Peterson Vs. Pollard: The Search For A Chiefs Franchise Quarterback
We’ve often joked here at Arrowhead Addict that Bernard Pollard did in three years of playing safety what King Carl Peterson couldn’t do in twenty years as a GM — find our Chiefs a young franchise quarterback of the future. All jokes aside, it’s pretty much the truth. That’s the reason I’ve constructed a timeline of all the major quarterback moves by both Peterson and Pollard. It really is a gut-busting experience to compare the two timelines. Enjoy…
Peterson Vs. Pollard:
Carl Peterson Franchise Quarterback Search Timeline:
1989: Hired by Chiefs as the Chiefs new general manager.
1989 – Drafted Mike Elkins out of Wake Forest in the second round with the 32nd overall pick. Elkins played in one regular season game for the Chiefs. Verdict: Bust
This shark no longer had teeth when Peterson signed him.
1989 – Signed dinosaur QB Ron Jaworksi, who was nearly 40 years old. Jaworksi lasted one year with the Chiefs. Verdict: Bust
1992 – Drafted Matt Blundin out of Virginia in the second round with the 4oth overall pick. Blundin played in two games for the Chiefs, a 100% increase from Elkins. Verdict: Bust Blunder
1992 – Signed Dave Krieg away from then AFC West rival the Seattle Seahawks. Krieg started one year for the Chiefs. Verdict: Rent-A-QB
Montana was no longer the treasure it once was when Peterson acquired it.
1992 – Traded for aging Niners’ superstar Joe Montana. He started two seasons for the Chiefs, and took them to the AFC Championship, somewhere the Chiefs hadn’t been in decades. Granted, he was playing with Marcus Allen and a world-class defense. Verdict: Successful Rent-A-QB, but still a Rent-A-QB
At least this Bono had a personality.
1994 – Traded for Niners’ “stud” back-up (a phrase Chiefs fans would grow accustomed to, unfortunately) Steve Bono. Bono played well enough to get one of the best defenses in the history of the game eliminated in the first round of the 1995 playoffs despite the Chiefs owning homefield advantage. He missed the playoffs the next year and was done in K.C. Verdict: Rent-A-QB
1995 – Signed Rich Gannon and never really gave him a chance to flourish. The Chiefs buried him on the bench behind Bono and Elvis Grbac during his four-year stint with the team. He went on to win the MVP award with the hated Raiders, possibly our most bitter rival. Verdict: Self-Inflicted Bust
Right before he died on the toilet, which is what Grbac did, too.
1997 – Signed Elvis Grbac, another “stud” back-up for the Niners. Grbac did make one Pro Bowl during his four years as a starter, but he also never won a playoff game. Watching him play was the visual equivalent of hearing Fran Drescher talk. Verdict: Rent-A-QB
1998 – Signed Todd Collins. In five years he never started a single game for the Chiefs. Collins went on to have limited success for the Redskins. Verdict: Bust
A moon landing was more likely than going anywhere with Warren.
1999 – Signed 143-year-old Warren Moon, a fading superstar to put it politely. The only thing Moon was an All-Pro at while in K.C. was night life. Verdict: Bust
2001 – Traded for Trent Green. He was a six-year starter for the Chiefs who put up flashy numbers, but never managed to win a playoff game despite a supporting cast of Larry Johnson, Priest Holmes, Tony Gonzalez and arguably the league’s best offensive line. Verdict: Successful Rent-A-QB, but still a Rent-A-QB
2004 – Signed Damon Huard. Huard was the Chiefs’ de facto starter for one season, but he never belonged in that role and it was obvious. He liked getting hit about as much as Peter McNeeley. Verdict: Bust
Croyle has been anything but Unbreakable for the Chiefs.
2006 – Drafted Brodie Croyle out of Alabama in the third round with the 85th overall pick. Croyle started a bunch of games for the Chiefs, but has never won a regular season game as a pro. Hell, he’s barely lasted an entire game as a pro. Verdict: Bust
2007 – Signed Tyler Thigpen. Thigpen was never comfortable under center, so offensive coordinator Chan Gailey created a spread offense similar to the one Thigpen played in in college. Thigpen responded by winning one game despite starting most of the season. Verdict: Bust
Overall Verdict: 20 years, no young franchise QB of the future
Bernard Pollard Franchise Quarterback Search Timeline:
2006 – Drafted by the Chiefs.
2008 – Injures Patriots’ superstar QB Tom Brady, sidelining him for the season. Matt Cassel has a prolonged audition during the rest of the season, and impresses his current and future boss, Scott Pioli, during that process.
The He-Man of a safety helped find his Chiefs a Cassel.
2009 – The Chiefs trade Matt Cassel as a result of his strong play while filling in for Tom Brady, an opportunity that would have likely never presented itself if not for GM Jr. Bernard Pollard. Verdict: Labeled as a franchise QB and future stud by most experts and pundits
Overall Verdict: Three years, one likely young franchise QB of the future
Eat your heart out, Carl Peterson. The Bonecrusher is now also the Thronecrusher. Sorry, Jason Whitlock, but if Cassel owes any of his contract to somebody it’s Pollard — not Randy Moss.
(Adam Best is the senior editor of Arrowhead Addict. Follow him daily via email/RSS feed and Twitter.)