NFL analyst Ron Jaworski is often accused of having a Philadelphia Eagles bias. And why shouldn't he? After all, he was the team's star QB for nine years and led them to the Super Bowl in 1980.
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But Jaworski may have been laying it on a little too thick on ESPN show "Pardon The Interruption" Thursday, when he called Carson Wentz's debut last week the best rookie QB debut he'd ever seen.
Granted, Wentz hardly looked rattled in completing 22-of-37 for 278 yards and 2 TDs in his first real action, which is more than you could say for the vast majority of rookie QB debuts since forever. A lot of his throws even looked seasoned. But, sorry Jaws. Statistically speaking, there have been better rookie debuts under center, and a couple have their place on a list of Canton, Ohio's usual suspects.
In 1986, Jim Kelly put up 292 yards and three TD's to no interceptions for a passer rating of 119.8 in his first game with the Buffalo Bills. The Bills lost the game and ended up finishing a lousy 4-12 that year, but we all know how Kelly turned out. Despite going o-4 in four straight Super Bowl appearances, he's arguably one of the 10 best quarterbacks who've ever lived.
Cam Newton had one of the most spectacular rookie QB debuts in 2011. He passed for 422 yards and two touchdowns, and added another rushing touchdown. The Carolina Panthers lost that game to the Arizona Cardinals, but Newton would go on to have one of the most prolific QB rookie seasons ever, ending with 4,051 yards and 21 touchdowns, and another 706 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing, earning him the NFL's offensive Rookie of the Year.
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Dan Marino may have never won a Super Bowl with the Miami Dolphins, but statistically, he's one of the top three quarterbacks ever. Marino currently ranks third in career passing yards with 61,361, third in career touchdowns with 420, and third in completions with 4,967. Marino also had one of the best rookie debuts ever in 1983, passing for 322 yards and three touchdowns for a passer rating of 108.7.
Even Robert Griffin III, whose epic drop off continues, had a better debut than Wentz. The 2012 Offensive Rookie of the Year played like a man destined for Canton right out of the gate, posting 320 yards and two touchdowns in completing 73 percent of his passes. But after a stellar 2012 campaign, we're unfortunately still bearing witness to RG3's fall from grace.
All that said, Jaws could be spot-on about Wentz. By all appearances, he's the real deal. But, as RG3 can attest, career trajectory can turn on a dime in the NFL, so it might be wise to let things play out a little before anointing Wentz the savior of the organization after Week 1.
