Randall Cunningham Should Fly Like an Eagle to Canton
Approximately 20 years ago, former Philadelphia Eagles superstar quarterback Randall Cunningham was featured on a cover of Sports Illustrated titled, “The Ultimate Weapon.”
Cunningham, 46, a four-time All-Pro selection who was awarded the PFWA NFL MVP in 1990, retired from the sport of football as an Eagle in 2002.
Since his unheralded departure from the gridiron, Cunningham has been relatively forgotten by the bulk of everyday football fans.
TOP NEWS
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Colts Release Kenny Moore
Projecting Every NFL Team's Starting Lineup 🔮
Rookie WRs Who Will Outplay Their Draft Value 📈
Although his play was periodically sporadic, Cunningham was a stellar signal-caller and he deserves to be considered a legitimate candidate for the Hall of Fame.
“I’m an impact player,” said Cunningham, who the Eagles selected with the 37th overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft out of UNLV. “That is what separates guys like me, Michael (Jordan) Magic (Johnson) and (Wayne) Gretzky from the others. It’s a proud feeling.”
Cunningham, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who earned the game’s MVP award in 1988, was roundly criticized when he compared himself to the aforementioned legends.
Still, had serious leg injuries not derailed Cunningham’s spectacular career, he could have eventually ascended to a comparably iconic status.
Cunningham had a tremendous arm and he ultimately threw 207 touchdown passes, in comparison to a measly 134 interceptions, for 29, 979 yards.
However, what distanced Cunningham from other quarterbacks was his astonishing ability to scramble outside of the pocket.
The native of Santa Barbara, California, ran for 4,482 yards and he exited the NFL as the all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks.
In the first game of the 1991 season against the Green Bay Packers, Cunningham suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and he was lost for the remainder of that year.
The former Runnin’ Rebel miraculously returned the following season and was honored as the 1992 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Despite his successes on the field in 1992, Cunningham had clearly lost much of his speed and agility and he would never again be the same player that had utterly dominated the league.
Cunningham initially decided to walk away from football after the 1995 campaign.
Two years later, Cunningham unretired and signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 1997.
In 1998, Cunningham was revitalized and he enjoyed arguably his greatest season ever when he guided the Vikings to a sterling record of 15-1.
Cunningham reinvented himself as a pure pocket passer and he tossed 34 touchdowns and recorded an extraordinary 106.0 passer rating.
The Vikings, who scored a then-NFL record 556 points during the 1998 season, saw their Super Bowl aspirations shattered when they were upset at home in the NFC title game against the Atlanta Falcons 30-27 in overtime.
Despite the disappointing loss, Cunningham and the Vikings had a terrific season for the ages that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
As mentioned previously, Cunningham vacated the sport for good in 2002 as a member of the Eagles.
In 2004, Cunningham founded a church called Remnant Ministries in Las Vegas and he currently serves there as an ordained Protestant minister.
Cunningham had a moderately brief run as a truly elite quarterback in the NFL.
Nevertheless, he was categorically an elite player behind center during his time in the game.
Troy Aikman, who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys, was an amazing quarterback and he was deservedly inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Jim Kelly helped lead the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive appearances in the Super Bowl in 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 and he was granted entry to Canton in 2002.
Unfortunately, Cunningham never played in a Super Bowl game.
But, the failures that Cunningham’s squads encountered should not diminish the vast accomplishments that he achieved on the gridiron.
Aikman and Kelly combined to be named to four All-Pro teams.
On his lonesome, Cunningham was honored as an All-Pro on four different occasions.
“When I don’t get it done, I feel worse than the person who boos,” Cunningham once said.
Even as an Eagle who played in front of degenerate Philadelphians, Cunningham was rarely booed because he was such an astounding talent.
Although it is unlikely to occur, Randall Cunningham merits a direct flight to Canton where he should be enshrined into the NFL Hall of Fame.
*This article is dedicated to Matthew Cadarette, “the world’s greatest Randall Cunningham fan.”
While vacationing in Las Vegas, Matthew was bitten by a Great Basin Rattlesnake and he is currently listed in critical condition at Spring Valley Hospital Medical Center.
Please pray for Matthew and his loved ones during these trying times.
New Muhammad Ali DVD is "The Greatest" Documentary Ever
Joe Girardi is a Yankees Legend
Tom Cable is a Scumbag and the Perfect Coach for the Oakland Raiders
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
