NFL quarterbacks have been remodeled from mere stars to probably the most beneficial figures in American sports activities. Right here’s the way it occurred.
Arm 1993
Quarterback features proper to throw the ball away with out being flagged for intentional grounding, sparing sacks and INTs, serving to stats and spines.
Ankle 2006
Low hits outlawed “when a speeding defender has a chance to keep away from such contact.” Shoulders, fingers and ankles are nonetheless quarterbacks’ most injured physique half.
Knee 2009
Defender “can’t provoke a roll or lunge and forcibly hit the passer within the knee space or beneath, even when he’s being contacted by one other participant”—aka, the Brady Rule, after TB12 missed 2008 season with ACL harm. Don’t fear, he bounced again.
Torso 1995
Defenders banned from “unnecessarily and violently” throwing down quarterbacks and “touchdown on prime of him with all or a lot of the defender’s weight.”
Head 2002
NFL bans helmet-to-helmet collisions with quarterbacks after a turnover. Typically, that is get-out-of-the-way time.
The Outliers: Stat kings in any period.
William Helburn/Corbis by way of Getty Photographs
Johnny Unitas 1956–1973 290 TDs, 40,239 yards. Not dangerous for a man who began taking part in in 1956.
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Fran Tarkenton 1961–1978 Going 0–3 in Tremendous Bowls stained his rep, however 130 extra TD passes and practically 20,000 extra passing yards than ‘70s rival Terry Bradshaw.
Eric Miller/AP / Shutterstock
Dan Marino 1983–1999 Had over 400 TDs and 60,000 yards in an period when 250 and 40,000 made you a Corridor of Fame lock.
Tony Gutierrez/AP/Shutterstock (Brown); Steve Marcus/Getty Photographs (Flacco); Daniel Kucin JR/AP/Shutterstock (Burrow); John Amis/AP/Shutterstock (Williams); Invoice Ray/The Life Image Assortment/Shutterstock (Dawson)
Receiver Respect
2007: Unlawful minimize block turns into 15-yard penalty, as an alternative of simply 5.
2009: 15-yard penalty for hitting defenseless receiver in head or neck.
Finishing passes is manner simpler when your finest receivers are round to catch them.
Monetary Incentive
As a rookie in 1969, Cowboy Roger Staubach earned $25,000. He retired after 11 seasons to turn into an actual property magnate now price $600 million. In the meantime, Joe Flacco has an honest shot at $200 million in profession earnings — not Staubach cash however fairly good.
Surgical Advances
In November 2020, Bengals QB Joe Burrow’s rookie season ended when his ACL, MCL, PCL and meniscus had been torn in a sport in opposition to Washington. The following season he virtually gained a Tremendous Bowl. Joe Theismann is extraordinarily jealous.
Blindside Makes Financial institution
Not solely are QBs paid a ton, so are the blokes who maintain them upright—witness San Francisco left sort out Trent Williams averaging $23 million per season.
Superior Coaching
Everyone knows about Tom Brady’s avocado ice cream. Whereas within the ‘70s, Corridor of Fame QBs like Lenny Dawson huffed smokes on the sidelines and Kenny Stabler fortunately mentioned spending his low season boozing within the “Redneck Riviera.”
I Simply Wasn’t Made for These Occasions: NFL legends whose numbers now look paltry.
Hulton Employees/Archive (Starr)
Bart Starr 1956–1971 152 profession TD passes. Brady threw 83 in his first two seasons as a Buc.
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Roger Staubach 1969–1979 153 profession TD passes. Manning has 366. Eli, that’s. Peyton has 539.
Getty Photographs
Joe Namath 1965–1977 173 TD passes, 220 interceptions. Fur coats, daring predictions and nice nicknames are generally extra vital than numbers.
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