by Joshua Henry

Created on: August 10, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Pawns or Kings

''What does it take to be a good Quarterback?'' My Father asked former pro NFL Quarterback, Johnny Unitas,at a card show long ago. According to my Father's story, Mr. Unitas never spoke a word. He only held up his limp, no longer working hand to painfully give my inquisitive Father a glimpse of the hard price he had paid. Being born in 1980 myself, I spent my younger years watching the great, Joe Montana play the position to its perfection. Only later in life did I realize, to compete at such a high level, you must have the all around pieces in place.

The late Bill Walsh, with an impressive professional record of 102-63-1, built the 49ers into one of the great all around teams in history. An outstanding 10-4 record in the playoffs, topped off by the dynasty signifying, 3 Superbowl wins. His hard nosed running attack and now ever popular 'west-coast' offense, was executed vicariously through his on-field players. Architect, genius,innovator, are all words that come to mind when describing Walsh.

The New England Patriots coach, Bill Belichick, is cut from the same cloth as Bill Walsh. In his architectural design and systematic approach to the game of football, Belichick is the brains behind the teams success. With pieces he helped construct, including former offensive coordinator, Charlie Weis, the immensely talented team was able to score 3 Superbowl wins in 4 short years. Not taking anything away from players like, Tom Brady or Joe Montana, who will undoubtedly be remembered as greats of our game. Some players are just products of a system, and reap rewards from their mythical position. Quarterbacks have always been held higher and slammed harder than any other players in all of sports.

Looking over these all time dynasties, you get a sense of what had to happen in order for individual players to excel. That's not to say that, Brady or Montana wouldn't have been able to find their rhythm by their lonesome. Just the fact that they never had to. Now, to take a glance over at a team like the Indianapolis Colts, you get a sense of what having an on-field General gets you. Peyton Manning, coaches, designs, calls his own plays then audibles if there's any danger lurking. He's deadly accurate, seemingly indestructible and has a pedigree of football that's turned into the sort of knowledge you just can't teach. Manning's devotion to the game is second to none. The Colts seem to live or die by how much offense Manning is able to produce. With Marvin Harrison

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