are a little under 25%.

Your odds at getting at least a good QB are better, but when you use the #1 overall pick "good" isn't really what you're shooting for.

[frash.exe]

^this is an example of a gambler's fallacy btw

[Tarheels23]

Vick was a pro bowler in Atlanta and the highest paid player in the NFL at one time, so you can argue whether or not he was a superstar, but I say he was.

[teeray]

Vick was a pro bowler in Atlanta and the highest paid player in the NFL at one time, so you can argue whether or not he was a superstar, but I say he was.

This.

I wouldn't call him a washout in Atlanta.