http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...d-foles-trade/
"Considering that, and considering that Foles’s career passer rating is 94.2 while Bradford’s is 79.3, and considering that Bradford’s injury history is significant, it’s hard to see what Kelly is thinking.
But maybe he’s thinking this: Bradford is an elite quarterback talent, and Foles isn’t. It wasn’t that long ago that Bradford was the first overall pick in the draft and the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year. Foles is a former third-round pick whose skill set is more limited.
Based purely on talent for the quarterback position, Bradford is better than Foles.
If Bradford turns out to be the player everyone thought he’d be when he was the rookie of the year in 2010, this will turn out to be a great move by the Eagles. If Foles turns out to be the player he was as a Pro Bowler in 2013, this will turn out to be a great move by the Rams. If both players disappoint — or if both players turn out to be their new teams’ franchise quarterbacks — the tiebreaker goes to St. Louis, which got the better draft picks and saved cap space in the process."
Apparently this beat writer believes that because Bradford was a former 1st rounder AND rookie of the year AND for some unexplained reason, SB #'s aren't representative of his untapped potential despite being in the NFL as a starter since 2010 AND NF is merely a 3rd rounder AND NF #'s aren't relevant to SB for comparison for some inexplicable reason --> SB superior talent > NF
yeah... no.
Players come into their own at different phases in their careers. Of the top prospects, some peak in college, and often times have a sic amount of hype surrounding them. Even after the dust settles, it's clear they've fizzled out, and you see them for what they are, the aura that used to come to mind when that player is discussed remains in the psyche of fans, coaches, scouts, player, managers, and owners.
The problem is, people get stuck on 1st impressions and the name-branding/image that goes with it. Things change and talent value judgments aren't always sober.
RGIII (2nd, 2012) and Cam Newtown (1, 2011) were supposed to blow the league up. I don't want to say wreck after the Johnny Football ordeal. Both QB's had good 1st years in the NFL. That's nice. IMO, neither QB will materialize much past where their current production level is at. When these top prospect types/personalities hit their stride at the college level, but don't live up to expectations in the NFL, temper tantrums often ensue.
RGIII's ego needs constant management and coddling. His reaction last year to coach benching him for sucking was about right.
Mediocre CN still thinks he's superman and is still ripping his imaginary superman air shirt off to proudly display the logo. Dude instigated a brawl doing just that.
On the other hand, Aaron Rogers (24th, 2005) was going to be a good prospect, but no one said he would turn into a NFL superstar. Tom Brady (199th, 2000) was a scout's after thought in 2000.
Where you were drafted, your pedigree, college career, and what college coaches say about you, is nice and all, but it won't necessarily translate to producing results in the pros.
Am I saying Bradford is bad guy. Hell no! But the hype and mystique that still surrounds SB because of the aforementioned factors, and what "shoulda been, but never was," have clearly spilled over into the explanation that his NFL #'s and record are somehow misleading and that he may still become an elite QB.
SB said at his 1st Philly press conference that he wants to earn his spot against Sanchez as the starting QB. That he doesn't want anything handed to him. That's a good start because while everyone knows he will start and nothing will be handed to him by Philadelphia media or fans after a poor outing. IMO, he just seems happy to be given another chance in a new organization after having a 2nd major ACL surgery on his left knee. Good for him. And I hope he recovers and stays healthy. However, SB's NFL numbers, record, and reliability are what they are. They're not fabrications. They're not deceptive. You can't explain them away or rationalize them. And no, he's not the answer to Philadelphia's woes.
NF ripped defenses apart in 2013 - 2014 because he had a full compliment of offensive weapons, his offense as a whole stayed healthy, and he's a strong starting NFL QB. The results weren't random. Because of the 2014 - 2015 lack of O-line protection due to suspension and injury, and the missing synergy between Foles-McCoy/Maclin/Jackson, NF #'s declined while his W/L ratio didn't go anywhere. NF is only going into his 3rd year as a starter, and has plenty of room to to progress. His ceiling is much higher than BF at the NFL level and NF is a superior NFL talent > SB.
This whole debate reminds me of the Philadelphia reaction after Foles went down and Sanchez was on deck. After back up wins a game or two, quite a few fans, and a handful of talking heads were clamoring for Sanchez to take over. They actually thought Sanchez would be the answer.
Last edited by Abstinence; 03-13-2015 at 09:57 PM.