GimmedaBall
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In 2004, Denny Green had the #3 pick in the draft and selected Larry Legend. At the time, the Cards had Anquan Boldin and Byrant Johnson on the roster. WR was not a priority need pick at the time. In our QB room, we had Josh McCown, Shaun King, and added John Navarre in the 7th round of that 2004 draft.
In 2003, the Cards went 4-12 and still went with WR at #3. Denny Green knew who Fitz was and who he would become—he knew Fitz from high school and when was a ball boy for the Vikes.
Guess the Cards record for the following seasons? Cards went 6-10, a 2 game difference over their record of 4-12 in 2003. Not much better in 2005 (5-11), 2006 (5-11). It was not until 2007 that the Cards put up an 8-8 record.
Should we celebrate Fitz’s induction into the HOF with that kind of impact? One SB appearance over a HOF career? Guess who went at #4 after we took a ‘low priority’ WR: Philip Rivers by the Giants. (Eli Manning went to Chargers and refused which lead to flip of players). Rivers went on to a put up a HOF-worthy career and was still active as late as last year with the Colts. Like Fitz, he couldn’t get the Chargers to SB winners. Here’s Rivers stats: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RivePh00.htm
He stands at 134-109 career record.
Also passed over in that draft was Ben Roethlisberger at #11. He went on to a 165-81-1 record and two SB wins. We passed on Big Ben and took Fitz??? That might be even more painful than passing on Rivers.
John Navarre was our QB add—in the 7th round.
Should the Cards have taken Rivers in that draft? Big Ben? By all rationale of position priority, we should have taken either Rivers or Big Ben. By all rationale of need, we should have taken one of those QBs. Would our team history have been better with QB Rivers or Big Ben at #3 instead of WR Fitz? Would you rather have 2 SB wins with Big Ben over Fitz's HOF career as the face of the Cards???
In this draft, we don’t have the same dilemma. Ty Simpson is no Philip Rivers or Big Ben. We do have a RB Love who has same ‘It’ factor that Denny Green saw in Fitz. I’m no Denny Green, but I know what Love is. Take the BPA who has the ‘It’ factor and figure the rest of the roster later.
In 2003, the Cards went 4-12 and still went with WR at #3. Denny Green knew who Fitz was and who he would become—he knew Fitz from high school and when was a ball boy for the Vikes.
Guess the Cards record for the following seasons? Cards went 6-10, a 2 game difference over their record of 4-12 in 2003. Not much better in 2005 (5-11), 2006 (5-11). It was not until 2007 that the Cards put up an 8-8 record.
Should we celebrate Fitz’s induction into the HOF with that kind of impact? One SB appearance over a HOF career? Guess who went at #4 after we took a ‘low priority’ WR: Philip Rivers by the Giants. (Eli Manning went to Chargers and refused which lead to flip of players). Rivers went on to a put up a HOF-worthy career and was still active as late as last year with the Colts. Like Fitz, he couldn’t get the Chargers to SB winners. Here’s Rivers stats: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RivePh00.htm
He stands at 134-109 career record.
Also passed over in that draft was Ben Roethlisberger at #11. He went on to a 165-81-1 record and two SB wins. We passed on Big Ben and took Fitz??? That might be even more painful than passing on Rivers.
John Navarre was our QB add—in the 7th round.
Should the Cards have taken Rivers in that draft? Big Ben? By all rationale of position priority, we should have taken either Rivers or Big Ben. By all rationale of need, we should have taken one of those QBs. Would our team history have been better with QB Rivers or Big Ben at #3 instead of WR Fitz? Would you rather have 2 SB wins with Big Ben over Fitz's HOF career as the face of the Cards???
In this draft, we don’t have the same dilemma. Ty Simpson is no Philip Rivers or Big Ben. We do have a RB Love who has same ‘It’ factor that Denny Green saw in Fitz. I’m no Denny Green, but I know what Love is. Take the BPA who has the ‘It’ factor and figure the rest of the roster later.
