TheAgitator.com
Two Quarterbacks
Saturday, November 13th, 2004The last five weeks have presented an odd twist of fate for two Purdue University quarterbacks, one past and one present.
Five weeks ago, current collegiate QB Kyle Orton was nearly a shoe-in for an invitation to the Heisman ceremony in New York. His team was ranked fifth in the country, he was the second-highest ranked quarterback in the NCAA, and Purdue looked primed for a BCS bid.
Five weeks ago, Orton’s predecessor at Purdue Drew Brees looked to be at the end of his NFL career just two seasons after it started. His rookie season was a disaster. His team used their first round draft pick on a guy just a year younger than him, and signed said pick to a multimillion dollar deal. Brees’ job it seems was merely to keep Chargers’ center Nick Harwick’s ass warm until Philip Rivers was ready to take over.
Five weeks ago, Orton’s Boilermakers had the lead and the ball in the fourth quarter against Wisconsin, also undefeated at the time. On a scramble, Orton stretched to get a first down, fumbled, and Wisconsin recovered and ran the ball back for a touchdown. Purdue lost. And lost. And lost. They lost their next four games. Orton was eventually benched after an injury and two mediocre performances. They won today, but with Orton on the sidelines. An almost surefire first-round NFL draft pick likely won’t be drafted at all now.
Over the same five-week span, Drew Brees has caught fire. The Chargers have come from nowhere to contend for the AFC West, or at least for a wild card. Brees is now the third-highest rated passer in the NFL, and a legitimate MVP candidate. Rivers will still likely replace him next year. But if he keeps this up, he’ll certainly be starting somewhere, and probably making a heck of a lot more money.
I don’t know what the significance of all of that is. Just struck me interesting.
