Quarterback
1996-1998
In 1995, which was also Ray Rhodes' first year, the Eagles saw themselves go 10-6 and earn themselves a playoff spot thanks in large part to the arm of Rodney Peete who had taken over for Cunningham halfway through the season. That off season, the Eagles had a few holes to fill in the draft. The Eagles had signed former Packers back up Ty Detmer to serve as Peete's back up, but wanted a QB for the future. The Eagles would find their QB in the third round when they drafted Bobby Hoying out of The Ohio State University.
In his college years Hoying enjoyed much success, completing 498 passes, 57 of which for touchdowns. Hoying ranks very highly on the all time passing list for Ohio State and was even named to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team. In his senior year (1995) Hoying threw for 3,269 yards and finished in the top ten in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Hoying would drop to the third round because scouts were concerned about his athleticism and decision-making. Despite this, the Eagles thought that Hoying could be groomed as the eventual QB of the future.
Hoying would not play at all his rookie season as Ty Detmer would be the starter following an injury suffered to Peete in 1996. The following year when it was just Detmer and Hoying, Detmer would get hurt and Hoying would start the final 7 games of the season. Hoying's play was simply mediocre at best. He passed for 1573 yards with 11 TDs and 6 INT. His main problem would be the fumbles. Hoying fumbled 7 times in 7 games, losing 5 of those fumbles. Regardless, the Eagles saw Hoying as a project QB and he would live another year. He would show random flashes of potential, such as in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals which the Eagles won 44-42 thanks to Hoying outplaying Boomer Esiason.
1998 proved to be an absolute disaster for the Eagles. Ty Detmer would depart for the 49ers thus making Hoying the starter. Many felt that Hoying had shown enough flashes of his potential in 1997 that he would be a decent QB in the years to come. However, that off-season saw many changes that would put the pressure squarely on Hoying. Talented RB Ricky Watters would leave the team via free agency with the less talented Charlie Garner asked to fill his shoes. To make matters worse, Hoying was playing under a new offensive coordinator as Jon Gruden would leave to coach the Oakland Raiders. Things were not looking up for the Eagles at the beginning of the season and they never would. The Eagles finished 3-13 and Hoying had an absolutely horrible year. Hoying played the first eight games of the year only to throw 9 interceptions and not a single touchdown. He would be benched mid-season and the horrible season was put to bed when owner Jeff Lurie fired Rhodes after the season.
During the off-season, the Eagles would draft Donovan McNabb with the second pick overall, a move that has paid dividends for them ever since. The Eagles' QBs in 1999 would be McNabb and Doug Pederson, who was the starter until the coaches felt Donovan was ready. Hoying was immediately cut by the Eagles following the disasterous 1998 season, however one person still felt he had potential: his old offensive coordinator, Jon Gruden. Gruden signed Hoying as a back up to starter Rich Gannon until 2000 when he was cut by the Raiders after only appearing in 6 games in his two years there. Hoying would retire the following year.
The legacy of Bobby Hoying in Philadelphia is a bit of a strange one. While many felt he could be a good quarterback, it appears that the notion of him being the starter of the future and of the Eagles' dreams is greatly exaggerated. Hoying has become a bit of a novelty as many fans have chosen to forget about him given his poor play in his brief time with the Eagles. Every now and then though at the Linc, there will be someone brave enough to be wearing an old school Bobby Hoying #7 jersey. They are also available for purchase on eBay along with some Ricky Watters or Irving Fryar jerseys. All in all, Hoying's legacy is that he was just another body that was thrown behind the center in the 90s to try and replace the departed Randall Cunningham before the Eagles drafted McNabb.
Hall of Obscurity