Where do you rank Romo all-time among undrafted players?

[HappyOnions]

Tony Romo went undrafted in the 2003 NFL draft. I'm sure in retrospect, Cincinnati would have taken Romo over Carson Palmer had they known what would have happened to each guy.

As far as the best undrafted players go, I think the list would look a little something like this (in no particular order)

-Warren Moon
-Kurt Warner
-London Fletcher
-Rod Smith
-Jeff Saturday
-Tony Romo
-Arian Foster
-Jeff Garcia
-James Harrison
-Priest Holmes
-Brian Waters
-Wes Welker
-John Randle
-Antonio Gates

Based off of that list, and I'm sure I'm forgetting others...do you think Romo ranks towards the top, middle, or bottom of that list.

 

[mrmojo]

All-time or last 20 years? Because Cliff Harris, Everson Walls, Drew Pearson, Cornell Greene, Dan Reeves, Bates, Tui and Nate all say hello

 

[HappyOnions]

All-time or last 20 years? Because Cliff Harris, Everson Walls, Drew Pearson, Cornell Greene, Dan Reeves, Bates, Tui and Nate all say hello

Like I said, I knew I was forgetting some...but those were the only guys that I really could think of. I'm too young to remember the majority of the guys you listed. Well, I guess the question applies to both all-time and the last 20 years

 

[perrykemp]

Romo is very high on that list. Some others I've been personally been mighty impressed by:

• Kurt Warner. Obviously his story is incredible -- bagging groceries to three Superbowl appearances -- 1 victory. First year out of the gate as a starter 40+ TDs and league MVP. All-around great guy too.
• Priest Holmes had a heck of a 3 year run where he had ran/receiving for 6500+ yards and 60+ TDs.
• Don't hate me, however, I found James Harrison to be a terrifying defender. He was cut a bunch of times and still managed to become of the leagues best defenders. Very violent player on the field in a way that league doesn't allow anymore. Always seemed to angry.
• Rod Smith -- over 11,000 yards receiving in a run heavy offense. Very under-rated.
• Welker -- his stats since going to NE have been incredible. Mad props to the little guy

 

[TheFinisher]

Tony Romo went undrafted in the 2003 NFL draft. I'm sure in retrospect, Cincinnati would have taken Romo over Carson Palmer had they known what would have happened to each guy.

Not necessarily. Cincy was beyond bad when Palmer was drafted and he turned them around rather quickly with zero talent, had them playing in the playoffs right away. A lot of people forget how good he was before the injury, he was named AFC MVP his 2nd full year as starter playing in the same conference as guys like Brady and Manning and was a bonafide top 5 QB in his early 20s. He looked like a future HOFer after a few years in the league.

Pre-injury Carson Palmer was the prototype NFL pocket passer.

 

[Lonestar94]

Arian Foster looks way out of place on that list. The guy had like 2 good years, looks like he's on his way down.

 

[HappyOnions]

Not necessarily. Cincy was beyond bad when Palmer was drafted and he turned them around rather quickly with zero talent, had them playing in the playoffs right away. A lot of people forget how good he was before the injury, he was named AFC MVP his 2nd full year as starter playing in the same conference as guys like Brady and Manning and was a bonafide top 5 QB in his early 20s. He looked like a future HOFer after a few years in the league.

Pre-injury Carson Palmer was the prototype NFL pocket passer.

I agree to an extent. He did turn around the Bengals but he didn't set the league on fire like most people predicted he would. Part of this is that USC players (at least during that decade) were hyped beyond belief that most would fall way short of the expectations people placed upon them.

-Carson Palmer, Reggie Bush, Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinart, Mike Williams...all came into the NFL after tremendous success in college. It was kind of like the Miami Hurricane effect in the early 2000s when every player drafted from the U was expected to be nothing less than a superstar.

Palmer was the obvious choice AT THAT TIME, but I think we can all agree that Romo became the better player and if they had the knowledge that we have no, I think it would be a no-brainer.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

that's a pretty impressive list.

 

[Mookie]

Warner, Romo, Moon, R. Smith, Holmes, Fletcher, Saturday, Garcia

 

[AdamJT13]

Undrafted Hall of Famers:

Frank Gatski
Lou Groza
Marion Motley
Bill Willis
Joe Perry
Emlen Tunnell
Jack Butler
Dick "Night Train" Lane
Willie Wood
Willie Brown
Emmitt Thomas
Larry Little
Jim Langer
Warren Moon
John Randle

 

[TheFinisher]

I agree to an extent. He did turn around the Bengals but he didn't set the league on fire like most people predicted he would. Part of this is that USC players (at least during that decade) were hyped beyond belief that most would fall way short of the expectations people placed upon them.

-Carson Palmer, Reggie Bush, Mark Sanchez, Matt Leinart, Mike Williams...all came into the NFL after tremendous success in college. It was kind of like the Miami Hurricane effect in the early 2000s when every player drafted from the U was expected to be nothing less than a superstar.

Palmer was the obvious choice AT THAT TIME, but I think we can all agree that Romo became the better player and if they had the knowledge that we have no, I think it would be a no-brainer.

Yea I just dont share that opinion. Palmer was a top 5/10 QB for much of his career, top 3 early on, playing in a horrible organization and like I said... A lot of people forget like to forget just how good he really was. Its not really a knock on Romo either, but I cant say with a straight face that its a no brainier Romo had the better career... It's a closer call than you're alluding to.

And if we're talking purely what they were, as in no knee injury, I'm taking a 22 year old Palmer over 22 year old Romo every day of the week and 10 times on Sunday.

 

[perrykemp]

I'll say this -- Palmer, pre-injury, reminded me a bit of young Aikman. He looked like the prototypical pocket passing QB.

Too bas about the injury.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Romo is very high on that list. Some others I've been personally been mighty impressed by:

• Kurt Warner. Obviously his story is incredible -- bagging groceries to three Superbowl appearances -- 1 victory. First year out of the gate as a starter 40+ TDs and league MVP. All-around great guy too.
• Priest Holmes had a heck of a 3 year run where he had ran/receiving for 6500+ yards and 60+ TDs.
• Don't hate me, however, I found James Harrison to be a terrifying defender. He was cut a bunch of times and still managed to become of the leagues best defenders. Very violent player on the field in a way that league doesn't allow anymore. Always seemed to angry.
• Rod Smith -- over 11,000 yards receiving in a run heavy offense. Very under-rated.
• Welker -- his stats since going to NE have been incredible. Mad props to the little guy

Isn't it well known that Harrison was cut multiple times then went on Roids and became pro bowler?

Not necessarily. Cincy was beyond bad when Palmer was drafted and he turned them around rather quickly with zero talent, had them playing in the playoffs right away. A lot of people forget how good he was before the injury, he was named AFC MVP his 2nd full year as starter playing in the same conference as guys like Brady and Manning and was a bonafide top 5 QB in his early 20s. He looked like a future HOFer after a few years in the league.

Pre-injury Carson Palmer was the prototype NFL pocket passer.

After his ACL? Got tore up in the playoffs he was never the same. He reminded me of Aikman.

 

[Wood]

Arian Foster looks way out of place on that list. The guy had like 2 good years, looks like he's on his way down.

I actually have him as my bounce back player for fantasy in '14 but lets keep that among us.

 

[Questfor6]

Undrafted Hall of Famers:

Frank Gatski
Lou Groza
Marion Motley
Bill Willis
Joe Perry
Emlen Tunnell
Jack Butler
Dick "Night Train" Lane
Willie Wood
Willie Brown
Emmitt Thomas
Larry Little
Jim Langer
Warren Moon
John Randle

Marion Motley was a bad man, if you get a chance to watch some of that guys old game tape you'll be awed.

 

[perrykemp]

Isn't it well known that Harrison was cut multiple times then went on Roids and became pro bowler?

I've heard that one too, however, you hear that about so many players in the NFL --- Clay Matthews also comes to mind as someone who has always been strongly suspected of roid usage.

Without any real evidence, I guess you have to put those rumors to the side when you evaluate a player.

 

[Eddie]

Not necessarily. Cincy was beyond bad when Palmer was drafted and he turned them around rather quickly with zero talent, had them playing in the playoffs right away. A lot of people forget how good he was before the injury, he was named AFC MVP his 2nd full year as starter playing in the same conference as guys like Brady and Manning and was a bonafide top 5 QB in his early 20s. He looked like a future HOFer after a few years in the league.

Pre-injury Carson Palmer was the prototype NFL pocket passer.

I agree. Pre-injury Carson Palmer was Troy Aikman v. 2.0.

 

[Kevinicus]

Yea I just dont share that opinion. Palmer was a top 5/10 QB for much of his career, top 3 early on, playing in a horrible organization and like I said... A lot of people forget like to forget just how good he really was. Its not really a knock on Romo either, but I cant say with a straight face that its a no brainier Romo had the better career... It's a closer call than you're alluding to.

And if we're talking purely what they were, as in no knee injury, I'm taking a 22 year old Palmer over 22 year old Romo every day of the week and 10 times on Sunday.

The ACL injury doesn't excuse all the absolutely horrible decisions that Palmer makes that leads to INTs. He had one great year (About on par with Romo's year this season), one good year, and has been pedestrian or worse the rest of the time. You can blame the injury some, but at some point the guy has to just play better. It's not like he's RG3. Most of his suckage is mental IMO.

 

[burmafrd]

The ACL injury doesn't excuse all the absolutely horrible decisions that Palmer makes that leads to INTs. He had one great year (About on par with Romo's year this season), one good year, and has been pedestrian or worse the rest of the time. You can blame the injury some, but at some point the guy has to just play better. It's not like he's RG3. Most of his suckage is mental IMO.

yep. the injury had an effect but the real problem is upstairs

 

[Future]

When talking about drafted vs. undrafted, I think there has to be some cutoff. Scouting is way, way more advanced now than it was probably even in the 90's. Good players used to get missed all the time, no way that's going to happen nowadays.

Since, say, 2000, its Romo and then everyone else. I don't think its even really all that close.