Grogan in select company

[shakadave]

"McNair is one of only four players in NFL history with 150 touchdowns passing and 35 rushing, trailing only Steve Young, Randall Cunningham and Steve Grogan."

Sorry I didn't keep the link. It was somewhere on Excite.com's sports page, with today's news about McNair.

 

[Murphys95]

Grogan, in my book, will always rank as one of the best running QBs in the NFL. He still holds the record for most rushing tds in a season with 12. Of course the Kordell Stewart and Michael Vick worshippers of the world make nary a mention of some of the truly great running QBs - like Young, Cunningham, and Grogan.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Grogan was one of the most underappricated athletes in his time... Sad we delt with Eason most of 86, we might have went to a second straight super bowl...

 

[Murphys95]

Grogan was one of the most underappricated athletes in his time... Sad we delt with Eason most of 86, we might have went to a second straight super bowl...

Why am I the one that always has to stick up for Eason? Don't get me wrong, I understand why people weren't ga-ga over him - but he was a Patriot, and he earned my respect (and I honestly think he deserves more from New England fans). The kid led the best passing offense in the NFL in 1986, and threw for over 3300 yards and 19 tds (only 10 ints). He played very well against the Broncos at Mile High (that was his 4 playoff game with a 100 or greater passer rating) in the playoff loss.

...if only the Pats D hadn't given up on that "offsides" call - Elway was the master of the broken play. That contributed more to the Pats playoff loss than anything Eason did (he threw one mean flea flicker to Morgan in that game too). Eason played one heck of a game...but it wasn't to be in Denver that year.

 

[shakadave]

Why am I the one that always has to stick up for Eason? Don't get me wrong, I understand why people weren't ga-ga over him - but he was a Patriot, and he earned my respect (and I honestly think he deserves more from New England fans). The kid led the best passing offense in the NFL in 1986, and threw for over 3300 yards and 19 tds (only 10 ints). He played very well against the Broncos at Mile High (that was his 4 playoff game with a 100 or greater passer rating) in the playoff loss.

...if only the Pats D hadn't given up on that "offsides" call - Elway was the master of the broken play. That contributed more to the Pats playoff loss than anything Eason did (he threw one mean flea flicker to Morgan in that game too). Eason played one heck of a game...but it wasn't to be in Denver that year.

I'm on the record as being pro-Eason too. Characteristics he gets criticized for (coolness) Brady gets praised for.

 

[Pats726]

Why am I the one that always has to stick up for Eason? Don't get me wrong, I understand why people weren't ga-ga over him - but he was a Patriot, and he earned my respect (and I honestly think he deserves more from New England fans). The kid led the best passing offense in the NFL in 1986, and threw for over 3300 yards and 19 tds (only 10 ints). He played very well against the Broncos at Mile High (that was his 4 playoff game with a 100 or greater passer rating) in the playoff loss.

...if only the Pats D hadn't given up on that "offsides" call - Elway was the master of the broken play. That contributed more to the Pats playoff loss than anything Eason did (he threw one mean flea flicker to Morgan in that game too). Eason played one heck of a game...but it wasn't to be in Denver that year.

What else happened in that playoff game...weren't there some other oddities later in the game?? Strange things happening..that the Pats lost..thinking the D...but I can't remember...

 

[italian pat patriot]

Grogan was one of the most underappricated athletes in his time...

i agree 100% with you

 

[rabthepat]

I agree...

Grogan, in my book, will always rank as one of the best running QBs in the NFL. He still holds the record for most rushing tds in a season with 12. Of course the Kordell Stewart and Michael Vick worshippers of the world make nary a mention of some of the truly great running QBs - like Young, Cunningham, and Grogan.

Steve was a football warrior.

 

[Coast2CoastPatsFan]

I'm on the record as being pro-Eason too. Characteristics he gets criticized for (coolness) Brady gets praised for.

Count me in as another fan who thinks that Tony Eason gets some undeserved criticism. I think a lot of this criticism comes from his performance in SB XX.

As far as Steve Grogan is concerned, he will always be one of my all-time favorite Patriots. Not just for his skills, but also for his leadership, toughness, and football smarts. And a class act all the way. He was one of the few QBs who called his own plays. I remember one time hearing Don Shula say that he thought Grogan was one of the sharpest minds in football and one of the toughest QBs he ever faced. Pretty high praise coming from someone like Shula.

 

[Murphys95]

What else happened in that playoff game...weren't there some other oddities later in the game?? Strange things happening..that the Pats lost..thinking the D...but I can't remember...

Let me see what I can recall - New England lost 22-17. The Pats actually led in the second half. Eason threw his second td pass to Morgan in the 3rd to take the lead. Also, if I'm not mistaken the weather was unseasonably warm for a January game (like in the 60's).

The problem was Elway and the Mile High mystique. Elway for the most part played a crap game, but as he always did - he found a way to win. The busted play killed the Pats, virtually the entire d-line jumped offsides...then just stopped as if there was a whistle. Elway dropped back and found Vance Johnson (I think) for a bomb for a TD to take the lead. I remember hoping beyond hope that the refs had blown the play dead. Didn't happen. The rest was history.

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

Eason lead the Pats to only their 2nd AFC East title in 1986 and the #2 scoring offense in the NFL, despite having one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL.

Eason's postseason stats...

Year  Opp   Result  |  CMP  ATT   PYD PTD INT QB Rat |  RSH    YD  TD
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
 1985  nyj  W,26-14  |   12   16   179   1   0  132.0 |    6    14   0
 1985  rai  W,27-20  |    7   14   117   1   0   102.4 |    3    -4   0
 1985  mia  W,31-14  |   10   12    71   3   0   130.9 |    3    -7   0
*1985  chi  L,10-46  |    0    6     0   0   0   39.6 |    0     0   0
 1986  den  L,17-22  |   13   24   194   2   0  108.7 |    2    23   0
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
TOTAL                |   42   72   561   7   0   115.6 |   14    26   0


* - Super Bowl

As for Grogan, he was pathetic in the postseason...

Year  Opp   Result  |  CMP  ATT   PYD PTD INT QB Rat |  RSH    YD  TD
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
 1976  oak  L,21-24  |   12   23   167   1   1  72.2 |    7    35   0
 1978  hou  L,14-31  |    3   12    38   0   2  0.7 |    1    16   0
 1982  mia  L,13-28  |   16   30   189   1   2  56.1 |    0     0   0
*1985  chi  L,10-46  |   17   30   177   1   2  57.2 |    1     3   0
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
TOTAL                |   48   95   571   3   7  49.1 |    9    54   0


* - Super Bowl

Playoff Recap...

Eason: W-L: 3-2 QBR: 115.6
Grogan: W-L: 0-4 QBR: 49.1

 

[godef]

Steve was a football warrior.

Yes, but he could also stink up the joint on occasions. Hey, he was a favorite of mine, but he was never the most accurate passer you ever saw.

 

[godef]

Eason lead the Pats to only their 2nd AFC East title in 1986 and the #2 scoring offense in the NFL, despite having one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL.

Eason's postseason stats...

Year Opp Result | CMP ATT PYD PTD INT QB Rat | RSH YD TD
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
1985 nyj W,26-14 | 12 16 179 1 0 132.0 | 6 14 0
1985 rai W,27-20 | 7 14 117 1 0 102.4 | 3 -4 0
1985 mia W,31-14 | 10 12 71 3 0 130.9 | 3 -7 0
*1985 chi L,10-46 | 0 6 0 0 0 39.6 | 0 0 0
1986 den L,17-22 | 13 24 194 2 0 108.7 | 2 23 0
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
TOTAL | 42 72 561 7 0 115.6 | 14 26 0
 
 
* - Super Bowl

As for Grogan, he was pathetic in the postseason...

Year Opp Result | CMP ATT PYD PTD INT QB Rat | RSH YD TD
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
1976 oak L,21-24 | 12 23 167 1 1 72.2 | 7 35 0
1978 hou L,14-31 | 3 12 38 0 2 0.7 | 1 16 0
1982 mia L,13-28 | 16 30 189 1 2 56.1 | 0 0 0
*1985 chi L,10-46 | 17 30 177 1 2 57.2 | 1 3 0
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
TOTAL | 48 95 571 3 7 49.1 | 9 54 0
 
 
* - Super Bowl

Playoff Recap...

Eason: W-L: 3-2 QBR: 115.6
Grogan: W-L: 0-4 QBR: 49.1

In all fairness, Eason had the benefit of playing with a great Pats team in '85, whereas the Houston play-off loss in '78 ('79?) came immediately on the heals of the Faribanks Fiasco, and his last play-off loss to a superior Mimai teamed would never have even occurred were it not for the strike shortened season... had Grogran started those play-off games after the '85 season, his total stats probably would have been much better.

Eason was the loser of Super Bowl XX, not Grogran, and Grogs even had a slighly better rating for that game, led the Pats to their only TD against a tough Bears D. Which makes the records Eason: 2-3 and Grogan 1-3.

Hey, I supported Eason in general, in this thread, and in another recent thread. But I just had to point out the unfairness of the comparisons. Yes, Eason was technically a superior QB, but this post really distorts the differences.

 

[dalero]

A good testimony to Steve Grogan is when Joe Klecko said he was the toughest football player he ever played against.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Eason lead the Pats to only their 2nd AFC East title in 1986 and the #2 scoring offense in the NFL, despite having one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL.

Eason's postseason stats...

Year  Opp   Result  |  CMP  ATT   PYD PTD INT QB Rat |  RSH    YD  TD
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
 1985  nyj  W,26-14  |   12   16   179   1   0  132.0 |    6    14   0
 1985  rai  W,27-20  |    7   14   117   1   0   102.4 |    3    -4   0
 1985  mia  W,31-14  |   10   12    71   3   0   130.9 |    3    -7   0
*1985  chi  L,10-46  |    0    6     0   0   0   39.6 |    0     0   0
 1986  den  L,17-22  |   13   24   194   2   0  108.7 |    2    23   0
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
TOTAL                |   42   72   561   7   0   115.6 |   14    26   0


* - Super Bowl

As for Grogan, he was pathetic in the postseason...

Year  Opp   Result  |  CMP  ATT   PYD PTD INT QB Rat |  RSH    YD  TD
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
 1976  oak  L,21-24  |   12   23   167   1   1  72.2 |    7    35   0
 1978  hou  L,14-31  |    3   12    38   0   2  0.7 |    1    16   0
 1982  mia  L,13-28  |   16   30   189   1   2  56.1 |    0     0   0
*1985  chi  L,10-46  |   17   30   177   1   2  57.2 |    1     3   0
---------------------+--------------------------+-----------------
TOTAL                |   48   95   571   3   7  49.1 |    9    54   0


* - Super Bowl

Playoff Recap...

Eason: W-L: 3-2 QBR: 115.6
Grogan: W-L: 0-4 QBR: 49.1

interesting...

 

[rabthepat]

Yes, but he could also stink up the joint on occasions. Hey, he was a favorite of mine, but he was never the most accurate passer you ever saw.

True...but remember when he would do the naked bootleg...sweeeetttt.....and any guy that wears a neck brace with a football helmut on is aces with me.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Why am I the one that always has to stick up for Eason? Don't get me wrong, I understand why people weren't ga-ga over him - but he was a Patriot, and he earned my respect (and I honestly think he deserves more from New England fans). The kid led the best passing offense in the NFL in 1986, and threw for over 3300 yards and 19 tds (only 10 ints). He played very well against the Broncos at Mile High (that was his 4 playoff game with a 100 or greater passer rating) in the playoff loss.

...if only the Pats D hadn't given up on that "offsides" call - Elway was the master of the broken play. That contributed more to the Pats playoff loss than anything Eason did (he threw one mean flea flicker to Morgan in that game too). Eason played one heck of a game...but it wasn't to be in Denver that year.

Again nothing is wrong with Tony Eason, I was a fan, but give Grogan full board and no inj from 85-87 and Grogan was the better QB... Eason was more worried about Tennis with his girfriend...

 

[3 to be 4]

Eason is the victim of the most overblown myth in Patriots history, and it only came about Flutie worshippers were pissed Eason wasnt Flutie. It was Tony Eason who came along and in 1984 was probaly the second best QB in the league. After he came back in 1985 he led them to the franchises only 3 playoff wins up to that point, something Steve Grogan never accomplished.
And in 1986 he was terrific, remember the hail Mary at Anaheim?
I'll always hold Raymond Berry and Tony Eason in high regard for what they did for the Patriot franchise.

 

[italian pat patriot]

Eason is the victim of the most overblown myth in Patriots history, and it only came about Flutie worshippers were pissed Eason wasnt Flutie. It was Tony Eason who came along and in 1984 was probaly the second best QB in the league. After he came back in 1985 he led them to the franchises only 3 playoff wins up to that point, something Steve Grogan never accomplished.
And in 1986 he was terrific, remember the hail Mary at Anaheim?
I'll always hold Raymond Berry and Tony Eason in high regard for what they did for the Patriot franchise.

another one with Tony Eason - nice (i am with you)

 

[shakadave]

And in 1986 he was terrific, remember the hail Mary at Anaheim?

I always point out that that Hail Mary in Anaheim was caught in the very spot where Dave Henderson's immortal HR landed just two months earlier. (I was at the Hendu game, but not the Rams game.)