Originally Posted by
skilldawg
Great points about Bradshaw. But was that situation really that much different than today?
I think what made Bradshaw the Number 1 pick was his freakish physical numbers. Height, Weight, Speed and incredible arm strength.
Remember, the best qb in the NFL in 1970 was probably Fran Tarkenton at 5'10" and 170 pounds.
Bradshaw was the prototype that has stood for 40 years now. 6'3" 225 lbs, 4.6 40 and he possessed one of the strongest arms in the history of the league.
If Eastern Wyoming comes out with a 6'7" 285 lb qb that runs a 4.5 and can throw it the length of the football field he will be in the discussion for the number one pick; 40 years ago that is basically what they were looking at in Terry. Remember he was bigger than the HOF Middle Linebacker on his own team.
Bradshaw was probably a risk at the No. 1 pick, just as they all are. Al Davis was all over JaMarcus Russell because of his freakish physical skills and that guy has been horrible thusfar. But Terry was pretty bad early on too. I suspect he is grateful that the Rooney's were a little more patient than today's organizations, and fans, are. Otherwise, he would have never had a single Superbowl ring, much less 4.