Jimmy G’s contract paid him on what he did in literally two starts in 2016 when Tom Brady was suspended for the first four games. Gets hurt and can’t start games 3 & 4, which gives way to Brissett starting two games, he goes 1-1, Brady returns and they are 3-1 and win the Super Bowl.

Jimmy G contract was also a “splash” signing/trade for a disenfranchised fanbase. In prior two season, Niners were 7-25 with Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick as QBs. 32nd in points scored in 2015, 27th in points scored in 2016. It was a “hail mary” you might say. Garoppolo is also as far from Kaepernick as you can get in every conceivable sense.

ESPN released a story about two years ago that claimed Tom Brady was jealous of Jimmy Gesus and stormed into Robert Kraft’s office and demanded they trade him. I always wondered about that. I didn’t realize until I read your comment, but the $137.5 million deal with the 49ers was the largest contract in NFL history on an annual basis. That’s a helluva hail mary!

It would be easy to say it was luck and dismiss as such. But when you take into account the Patriots’ body of work claiming “done” players only to watch them succeed and become integral components under Bill B, leading to numerous Super Bowl titles, it has to reflect proper player development. And it isn’t just BB; it really has to be organizational. Julian Edelman, the former college QB who is now 2nd all-time in NFL playoff receptions behind Jerry Rice, is also a great example of this.

Great point on Elway, John. The list of QBs drafted under his reign is truly pathetic.