Post by ezlee2 on Sept 6, 2018 20:36:38 GMT -5
Shawn Hamer
Sometimes you’re the hammer, sometimes you’re the nail.
This Mississippi native sure had an interesting career, coming in at 5’10, he was written off as a QB even before he stepped on a field at College. However, he overcame many naysayers, and forged out what was a decent career, even if it wasn’t exactly quite what we thought a 1.1 QB would be. This is Shawn Hamer, the charismatic QB that spent most of his career in Kansas.
Born and raised Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Shawn was the smallest and youngest of 3 brothers, and many would say this forged the will within himself to make it to the RZB. His two older brothers both played football, and appeared to be the better players at a young age, both playing as well built linebackers. They made a reputation for themselves and were both offered scholarships at southern Mississippi, however that’s as far as they would go. Shawn on the other hand was always a small kid, and therefore, they never allowed him to play on the defensive end, instead, they noticed the incredible arm talent he had. He would be used at QB. During his High school days, many believed he had enough about him to play college ball, and follow in the footsteps of his brothers, and go to Southern Mississippi. Instead though, they did not want him, he was too short. And despite his incredible high school career, the only college that truly wanted to stand by Shawn was Virginia. This lead to the determination we saw from him to be the best. Virginia did not have the best of programs when he joined, instead, he was to be their star, even if the nation had no belief in that to begin with. And in his true freshman year, he was incredible, throwing 36 TD’s and only 7 picks, and led his team to a 9-3 season. The most impressive part of his Freshman year is that he came 3rd in Heisman voting, when no-one ever touted him to amass anything in college, he was too short; but he sure was dominating. During his second season at Virginia it was much of the same. In 2015 though, he went up another level, throwing 44TD’s and 4 picks, he was the undisputed number 1 pick, and moreover, he was the Heisman winner, the best player in College for that season. Many could see past his height, and saw his true talent, which was clearly bursting from the seams. Shawn felt as though he had proven those that ever doubted him wrong.
Shawn ended up declaring for the draft after his Junior season, and with no doubt, he went 1.1 to Buffalo. A franchise that truly needed a QB, they believed Hamer would be the first they could believe in since Jim Kelly. During training camp though, there were worrying signs creeping in about Shawn Hamer, and whether or not he was the right man. He just didn’t appear to have the work ethic, he wouldn’t study like a QB should, and at times did not appear to give the effort required in training. This wasn’t to be the match that the Bills had wanted. Shawn simply was in no way good enough in his first two seasons, his play was beyond poor, and it appeared as though he may be the worst QB ever taken at 1.1. Maybe height was a clear issue when playing against the best in the world, his stat line assuredly made the public think that, throwing only 37 TD’s to 56INTs, and a QBR barely over 70. His time at Buffalo would now be at an end, the Bills couldn’t take any more of him. Seattle had obtained his rights in a trade that include sending Russell Wilson the other way, however he did not last long here, and no one has ever been too sure if that is due to Shawn’s lack of effort, or just a better deal for Seattle. After only 2 weeks in Seattle, he was again being traded, to the Chiefs. Shawn would now have to make his way to Kansas, and now he truly felt worthless, and was left in a dark place, believing that his once limitless ceiling career, was hanging on by a mere thread.
In Kansas though, Shawn changed his mentality, from believing he had made it, he now realised that once again, and he was just this kid that was being told he could not do it. He was going to amount to nothing, and be a failure. Hamer’s first season in Kansas was a massive success, he had twice as many TD’s as INTS, and appeared as though he was back on the path to being a great QB. He continued to play at an incredibly high level for another 3 seasons, making himself one of the leagues very finest QB’s, and no longer did it appear as though he was anywhere near to being a bust, he was a star. However in 2022, the Shawn no one ever wanted to see again, perhaps he felt as though there was nothing else he could do to be any better, and he consolidated on what he currently had. 2022 was truly an awful season, he looked the QB that he was in Buffalo, and people had to wonder whether this was him, after 4 great seasons, done. Ultimately, Kansas kept him around until the end of the 2027 season, perhaps hoping he would find that form he once had, or even possibly out of the respect for the 4 amazing seasons he had. For the first time though, Shawn would hit the free agency market, and he took whatever talent he had left to the big apple, to the Giants. This time though, it appeared as though his role was to be more than a possible mentor for Huntley, the young QB the Giants had drafted in the first round, another player that is just 5ft10.
Ultimately though, Shawn Hamer’s last great season was to be in 2022, at the age of 29, he had a short peak, but the light that shone was incredibly bright. Possibly things could have been different for one of the most gifted arms the league had seen, but his work ethic and determination truly let him down. However, his talent surely won’t be forgotten. Shawn has been inducted into the college hall of fame, possibly going down as one of college’s greatest players, but any hope of him going into the RZB hall of fame is slim to none.
Shawn Hamer, being the hammer for a great 4 years, it won’t be forgotten in Kansas.
*posted for Joel Lewis
