Boomer Esiason Was Almost A Colt!

[King Colt]

Watched a documentary yesterday about the year Esiason was drafted and they said he made it clear he would never play for the Colts in Indy as that was the year they left Baltimore and he apparently was set to get drafted by them. What a difference that would have made in his career. I had forgotten he almost never even got drafted. He said not getting a call was the worst thing that ever happened in his working life.

[jvan1973]

Boomer is and always has been a blow hard. He would have played in Indy. He didn't have elways options or talent

[ReMeDy]

Did he say why he wouldn't want to play for us? There must have been a lot of butt hurt Baltimore fans back in those days. I love how selfish fans get when their states that share multiple teams get riled up over a team leaving. I bet you'd see some butt hurt people in Florida if Jacksonville were to leave. Spread the wealth, people.

[NewColtsFan]

Watched a documentary yesterday about the year Esiason was drafted and they said he made it clear he would never play for the Colts in Indy as that was the year they left Baltimore and he apparently was set to get drafted by them. What a difference that would have made in his career. I had forgotten he almost never even got drafted. He said not getting a call was the worst thing that ever happened in his working life.

 

Huh?

 

He got drafted in the 2nd round and went on to have a 1st round career.    He said not getting a call in the FIRST ROUND was the worst thing that happened.    He got drafted high.  

 

What am I not understanding?

 

He didn't have anything against Indy.    He wasn't angry the Colts left Baltimore.    He went to Maryland for college. 

[Smonroe]

Huh?

 

He got drafted in the 2nd round and went on to have a 1st round career.    He said not getting a call in the FIRST ROUND was the worst thing that happened.    He got drafted high.  

 

What am I not understanding?

 

He didn't have anything against Indy.    He wasn't angry the Colts left Baltimore.    He went to Maryland for college.

He may have been worried he'd make less with the Colts than he did in college.

(I have friends who went to MD at the same time as him. The NCAA wasn't as nosy in those days.)

[colts8718]

Did he say why he wouldn't want to play for us? There must have been a lot of butt hurt Baltimore fans back in those days. I love how selfish fans get when their states that share multiple teams get riled up over a team leaving. I bet you'd see some butt hurt people in Florida if Jacksonville were to leave. Spread the wealth, people.

I was a Colt fan from NJ and would travel to Baltimore for games and yes it really hurt the people from Baltimore. 

[Narcosys]

I was a Colt fan from NJ and would travel to Baltimore for games and yes it really hurt the people from Baltimore.

They blamed the wrong party though. They needed to look at themselves for the problem and not the franchise.

[Coltfreak]

The thought of Boomer in a Colts uniform makes me want to puke.  The only other uniform I can imagin him in is a #12 patriots jersey

[ColtsBlueFL]

No team took a QB in round one in 1984.  Boomer went in 2nd at #38 pick.  I was not a fan of the Bengals, but it's hard for me to think of a differetn QB trying to run Sam Wyche's 'no huddle' offense. If Monte Kiffin (and Tony Dungy) are known as the father of the Tampa 2, Wyche is the father of the No Huddle.  And you have to admit that Boomer was quite adept at running it.

[ÅÐØNϧ 1]

Honestly Norman Julius ? A Colt     

[Coltsman1788]

Did he say why he wouldn't want to play for us? There must have been a lot of butt hurt Baltimore fans back in those days. I love how selfish fans get when their states that share multiple teams get riled up over a team leaving. I bet you'd see some butt hurt people in Florida if Jacksonville were to leave. Spread the wealth, people.

Kinda like how butthurt Indy fans were when Irsay told Peyton to kick rocks.  And he was just a player not an entire franchise. 

[shakedownstreet]

my butt hurts from reading this thread

[C0lts088]

From what I remember I think it was because of the way the organization was being ran at the time that boomer refused to play here.

[King Colt]

Huh?

 

He got drafted in the 2nd round and went on to have a 1st round career.    He said not getting a call in the FIRST ROUND was the worst thing that happened.    He got drafted high.  

 

What am I not understanding?

 

He didn't have anything against Indy.    He wasn't angry the Colts left Baltimore.    He went to Maryland for college. 

Boomer went in 38th place in the draft, yes second round but he was said to go very quickly in the draft, not 38th and that is why he said it hurt so bad. Cincy was drafting linemen in front of him. They did not say "why" he did not want to play in Indy.

[The Old Crow]

Boomer was a Baltimore Colt fan growing up who idolized Bert Jones. He wanted to play in Baltimore for the Colts, and really had no connection with Indy, and the Midwest. As he went to Maryland, he knew the history of the Baltimore Colts. That was probably the context of it, as he ended up out there anyway in Cincy. He probably just wanted to be the next Johnny Unitas or Bert Jones in Baltimore. Who knew at the time how Bob Irsay would make out in Indy ? He probably had a better career ending up in Cincy during the rather unsuccessful Bob Irsay era in Indy.

[bababooey]

He may have been worried he'd make less with the Colts than he did in college.

(I have friends who went to MD at the same time as him. The NCAA wasn't as nosy in those days.)

Funny story - they were saying on Boomer's morning show in the wake of the Chris Mullin hiring that this is why St. John's basketball fell so much. Back then before they built dorms the players would get paid a specific amount to live in an apartment. Most of the players either lived at home with their parents or would rent a 3 bedroom with two other guys and pocket anything leftover. This all went out the window when SJU decided to build dorms.

[The Old Crow]

Funny story - they were saying on Boomer's morning show in the wake of the Chris Mullin hiring that this is why St. John's basketball fell so much. Back then before they built dorms the players would get paid a specific amount to live in an apartment. Most of the players either lived at home with their parents or would rent a 3 bedroom with two other guys and pocket anything leftover. This all went out the window when SJU decided to build dorms.

I'm a Maryland fan, and never heard any of this. Anyway , to add further context to this story, the USFL was around at this time pulling off players like Reggie White and Hershel Walker. The Colts certainly knew Boomer was a top QB at Maryland. The Colts had 2 first round picks in 84, but Irsay still didn't want to spend any money, which is why the Colts passed on him, and why he dropped to the second round. If you guys wondered why attendance dropped in Baltimore at the end , see below :

1982 Drafted Johnie Cooks # 2Art Schlitchter with a 4, could have drafted Jim McMahon and Marcus Allen.

1983 Drafted Elway 1, and traded him for a back up QB, an OT, and a 1, worst trade in history of NFL.

1984 draft drafted Leonard Coleman and Ron Solt in first round. Could have snagged Boomer with one of those two picks.

[lollygagger8]

 

Glad that never happened

[Smonroe]

I'm a Maryland fan, and never heard any of this. Anyway , to add further context to this story, the USFL was around at this time pulling off players like Reggie White and Hershel Walker. The Colts certainly knew Boomer was a top QB at Maryland. The Colts had 2 first round picks in 84, but Irsay still didn't want to spend any money, which is why the Colts passed on him, and why he dropped to the second round. If you guys wondered why attendance dropped in Baltimore at the end , see below :

1982 Drafted Johnie Cooks # 2Art Schlitchter with a 4, could have drafted Jim McMahon and Marcus Allen.

1983 Drafted Elway 1, and traded him for a back up QB, an OT, and a 1, worst trade in history of NFL.

1984 draft drafted Leonard Coleman and Ron Solt in first round. Could have snagged Boomer with one of those two picks.

 

I really hate to revisit this but I have to disagree with your statement, about it being the worst trade.  Hinton was actually a very good player who went to a bunch of pro bowls.  Hermann was a serviceable QB and they also got their 1st round pick.

 

Sure, that still doesn't add up to being worth an Elway, but you have to remember, the Colts didn't have much of a choice.  If they would have called his bluff, he may have played baseball or sat out.

 

Anyway, 20 - 20 hindsight, as they say!

[Dr. T]

Once Elway threatened us, we should have just drafted Dan Marino.

[The Old Crow]

I really hate to revisit this but I have to disagree with your statement, about it being the worst trade. Hinton was actually a very good player who went to a bunch of pro bowls. Hermann was a serviceable QB and they also got their 1st round pick.

Sure, that still doesn't add up to being worth an Elway, but you have to remember, the Colts didn't have much of a choice. If they would have called his bluff, he may have played baseball or sat out.

Anyway, 20 - 20 hindsight, as they say!

We've talked about this one a lot , but even if we would agree that Elway forced his hand, Irsay could have gotten way more for Elway than what he got. Dallas would have given more, as would have other teams. Irsay was more comfortable with the Broncos owner , so he went over GM Accorsi's head, and did the trade on his own. This caused Accorsi to resign, and have a successful career with the Giants. He hated that trade.

[The Old Crow]

Once Elway threatened us, we should have just drafted Dan Marino.

Very true, you could have gotten way more than what Denver offered, and drafted Marino. You guys have to remember at that time , many of Irsays picks were predicated by how much he would have to pay them. He just didn't want to pay a lot in salaries which is why they got rid of Bert Jones, Rodger Carr, John Dutton, and a host of others. He dismantled those Colt Division winning teams of the 1970's.

[The Old Crow]

I really hate to revisit this but I have to disagree with your statement, about it being the worst trade. Hinton was actually a very good player who went to a bunch of pro bowls. Hermann was a serviceable QB and they also got their 1st round pick.

Sure, that still doesn't add up to being worth an Elway, but you have to remember, the Colts didn't have much of a choice. If they would have called his bluff, he may have played baseball or sat out.

Anyway, 20 - 20 hindsight, as they say!

One other thing to think about, for Elway you got Mark Hermann played back up for three seasons with the Colts, and three as a Charger as a backup playing sparingly. Ron Solt played 127 games for the Colts and Eagles starting only 16. Chris Hinton was good, he made seven pro bowls, six with the Colts and one with the Falcons.

Now if you think you got a deal for a seven time pro bowl OT , for probably a top 5 QB in NFL history, going to five Super Bowls, than you must put a lot of stock in Chris Hinton, because basically the other 2 guys were back ups.

[dw49]

One other thing to think about, for Elway you got Mark Hermann played back up for three seasons with the Colts, and three as a Charger as a backup playing sparingly. Ron Solt played 127 games for the Colts and Eagles starting only 16. Chris Hinton was good, he made seven pro bowls, six with the Colts and one with the Falcons.

Now if you think you got a deal for a seven time pro bowl OT , for probably a top 5 QB in NFL history, going to five Super Bowls, than you must put a lot of stock in Chris Hinton, because basically the other 2 guys were back ups.

 

Your memory is slipping on Solt . I don't know where some .com thing got Solt as being a back up the first 4 years for the Colts. I found what you saw and I'm sure it's insane. I remembered him as a good player for us and found this link that shows what Philly gave up for him and quotes him saying he only missed 1 start for the Colts.

 

 

http://articles.mcall.com/1988-10-27/sports/2666725_1_ron-solt-dave-rimington-knees

[The Old Crow]

Your memory is slipping on Solt . I don't know where some .com thing got Solt as being a back up the first 4 years for the Colts. I found what you saw and I'm sure it's insane. I remembered him as a good player for us and found this link that shows what Philly gave up for him and quotes him saying he only missed 1 start for the Colts.

http://articles.mcall.com/1988-10-27/sports/2666725_1_ron-solt-dave-rimington-knees

I got this from a Denver Broncos , milehighreport.com from March 7, 2011 entitled , " The Deal of the Century and how John Elway became a Bronco. " I admit I don't know much about Ron Solt, as I didn't follow the Colts after they moved to Indy, but that's what the article said. Maybe it was Denver propaganda , but a good OG, and pro bowl OT, still isn't worth a Hall of Fame QB like Elway. I guess my point is if you guys think the Colts were in a box, and this excludes this trade, you still have to admit they should have gotten way more than what they got from Denver .

[The Old Crow]

Your memory is slipping on Solt . I don't know where some .com thing got Solt as being a back up the first 4 years for the Colts. I found what you saw and I'm sure it's insane. I remembered him as a good player for us and found this link that shows what Philly gave up for him and quotes him saying he only missed 1 start for the Colts.

http://articles.mcall.com/1988-10-27/sports/2666725_1_ron-solt-dave-rimington-knees

I checked the official stats and he did start 113 out of 116 games, so a very good career. Not sure how he played, but the starts look good. Also a Terp from Bainbridge, MD. I think I am slipping !

[dw49]

I checked the official stats and he did start 113 out of 116 games, so a very good career. Not sure how he played, but the starts look good. Also a Terp from Bainbridge, MD. I think I am slipping !

 

 

Yeah.. Solt was a nice player. But bottom line is even with an even better guy in Hinton , you don't trade talents like Elway There is no way the Colts could have ever received enough compensation. 

[The Old Crow]

Yeah.. Solt was a nice player. But bottom line is even with an even better guy in Hinton , you don't trade talents like Elway There is no way the Colts could have ever received enough compensation.

Should have let him go to the Yankees. The NFL would probably awarded them another pick. I remember in that 1980's time frame , the Colts seemed to be on an offensive line drafting binge. I'm thinking they did this because they didn't protect Bert Jones, and those injuries ended his career. Also, offensive linemen were less expensive top draft picks than QB's. Those early 80's were strange years indeed.

[dw49]

Should have let him go to the Yankees. The NFL would probably awarded them another pick. I remember in that 1980's time frame , the Colts seemed to be on an offensive line drafting binge. I'm thinking they did this because they didn't protect Bert Jones, and those injuries ended his career. Also, offensive linemen were less expensive top draft picks than QB's. Those early 80's were strange years indeed.

 

Yeah they were...