Geeks exhaustively crunch numbers to tell us shit
we already know
The poindexters at Pro Football Reference have unveiled their list of the worst quarterbacks in the history of the game. You won’t find perennial benchwarmers like Jelly-Roll Lorenzen here, rather the stat-monkeys focused on quarterbacks who logged enough playing time to really stink up the joint. I doubt that anyone in the D will be shocked to learn that Joey Harrington topped the list.
No QB has performed so far below the league average for so long as Joey Harrington. To be clear, Joey Harrington probably isn’t the worst quarterback of all time in an absolute sense. But in terms of being so far below average, but far enough above miserable to earn more playing time, Joey Harrington hurt his team more than any other QB in NFL history. If Harrington had been worse, he would have played less, and he wouldn’t have set back the teams he played on.
Ouch. Don’t sugar-coat it or anything.
Also worth a look is their compilation of the worst quarterbacks in each individual season. This list is a pleasant blend of the expected (Archie Manning, Ryan Leaf, David Carr), the surprising (Phil Simms, Joe Theismann) and players I had all but forgotten (Stan Gelbaugh, Billy Joe Tolliver). Check out Joe Ferguson’s staggeringly awful run as worst QB in three straight seasons (1982-84).
Of course in this day and age a team would never give a QB that long before making a change. Americans will no longer tolerate protracted mediocrity from their quarterbacks. Mediocrity from our President, legislature, courts, social service structure, public schools and economic system is one thing. But from our quarterbacks? No effing way.
[ ht: MLive.com ]
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Tags: joey harrington's mom says he has a lovely smile, quarterbacks
June 25th, 2008 at 10:28 am
No Kordell, no buy this list.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:32 am
number crunching to confirm stuff you already ‘know’ is still important. it’s how hypotheses are tested and the process is the basis for modern civilization as we know it.
now if you’ll excuse me i have a 20 sided die to roll.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Pshh any list of bed-shitting QBs that excludes Tommy Hodson is simply not comprehensive.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Tolerating mediocrity from our . . . legislature . . .
My boss is the Joey Harrington of the House of Representatives. Which means the chairman of the committee is Matt Millen. Yeah, that’s about right.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:41 am
No Rex Grossman? I guess he really is a good QB.
/Then again, the Sex Cannon is a list unto himself
June 25th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Those last two sentences are things of beauty.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:44 am
A travesty that Kyle Orton is on that list.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:58 am
But where is Joey Harrington on the shitty piano players list?
June 25th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Though I am saddened to see Troy on this list (for 1989-90, though one can definitely not argue against it), it warms my heart with glee to see both Theismann and Simms represented. And Archie Manning. Wonderful. That’s the feeling of validation.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Davey O’Brien had the sixth worst year in 1940? Don’t they give a QB award named after him to the top college QB? I guess that is why most top college QB’s are awful in the NFL.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Heath Shuler is proud to server our country.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:04 am
That would be serve dumbass
June 25th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Remember that time Simmons said the Falcons would be the sleeper with Harrington as the qb because Petrino was “one of the best offensive minds in football.” Yeah…if he’s the VP of Common Sense, George W. is the President. Of common sense, I mean. Not America. Which he is the president of, but just not what I was referring to. Simmons sucks.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:17 am
It’s worth noting that Joey sucked on Detroit, sucked in Miami, then sucked in ATL. Jesus H Christ on steroids paying the refs off and blowing the commish couldn’t have made any of those teams suck less.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Harrington has the 1000 yard stare of someone who’s been shell-shocked into submission. Why even ask him a question, it’s not like he can back up anything he says on the field.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:19 am
At least his cousin Padraig is somewhat good.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Also worth a look is their compilation of the worst quarterbacks in each individual season.
Otherwise known as the Bears’ QB depth chart from 1988-2007
June 25th, 2008 at 11:26 am
The clown calls himself an analyst, but his compiled list excluded Danny White, Quincy Carter, and Andre Ware. WTFO? One more blogger poseur revealed.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:34 am
as ive been saying to everyone in chicago: neckbeard sucks, its sex cannon all the way!!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
from the department of redundancy dept:
Dick Wood is an excellent QB name.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
the inclusion of andrew walter’s miserable season makes me feel validated. and sad… ah football. can’t wait for the silver and bleak to get rolling again!
June 25th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Kerry Collins’ name on this list should have an asterisk beside it. He may have had a shitty season, but he did it whilst completely hammered, so, that’s gotta be worth something?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Quincy Carter made a list…further proof that this work must be valid
June 25th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Where’s Cade McNown?
June 25th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Just another example of why Troy Aikman is the biggest overrated QB in the history of the NFL.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
further proof what a great coach and the most massive O-line in the game can accomplish for you.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Americans will no longer tolerate protracted mediocrity from their quarterbacks. Mediocrity from our President, legislature, courts, social service structure, public schools and economic system is one thing. But from our quarterbacks? No effing way.
Chad Pennington says hello.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Brad Johnson is tapping on the window to se if he can join the party.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Where the hell was Brady Quinn on this list? He’s gotta be number 2!
June 25th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Tavaris Jackson is doing his damnedest to fulfill his potential and make-this-list!
June 25th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Gotta get on the field first, Todd S.
In due time he will grace the top with his presence.
June 25th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Nice to see joe Ferguson on the list, JP Losman is follwing in his footsteps.
June 25th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I was wondering about good old Happy Gilmore, err Billy Madison, err The Waterboy, err JP.
June 25th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Where’s Sean Salisbury on this list?
Oh…right…he never did play enough snaps to qualify even for the shitty list.
/looking at you Jeff George
June 25th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
And we’ve reached an all-time low.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
No Brister from his days with the Steelers. I find that hard to believe.
June 25th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
3 0f the top 13 could be starters this year.
June 26th, 2008 at 6:20 am
I still can’t believe the G-guys wasted a first rounder to take Brown in the supplimental. Brown. From that hotbed of football DUKE fer christsakes.
June 27th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I am shocked that the Sex Cannon is not on here