Best All Time Cardinals QB?

[Harry]

Johnson would have been interesting to see with a better surrounding cast. By the time the personnel was there and he lost out to Hart, Johnson had taken quite a beating. I never saw Trippi either, but many compared him to Jim Thorpe. He could pass, run and kick. He returned punts and kickoffs. He also played DB in his spare time.

I'd take Hart as the best because I think longevity is a factor in determining greatness. Hart played well for a very long time. It really tells the whole story of this franchise that outside of Trippi, they've never had a great quarterback.

 

[Garthshort]

Million Dollar Backfield

Although it was a different (way different) era, Paul Christman was a very good QB. Unfortunately, I only "saw" him on the radio. He teamed with Trippi(HB), Angsman (HB) and Harder (FB), with Marshall Goldberg in reserve, to form the Million Dollar Backfield. And if I remember, correctly, they were on the last and only (??) Cardinal championship team. Of the QB's I've actually seen Charley Johnson was the best IMO. But there's not much difference between Johnson, Hart, and Lomax, although it seems that Hart was not as accurate as the other two but he might have had the strongest arm, and a penchant for 4th quarter victories. Lomax was mobile but Johnson was the smartest on and off the field (Phd.). His battles against Frank Ryan and the Browns were some of highpoints in Cardinals' history. Keep in mind when they point out how few Cardinal playoff appearances there have been, the palyoff format (if I remember correctly) only included two, maybe four??, teams. We had some good teams in the 60's and 70's. Jeff Gollin can more accurately contribute to this.

 

[red desert]

I played against Rick McIvor in high school. They almost scored 100 points on us. It got ugly quick.

Charley Johnson played at New Mexico State -- yea!

 

[Wildfire]

JIm Hart, by far, was and still is the greatest Cardinal QB of alll times.

As an undrafted kid out of S. Ill., Hart became the leader and soul of the 70's and early 80's Cardinal football team.

I remember many a Sunday watching Hart drive the Cards to a willing TD.

 

[Southpaw]

Didja know

Jim Hart became the starting QB in 1967, because Charley Johnson was drafted into the Army during the off season.

 

[okcardzona]

Neil Lomax.... If Neil O'Donoghue's kick against the Redskins don't sail left in 1984 , The Cards would have made the Playoffs and Everbody would agree that he was the Best Cards QB Ever. No other Cardinal QB has ever come close to either his 92.5 NFL passing rating,or his 61.6 percent completion percentage in 1984.

 

[Shuesters2]

They were both great players and I wish the Cards had a QB of their caliber today. But it was a pity Lomax's career ended early due to injury. If he was able to go 12 to 15 years at the rate he was going this thread would be pointless.

Shuesters

 

[TheCardFan]

Without a doubt the best talent at QB was Lomax. Jim Hart was the franchise for many years...

I pretty sure it wasn't Gary Hogeboom.

 

[PACardsFan]

I watched Johnson (60's), Hart (70's), & Lomax (80's). They were all VERY good QB's. The Cardinals had some very good teams in the 60's under Johnson's tenure (9-5 in '63, 9-3-2 in '64, 8-5-1 in '66). He was quite the gamer. He had incredible games against the Browns & Giants. In 1966, Johnson had the Cards at 7-1-1, when he broke his leg against the Giants. Terry Nofsinger replaced him & they lost 4 of their last five. Jim Hart was a statuesque QB with a big arm & a big heart. If Coryell had not come around, Hart's career would have been less impressive. But I'll never forget the 74,75 & 76 Cardinals. Lomax was a gunslinger, similar in style to Favre. He loves to air it out & was very confident in his talent. I lived in the DC area during Lomax's tenure & I loved watching this guy throw the ball. He was definitely more talented than Hart & Johnson, just didn't have the talent or coaching around him that the other 2 had. If I had to judge:

1. Lomax (DEFINITE HOF QB if he were on a better team)
2. Johnson (Tremendous leader, tough as nails)
3. Hart (Very good, but too many INT's to say he was the best of this bunch)

 

[okcardzona]

I watched Johnson (60's), Hart (70's), & Lomax (80's). They were all VERY good QB's. The Cardinals had some very good teams in the 60's under Johnson's tenure (9-5 in '63, 9-3-2 in '64, 8-5-1 in '66). He was quite the gamer. He had incredible games against the Browns & Giants. In 1966, Johnson had the Cards at 7-1-1, when he broke his leg against the Giants. Terry Nofsinger replaced him & they lost 4 of their last five. Jim Hart was a statuesque QB with a big arm & a big heart. If Coryell had not come around, Hart's career would have been less impressive. But I'll never forget the 74,75 & 76 Cardinals. Lomax was a gunslinger, similar in style to Favre. He loves to air it out & was very confident in his talent. I lived in the DC area during Lomax's tenure & I loved watching this guy throw the ball. He was definitely more talented than Hart & Johnson, just didn't have the talent or coaching around him that the other 2 had. If I had to judge:

1. Lomax (DEFINITE HOF QB if he were on a better team)
2. Johnson (Tremendous leader, tough as nails)
3. Hart (Very good, but too many INT's to say he was the best of this bunch)

Great read ..Great post

 

[Snakester]

I have only seen Cardinal QBs from Jim Hart up to now so I can't really say anything about Johnson or Trippi, but after watching both of there careers I would have to say Lomax was the better of the two. I believe he still holds the record for most passing yards in a season for the NFC. He had like 4,800 passing one year. I also don't agree that he didn't have better people around him. I think Ottis Anderson is by far the best runningback that I have ever seen that played for the Cardinals. And Roy Green is also the best WR that I have seen the Cardinals ever have. Maybe Boldin or Fitzgerald in time may turn out to be the best, who knows. Jim Hart did have probably the best offensive line that ever played the game so he did have that advantage, but for skill players I think Lomax had the best skill players around him. Also Lomax had really just come into his prime when he had his hip problems. If he could have played the other six years that would have been his prime he would have been in the top four stats for QBs in probably every catagory.

 

[gamebird98]

Neil Lomax.... If Neil O'Donoghue's kick against the Redskins don't sail left in 1984 , The Cards would have made the Playoffs and Everbody would agree that he was the Best Cards QB Ever. No other Cardinal QB has ever come close to either his 92.5 NFL passing rating,or his 61.6 percent completion percentage in 1984.

Not only that....if we didnt get a BULLS**T roughing the Quarterback call, which allowed Washington to score, we would have never been in that predicament.