Position Battles: Finding The Rams All-Time QB

[r8rh8rmike]

Position battles: Finding the Rams all-time QB
by VanRam on Jun 26, 2009 8:57 AM CDT

Let's continue the all-time team debate with quarterback. Unlike running back, where you had two cut and dry viable candidates in Dickerson and Faulk that could easily claim the title, the franchise history at QB is a little less clear. And the debate definitely requires a look back into the Rams' team history.

The candidates...

Roman Gabriel, 1962-1972, record 74-39-6
Gabriel made three Pro Bowl appearances with the Rams, but led the team to the playoffs just twice, in '67 and '69. In 130 games with the team he passed for 22,223 yards (2nd most), 154 TDs (most in team history), and threw 112 INTs.

Jim Everett, 1986-1993, record 46-59
Ultimately more famous for the "Chris" dust-up with Jim Rome and his draft escapades, Everett holds the team record for passing yards with 23,758. During his 107 games with the team he passed for 142 TDs (2nd most) and 123 INTs. He led the team to the playoffs three times early in his career, but the franchise dwindled into irrelevancy in the later part of Everett's days, before ultimately packing up and moving to St. Louis. He made one Pro Bowl appearance, in 1990.

Norm Van Brocklin, 1949-1957, record 42-20-3
Many of you will be hard pressed to recall Van Brocklin's time with the Rams. He was the last QB to lead the team to a championship, 1951, before the Super Bowl win in '99. Van Brocklin threw for 16,114 yards with the Rams with 118 TDs (3rd most) and 127 INTs in 104 games. He was a six-time All Pro in his time with the Rams.

Kurt Warner, 1998-2003, record 35-15
Warner didn't have a long tenure with as the Rams QB, but he helped breath new life into a forgotten franchise, leading them to a Super Bowl win ten years ago. In just 53 games with the Rams, he passed for 14,447 yards, 102 TDs and 65 INTs. He had three Pro Bowl appearances with the Rams and has the highest completion percentage (66.4%) of any QB in team history.

Marc Bulger, 2002-2008, record 40-47
Bulger gets listed here, as much as some will groan, based on some impressive stats with the team, though I don't think many would call him the franchise's top QB. Currently third on the list of total passing yards with 21,345, Bulger will become the Rams' all-time leader in passing yards this season, barring injury. He's fourth on the list with 117 TDs, and will surpass Van Brocklin with just one more. If he gets his career turned around with the Rams, he'll most likely be the team leader in TDs in two or three seasons; he needs 37 more. He's thrown 87 INTs in 87 games, and has the second best franchise completion percentage with 62.6%.

So there you have it. Did I leave anyone out? Tony Banks...um, that's probably for another "all-time" team.

[laram0]

Kurt Warner hands down.

2. Roman Gabriel

[RealRam]

1. My sentimental favorite of all time: Gabriel, The Roman General. 1969 NFL MVP. [When we would visit the U.S. some 43 years ago, I liked when my mother would buy Roman Meal whole wheat bread]





2. Close 2nd:Kurt Warner, also a sentimental GSOT favorite -- oh, and our only Super Bowl winner!

[WhinerFan]

Warner without a doubt and indisputably.

Should this maybe be a poll?

[C-Mob 71]

Originally Posted by WhinerFan

Warner without a doubt and indisputably.

Should this maybe be a poll?

First, who cares what a whiner fan thinks about OUR QBs. Second, its got to be Warner without a doubt and indisputably.

[r8rh8rmike]

Roman Gabriel was way ahead of his time as a big, strong, athletic QB with superior skills. In addition to the 3 Pro Bowls mentioned in the article, he was also an NFL MVP. He was my all-time favorite Ram until a guy came along who could not only light it up and win all the accolades, but lead a team to a championship. That man, Kurt Warner, is flat out the greatest QB in Rams history.

[Ram Dragoon]

Notice the long gaps in time where the Rams didn't have a QB worth mentioning--where is Joe Nameth in this list


But Warner was a happy accident and most of us have our fondest memories of winning and ironically also some of our most frustrating moments too--haha! Still even with the perfect storm of M. Faulk/Holt/Bruce and many others--It still has to be Warner...let us not forget he somehow got the Cards to the Superbowl

[ScottD413]

Originally Posted by laram0

Kurt Warner hands down.

2. Roman Gabriel

I agree with this ^^

[39thebeast]

I think Im way to young for this one all i can really comment on is Kurt Warner, since it doesn't look like Bulger should be in the equation

[general counsel]

With all due respect, the correct answer is not even on the list. Its bob waterfield, who won two titles and an mvp award (as a rookie). he was also a premier punter and a terrific defensive back. Great case can be made for warner as well. Waterfied is one of the all time great hall of famers. If you are counting titles, two is better than one, although waterfield did share duties as qb on the second title with van brocklin. Waterfield did not have a marshall faulk to work with. He had talented receivers (benton on the first title and fears and hirsch on the second) and solid backs, but no faulk like superstar.

Ramming speed to all

general counsel

[WhinerFan]

Two NFL titles may be better than one, but one Superbowl is better than one NFL title. More teams to beat.

[RAMSY57]

There's no debate here not even close.

KURT WARNER was the man for us and now he's the man for them.

GO RAMS!

[jkramsfan]

you cannot have a QB list without the one and only Dieter Brock,did we forget the 85 Championship game,just kidding,he sucked,Warner is the choice here, Waterfield is also a very good choice but the excitement Warner brought not only to the city of St. Louis, the fans and the entire NFL puts him at the top of the list.

[general counsel]

Bob Waterfield was a bigger star in hollywood than warner is today. The rams moved to LA in 1945 after they won the NFL title. Waterfield, with his movie star good looks, married movie star jane russell, and as a couple, they were the talk of the town. The rams were very big news in the early days in LA and waterfield was the star of the team and one of the biggest stars in the league. We are always biased to stars of our own generation of course.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[jkramsfan]

Originally Posted by general counsel

Bob Waterfield was a bigger star in hollywood than warner is today. The rams moved to LA in 1945 after they won the NFL title. Waterfield, with his movie star good looks, married movie star jane russell, and as a couple, they were the talk of the town. The rams were very big news in the early days in LA and waterfield was the star of the team and one of the biggest stars in the league. We are always biased to stars of our own generation of course.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

a great point about stars of our own gereration,I was not around for Waterfield,but he does deserve extra points for being married to the playtex bra lady(I think that was her).