Obviously, it's a bit early to make comparisons like this but this is worth a read....

http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/cfx/2007/01/how_they_compare_dan_marino_an_1.html

Quote :

" How They Compare: Dan Marino and Philip Rivers by Forrest Overin It’s a natural thing to do, comparing players from different eras. It’s part of what we do in order to develop-- in our mind’s eye-- a picture of what we might expect from a young prospect as he ascends the professional learning curve. For about five years now, many of the football people who’ve observed Philip Rivers’ development have contended that the North Carolina State alum’s football skill set most closely resembles that of Dan Marino, who came into the NFL 21 years ahead of Rivers. A number of characteristics factor into this comparison, among them height (each of them 6’ 4”), weight (Marino came into the league at 224 pounds, Rivers at 226), and slowness afoot (neither could complete a 5.0 second 40 yard dash without benefit of a jetpack on his back). The other unmistakable physical similarity between the two is the distinctive semi-sidearm motion and whip-like release. However, as if often the case, closer scrutiny reveals more similarities… AND differences. Both played in FIVE college ‘Bowl’ games, and each compiled a 4-1 mark. When Marino concluded his college career, he ranked 4th, all-time, in TDs (79) and 5th in passing yardage (8,597). Twenty-one years later when Rivers’ college days concluded, he ranked 5th all-time in TDs with 95 (16 more than Marino), and 2nd in passing yardage with 13,582. In Heisman Trophy balloting, Marino finished fourth in 1982, while Rivers finished seventh in 2003. In the 1983 draft, Dan Marino was one of SIX quarterbacks selected in the first round. In the minds of many, Dan was the second best of the six prospects taken (John Elway was selected first overall), but he slipped down the board because of a rumor-- never completely substantiated-- that he had tested positive for marijuana at the combine workouts. Dan ended up being selected 27th overall by the Miami Dolphins, who were coming off a loss in the Super Bowl only a couple of months before. I’d like to see the statistical analysis of how seldom it is that a Super Bowl participant is able to select a franchise quarterback in the ensuing draft! Rivers, on the other hand, was somebody who’s ascension up the draft board came relatively late. Believed at the beginning of his senior season to likely be a 2nd – 4th round draft pick, Philip gradually made his way up the charts. He finally sent his draft rating into the stratosphere with a spectacular week of workouts at the Senior Bowl (where Marty Schottenheimer just happened to be coaching Rivers’ South squad), and subsequent Senior Bowl victory and MVP honors. Rivers, one of FOUR quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2004 draft, was selected 4th overall by the New York Giants and minutes later dispatched to the Chargers in the now famous Eli Manning trade. According to statistics kept by the NFL, Dan Marino scored 16, and Philip Rivers 30, on the Wonderlic Test, which is quick psychological exam that measures certain aspects of intelligence, and is administered at the Combine workouts for draft eligible players. These results suggest TWO things: first, that Rivers is quite a bright guy, and second, that Dan Marino didn’t try very hard when taking the test. We certainly know AFTER THE FACT that Marino was ‘smart’ enough to lead a potent, record setting offense for considerably more than a decade. During Marino’s career with the Dolphins, current Chargers’ GM A.J. Smith was affiliated with another AFC East team-- the Buffalo Bills- and he likely saw a lot more of the guy than he WISHED he did. “Philip reminds me a LOT of Dan Marino,” Smith says. “It’s the quick release, but something else, too. Dan couldn’t run and scoot, but he would shuffle left, and shuffle right, with his vision locked downfield, not on the guy rushing him.” It’s a key trait of Marino’s that Smith detects in Rivers. “He knows they’re there,” Smith says of a quarterback sensing pass pressure. “He ‘feels’ the rush. That’s a quarterback’s gift.” ESPN analyst Merrill Hoge sees a similarity, too. “He’s already at a level of anticipation that’s unbelievable,” Hoge said of Rivers recently. “He can throw that thing right over somebody’s shoulder, right in their ear. He has a swagger when he throws the ball, a willingness to throw where other quarterbacks wouldn’t even dream of it. The only other guy I’ve seen like that is Dan Marino.” On a final note, in Dan Marino's first season, he played in 11 games (starting the final nine) and had a major role in the Dolphins rolling to a 12-4 record. He compiled a Passer Rating of 96.0, and was named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad. In Rivers' first campaign as a starter, he engineered a Passer Rating of 92.0, and likewise earned Pro Bowl recognition as the Chargers finished the regular season with a franchise best mark of 14-2. Many thanks to Julie Ward for the research that established the groundwork for this article. "

2/2/2007 3:01:15 PM

PRiv will win one

2/2/2007 3:04:38 PM

2/2/2007 3:06:42 PM

he'd probably be playing in one if that guy had dropped that interception on fourth down.

2/2/2007 3:08:54 PM

Actually from what I read about Rivers' foot they didn't think he'd be able to play in the AFC Championship game regardless if they made it.

2/2/2007 3:09:38 PM

message_topic.aspx?topic=444718

2/2/2007 3:11:04 PM

i didn't read that article because the title is just too fucking stupid

2/2/2007 3:14:27 PM

Good article...assuming he keeps it up...would he be the first player in the hall of fame to grad. from NCSU?

2/2/2007 5:04:30 PM

Im pretty sure Mr. Holt will be in the HoF

2/2/2007 5:05:40 PM

How about Cowher?

2/2/2007 5:17:58 PM

Marino didn't have laser vision.

2/2/2007 5:18:29 PM

This thread makes rallydurham cry

2/2/2007 6:15:21 PM

Quote :

"PRiv will win one"

2/2/2007 7:49:56 PM

Quote :

"he'd probably be playing in one if that guy had dropped that interception on fourth down."

the problem was, actually, that he did drop that interception on fourth down...

2/2/2007 9:39:30 PM

mcree was a fuckup with the panthers and lo and behold, he's a fuckup with the chargers

2/2/2007 9:47:39 PM

Quote :

"Obviously, it's a bit early"

2/2/2007 9:55:31 PM