SouthLondonRedskin wrote:OK, I have to admit I'm struggling here.
The best Redskin QB I've seen in my lifetime was Joe, but I'm very aware that in the list of all-time QBs we'll always have two right up there on that list, and Joe isn't one of them.
That means history judges Sammy and Sonny as being in that top class, and so I believe in a team of the greatest ever Redskins the nod should go to one of them.
So I've decided to go with the 'experts' on this, impartial where possible.
Here's what I've found in other polls on the web of the best ever QBs;
Squidoo.com had Baugh at #4 and Sonny at #16.
Bleacher (Marcel) had neither in his all time Top 10.
Bleacher (Whigster) had neither in his all time Top 10 (but Kurt Warner at #7!!!)
Bleacher (Nagler) had Baugh at #5 in his Top 10 of all time.
Fox Sports (Whitlock) had neither in his top 10 of all time.
CBS (Clark Judge) has Baugh at #6 in his Top 10 but no Sonny.
LockerSmash has Baugh at #5 in their all time Top 11.
Ranker.com has Baugh at #7 and Sonny at #22.
Mens Fitness (?!?) has neither in their Top 10.
And so it continues....
So I'm going to vote according to how the so-called experts and go with Sammy Baugh on the basis that he seems to be the one Redskin QB that has made the greatest impression on the impartial NFL lovers out there.
Pretty accurate... though I would throw out anything from Bleacher (Warner? 7? seriously?). Hell, they've even run with stuff I've blogged... so they run work from anybody...
I will never attempt to subordinate Baugh to Sonny, in terms of his importance to the Redskins, and the NFL. The reality is, he's a cornerstone member of the HOF for a reason... would probably have gotten in as a safety OR as a punter (if Ray Guy is in, Baugh would have to be in... )
To underline his incredible talent as a PLAYER, note that his name is STILL all over the record books as a punter...
Career Average
47.29 Shane Lechler, Oakland, 2000-2010 (855-40,429)
45.54 Donnie Jones, Seattle, 2004; Miami, 2005-06; St. Louis, 2007-2010 (543-24,727)
45.47 Mat McBriar, Dallas, 2004-2010 (436-19,827)
45.10 Sammy Baugh, Washington, 1937-1952 (338-15,245)
Season Average
51.40 Sammy Baugh, Washington, 1940 (35-1,799)
51.14 Shane Lechler, Oakland, 2009 (96-4,909)
50.00 Donnie Jones, St. Louis, 2008 (82-4,100)
48.94 Yale Lary, Detroit, 1963 (35-1,713)
48.73 Sammy Baugh, Washington, 1941 (30-1,462)
Most consecutive seasons leading the league
4 Sammy Baugh, Washington, 1940-43 3 Jim Fraser, Denver, 1962-64
2 By many players
As a QUARTERBACK, his SKILLS were not equal to C. A. Jurgensen's... you can say that Sonny had the benefit of a trio of exceptional receivers... perhaps... but, of those 3 receivers, what was the common denominator? Yup... the quarterback. You simply never saw those receivers needing to make plays to bail out the quarterback... the ball was always on time... and well placed. The question, in my mind, is NOT how much did Mitchell, Taylor and Smith elevate Sonny's game... but the other way around.
What may elevate Baugh over Sonny in this postion is his involvement as an innovator, as the man who recognized that the forward pass was a weapon that could change the game... He certainly did that! But, in terms of his talent, Sonny was better. The issue is not so much who is right in this debate... but which flavor do you prefer. Sammy had something that Sonny never did... Championships.
But, if I'm creating God's Redskins... Who do I want behind center, taking advantage of all the receiving talent that's available, and able to use the most of the field? Sonny. Vision. Quick release. Accuracy, touch, big arm to use the entire field... be it deep post, screen, or quick crossing. Sonny.
I said it in 1971... and will say it now. "I follow the Redskins, and I like Sonny" (who here gets that referrence?)
My vote is already registered as for Sonny... but I would have no hearburn if it's Sammy... None, at all. Whether I believe he was the best quarterback does not matter... because, regardless, he was the greatest Redskin player, ever.