Elway To Marino Thoughts

I recently watched the latest ESPN 30 for 30 documentary, Elway to Marino.  It was great.  The film breaks down the 1983 NFL Draft with interviews from a ton of the players that were picked that year, GMs, and the most significant guy was the agent for BOTH John Elway and Dan Marino.  This dude kept notes from all his conversations back then, without him, this doc doesn't happen. 

My biggest takeaways from Elway to Marino?  Easy.

John Elway is a dink. 

For those of you not old enough to remember the '83 draft (me) or did not see the documentary, you will realize that Elway was the original Eli Manning, but worse.  The guy who was going to be the top pick, but did not want to play for that team.  Eli didn't want San Diego and orchestrated a trade to the Giants.  Elway meanwhile was light years ahead of every other prospect in the draft (which was loaded) and he made it clear that he did not want to play for the Baltimore Colts.  This much I knew, but the film shows what an a-hole Elway was back then.  He wanted to play for basically any other team and threatened to just play for the Yankees (he was an outfielder) if the Colts picked him.

The Colts did pick him.  Good for them.  Although they got a crap deal from Denver when they dealt him.  The rumored offers for Elway were insane, just about every team in the league trying to get in. 

6 QBs were taken in the 1st round of the 1983 Draft.  And they were picked in this order...

1. John Elway, Baltimore Colts
7. Todd Blackledge, Kansas City Chiefs
14. Jim Kelly, Buffalo Bills
15. Tony Eason, New England Patriots
24. Ken O'Brien, New York Jets
27. Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins

3 Hall of Famers in there, not awful.  Kelly actually played in the USFL before joining the Bills.  O'Brien was a little better than I originally thought (2-time Pro Bowler). 

But Todd Blackledge?  Jesus.  Chiefs took him ahead of Jim Kelly and Dan Marino.  What a mess.  Also the Patriots might have had a different 80s-90s with Marino over Eason, might have.

The 1st round also featured RB Eric Dickerson, OL Bruce Matthews, and CB Darrell Green.  All Hall of Famers. 

To recap...

John Elway is/was a spoiled turd.  One of my 5 least favorite athletes of all-time.  I mean look at this guy...

Todd Blackledge should be considered MUCH more of a draft bust than he is.  7th overall and 2nd QB?? Yikes.

'83 draft was loaded: Elway, Dickerson, Matthews, Kelly, Marino, Green...

Give this 30 for 30 a watch on demand.