[lex24]

The Steelers had the top pick in the 1970 draft. Can you imagine if they had chosen Plunkett #1 rather than Terry Bradshaw?

On the other end of Bradshaw's career, Noll claims that Bradshaw told him he was good to go for the 1983 season, never felt better, etc.  Noll felt he could hold off drafting a QB for another year.  Noll didn't know about Bradshaw's elbow problems and passed up the chance to select local favorite Dan Marino of Pitt, who went to Miami who had the 27th pick in the first round.  The Steelers ended up taking Gabe Rivera, a/k/a Senor Sack from Texas Tech with the 21st selection instead.  After Rivera's sixth game in his rookie year, he was paralyzed when he tried to drive home drunk.  Tragic.

The Steelers ended up drafting a series of mediocre quarterbacks (Neil O'Donnell, Cliff Stoudt, Bubby Brister, Scott Campbell, Mark Malone, etc.), and didn't really "replace" Bradshaw until Kordell Stewart (1995), then Ben Roethlisberger (2004).

The Steelers did, however, draft several QBs who became Hall of Famers -- with other teams, including Len Dawson and Johnny Unitas.  Also Jim Finks (drafted as QB, but made HoF as an admin) and Ted Marchibroda who found his calling as a coach.

Marino's draft stock plummeted due to rumors of drug use, IIRC.  No idea if the rumors had any merit; regardless, Miami definitely benefited from Marino's draft fall.

ESPN has a great 30-30 focusing on Elway Marino and Marvin Demhoff for the ‘82 draft.  Demhoff kept a diary and represented both.  The Elway Baltimore draft/trade drama is probably the main focus.  Fascinating stuff.  Marino definitely dropped due to rumors.  Allegedly the Pitt team had a big party reputation.  And ‘82 was during the coke explosion.  The conclusion is that Marino was not a user. In the end, it benefited Marino.  Got to play on a team that was very good from the get go.  With Shula. Just like Rodgers dropping to the Packers was a benefit.  Who knows what he would have done had the Niners drafted him. And he got the snot beat out of him with those awful teams.

[lex24]

The Steelers had the top pick in the 1970 draft. Can you imagine if they had chosen Plunkett #1 rather than Terry Bradshaw?

On the other end of Bradshaw's career, Noll claims that Bradshaw told him he was good to go for the 1983 season, never felt better, etc.  Noll felt he could hold off drafting a QB for another year.  Noll didn't know about Bradshaw's elbow problems and passed up the chance to select local favorite Dan Marino of Pitt, who went to Miami who had the 27th pick in the first round.  The Steelers ended up taking Gabe Rivera, a/k/a Senor Sack from Texas Tech with the 21st selection instead.  After Rivera's sixth game in his rookie year, he was paralyzed when he tried to drive home drunk.  Tragic.

The Steelers ended up drafting a series of mediocre quarterbacks (Neil O'Donnell, Cliff Stoudt, Bubby Brister, Scott Campbell, Mark Malone, etc.), and didn't really "replace" Bradshaw until Kordell Stewart (1995), then Ben Roethlisberger (2004).

The Steelers did, however, draft several QBs who became Hall of Famers -- with other teams, including Len Dawson and Johnny Unitas.  Also Jim Finks (drafted as QB, but made HoF as an admin) and Ted Marchibroda who found his calling as a coach.

Marino's draft stock plummeted due to rumors of drug use, IIRC.  No idea if the rumors had any merit; regardless, Miami definitely benefited from Marino's draft fall.

ESPN has a great 30-30 focusing on Elway Marino and Marvin Demhoff for the ‘82 draft.  Demhoff kept a diary and represented both.  The Elway Baltimore draft/trade drama is probably the main focus.  Fascinating stuff.  Marino definitely dropped due to rumors.  Allegedly the Pitt team had a big party reputation.  And ‘82 was during the coke explosion.  The conclusion is that Marino was not a user. In the end, it benefited Marino.  Got to play on a team that was very good from the get go.  With Shula. Just like Rodgers dropping to the Packers was a benefit.  Who knows what he would have done had the Niners drafted him. And he got the snot beat out of him with those awful teams.