Eddie LeBaron, the little legend

[Jake]

Eddie was the QB of the 1962 Cowboys. They were the 2nd highest scoring team in the NFL - only Lombardi's Packers scored more - yet Dallas won only 5 games. If you're a "it's all about the QB" poster, as some of you have shown, you are oversimplifying the game to the verge of stupidity.

It's never been just about one player, not even Brady - dig into his SB winning teams and learn something. No QB wins on his own. Even Brady's great comeback SB win over Atlanta doesn't happen without defense. If the Falcons kept scoring after leading 28-3, Brady's heroics would just be "garbage time", padding stats while losing 45-34.

Don't be a fool. Football is a team game. Yes, a great QB is important, but he doesn't win on his own.

 

[Motorola]

Eddie was the QB of the 1962 Cowboys. They were the 2nd highest scoring team in the NFL - only Lombardi's Packers scored more - yet Dallas won only 5 games. If you're a "it's all about the QB" poster, as some of you have shown, you are oversimplifying the game to the verge of stupidity.

It's never been just about one player, not even Brady - dig into his SB winning teams and learn something. No QB wins on his own. Even Brady's great comeback SB win over Atlanta doesn't happen without defense. If the Falcons kept scoring after leading 28-3, Brady's heroics would just be "garbage time", padding stats while losing 45-34.

Don't be a fool. Football is a team game. Yes, a great QB is important, but he doesn't win on his own.

Eddie LeBaron came out of retirement to become the first-ever starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys.
He started 10 of 12 games that inaugural season; then started 10 of the 14 games in 1961.
LeBaron started only 5 games during the 1962 season - splitting time with Don Meredith.
His last season in the NFL - LeBaron started the first game; Meredith took over the rest of the way in 1963.

 

[noshame]

Never got to see Eddie I became a fan in 63. Dandy to Bob Hayes made me a cowboy fan for life.
While I agree that it's difficult for one person to win a football game I have seen several lose a football game.

 

[terra]

Never got to see Eddie I became a fan in 63. Dandy to Bob Hayes made me a cowboy fan for life.
While I agree that it's difficult for one person to win a football game I have seen several lose a football game.

It is a lot easier to lose a game then win one. And many times the person blamed was not the real culprit.

That is why I always felt sorry for the kicker who misses the win or lose kick in the last seconds; he will always be blamed despite the fact that others had to fail to put it all on him.

 

[Ranched]

It's never been just about one player, not even Brady - dig into his SB winning teams and learn something. No QB wins on his own. Even Brady's great comeback SB win over Atlanta doesn't happen without defense. If the Falcons kept scoring after leading 28-3, Brady's heroics would just be "garbage time", padding stats while losing 45-34.

Don't be a fool. Football is a team game. Yes, a great QB is important, but he doesn't win on his own.

 

[Bobhaze]

Eddie was the QB of the 1962 Cowboys. They were the 2nd highest scoring team in the NFL - only Lombardi's Packers scored more - yet Dallas won only 5 games. If you're a "it's all about the QB" poster, as some of you have shown, you are oversimplifying the game to the verge of stupidity.

It's never been just about one player, not even Brady - dig into his SB winning teams and learn something. No QB wins on his own. Even Brady's great comeback SB win over Atlanta doesn't happen without defense. If the Falcons kept scoring after leading 28-3, Brady's heroics would just be "garbage time", padding stats while losing 45-34.

Don't be a fool. Football is a team game. Yes, a great QB is important, but he doesn't win on his own.

Great post.

100% agree that Football is a TEAM game. For the “A Great QB is everything” crowd, Exhibit A of the Team Game could be the 2020 SB champs Tampa Bay. Brady gets all the kudos but he actually was horrible against the packers in the NFC championship game. Threw 3 picks in that game and if it weren’t for the great TB defense stopping Rodgers on that last drive, the Bucs don’t make the SB.

 

[Hardline]

It is a lot easier to lose a game then win one. And many times the person blamed was not the real culprit.

That is why I always felt sorry for the kicker who misses the win or lose kick in the last seconds; he will always be blamed despite the fact that others had to fail to put it all on him.

I still feel terrible for Scott Norwood missing that 30 something yarder against the Giants in the Super Bowl. I rooted hard for the Bills in their first two Super Bowls.

 

[john van brocklin]

Eddie was the QB of the 1962 Cowboys. They were the 2nd highest scoring team in the NFL - only Lombardi's Packers scored more - yet Dallas won only 5 games. If you're a "it's all about the QB" poster, as some of you have shown, you are oversimplifying the game to the verge of stupidity.

It's never been just about one player, not even Brady - dig into his SB winning teams and learn something. No QB wins on his own. Even Brady's great comeback SB win over Atlanta doesn't happen without defense. If the Falcons kept scoring after leading 28-3, Brady's heroics would just be "garbage time", padding stats while losing 45-34.

Don't be a fool. Football is a team game. Yes, a great QB is important, but he doesn't win on his own.

The General !

 

[75boyz]

While the OP is one of my favorite posters regardless, I believe the role the starting NFL QB plays in winning football games should never be diminished.

It's no mystery why GMs primary mission in building a team starts with the QB position.
He commands the highest salary for a reason.
He touches the snap of every offensive play and is in control regardless of his oline's blocking ability or his OCs play call.

As with the OP's story there was another guy like LeBaron who was truly individually talented . This guy by the name of Elway individually willed his team that had no business making it to 3 Super Bowls. My opinion is that Elways individual talent is mostly what got them there and was evidenced by bad blowout losses once reaching the SB against the far superior team NFC representative.

BUT...
In stark contrast, once Elway was given a stronger support system(ie oline, Terrell Davis and Shanahan) this same Bronco team more clearly represented the OP's original point I believe.

I still believe the truly elite ones can carry a team if his supporting cast is not so great.

THATS what separates the elite from the game managers.

The ability to do more with less or accomplish good to great victories in the most adverse circumstances.

jmo

 

[TequilaCowboy]

Eddie was the QB of the 1962 Cowboys. They were the 2nd highest scoring team in the NFL - only Lombardi's Packers scored more - yet Dallas won only 5 games. If you're a "it's all about the QB" poster, as some of you have shown, you are oversimplifying the game to the verge of stupidity.

It's never been just about one player, not even Brady - dig into his SB winning teams and learn something. No QB wins on his own. Even Brady's great comeback SB win over Atlanta doesn't happen without defense. If the Falcons kept scoring after leading 28-3, Brady's heroics would just be "garbage time", padding stats while losing 45-34.

Don't be a fool. Football is a team game. Yes, a great QB is important, but he doesn't win on his own.

Great, wish we had known this BEFORE Dak got his big contract. We thought this would bring us SB wins.

 

[nathanlt]

Eddie was the QB of the 1962 Cowboys. They were the 2nd highest scoring team in the NFL - only Lombardi's Packers scored more - yet Dallas won only 5 games. If you're a "it's all about the QB" poster, as some of you have shown, you are oversimplifying the game to the verge of stupidity.

It's never been just about one player, not even Brady - dig into his SB winning teams and learn something. No QB wins on his own. Even Brady's great comeback SB win over Atlanta doesn't happen without defense. If the Falcons kept scoring after leading 28-3, Brady's heroics would just be "garbage time", padding stats while losing 45-34.

Don't be a fool. Football is a team game. Yes, a great QB is important, but he doesn't win on his own.

Yes, although the absence of a great QB practically eliminates the chance of a championship.... Thanks, Trent Dilfer for being the exception!