As April draws near, NFL fans whose teams failed to make the playoffs have only the NFL Draft to give them hope. Underclassman still have several weeks to declare their intentions and that will give way to the set of all-star games and the combine. By late February, we will have a much better idea of where to rank the players. With that said, here is how I see it playing out, if the draft were to be tomorrow.
1. Miami Dolphins (1-15) Needs: OL,DL,CB,S,TE
Glen Dorsey DT LSU
The Dolphins will have some very difficult decisions to make come draft day. A number of teams will certainly consider trade offers to get McFadden. Glen Dorsey has been a disruptive force his whole career at LSU, but injuries create doubt. He isn't a perfect fit for the Dolphins system, but represents upside and can be a force in the NFL. A number of teams will have interest in Darren McFadden and with many needs to fill, Bill Parcells and co. may have a tough decision to make, particularly if Parcells old team the Cowboys are looking to trade up. Between now and April, the 'Phins and the Tuna will have to determine how to best allocate their resources to turn this proud franchise around.
2. St. Louis Rams (3-13) Needs: OT,LB,S,CB,QB
Jake Long OT Michigan
St. Louis will be in a unique position this April with probably the most talented team picking in the top 10(With the exception of the Patriots). Injuries killed the Rams this year and they found out they don't have the playmakers they thought they did. Much of the offensive problems stemmed from inconsistent offensive line play after Orlando Pace went down. Jake Long grades out just below Joe Thomas who has been dominant for Cleveland this season. Long would give Stephen Jackson a massive wall to facilitate their run game.
3. Atlanta Falcons (4-12) Needs: QB,OL,DT,LB,WR,S
Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty for the Falcons right now. No team in any sport has had to endure the kind of turmoil this team has and it showed on the football field. The Falcons have no coach, no GM, and no QB. The rule is you don't pass on a franchise QB if you don't have one, but the same can be said for running backs. Warrick Dunn is clearly on the downside and Jerious Norwood is not a lead back. Darren McFadden will have an impact next season in the NFL, more than say Matt Ryan from BC. Arthur Blank wants to fill the seats again, and McFadden is the guy to do it.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12) Needs: OL,WR,QB,CB,S
Matt Ryan QB Boston College
Kansas City hit on a gem late in the first round last year with Dwayne Bowe. Unfortunately, the loss of Larry Johnson and inconsistent QB play left Kansas City struggling all year. Damon Huard was benched on favor of Brodie Croyle with very little change. Matt Ryan has established himself as the top QB in this year's draft. He has the arm to make every throw and was highly successful at Boston College with very little talent around him. For Ryan, it is a dream scenario with LJ to hand off to and Tony Gonzalez and the aforementioned Bowe to throw to in a weak conference.
5. Oakland Raiders (4-12) Needs: OL,WR,SS, DL,DB
Chris Long DE Virginia
Oakland would love to see Chris Long on the board here. Long was the most disruptive defensive force in college football this season, but more than that, he's the son of Raider great Howie Long. While the Raiders would love to get a playmaker on offense, there isn't value here with McFadden off the board and no receiver warranting a top 10 pick. Long will help that Raider defensive line keep pressure off a linebacking core who fly around and make plays.
6. New York Jets (4-12) Needs: DL,WR,CB,G,FS
Sedrick Ellis DT USC
For the Jets, the win over KC will keep them from getting McFadden, or Jake/Chris Long, all of whom would fill bigger needs for this team. Sedrick Ellis anchored a dominant USC defense and was unblockable at time in the middle. He will almost certainly play defensive end in Mangini's 3-4 system and will give the Jets a pass rush that managed just 29 sacks all year. Ohio State's James Laurinaitis could be an option here as well considering Jonathan Vilma is not a good fit for the 3-4.
7. New England Patriots F/ 49ers Needs: CB,S,LB, RB, OL
James Laurinaitis ILB Ohio State
It hardly seems fair that an undefeated team would get a top 10 pick especially considering the Patriots had their own first round pick taken away with the Spy Gate scandal. Early in the year it was hard to point out significant weaknesses in the Patriots, but as the season has progressed, the defense has been vulnerable. Those Patriot linebackers are ancient and it would be hard to envision Seau and Bruschi playing much longer. Laurinitis grades out a little lower than where A.J. Hawk did, but he has the speed and instinct to be an impact player in the NFL.
8. Baltimore Ravens (5-11) Needs: QB,CB,WR, OL,LB
Brian Brohm QB Louisville
Perhaps no team in the NFL was as disappointing this year as the Baltimore Ravens. After going 13-3, this team showed their age on defense and no explosiveness on offense. Steve McNair probably doesn't have anything left, but would provide a great mentor for Brohm, should McNair elect to return for another season. With Brian Billick gone, the Ravens will likely have to rebuild the offense. Expect them to add depth at CB and WR on the first day of the draft as well.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9) Needs: LB,DL,OL,S,TE
Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State
One of the bright spots for the up and down Bengals was the play of rookie CB Leon Hall. However, the Bengals defense was able to get no pressure on the quarterback managing just 22 sacks all season long. The Cinci has more pressing needs at linebacker, but with Laurinaitis gone, it is too high to take any other linebacker. Gholston is still very raw, but has the kind of physical tools that scouts look for. A solid showing against LSU and at the combine and it should be no surprise if the junior Buckeye winds up in the top 10.
10. New Orleans Saints (7-9) Needs: DT,LB,CB,TE,S
Malcolm Jenkins CB Ohio State
It would be unfair to definitively rule last year's run by the Saints a fluke, but New Orleans did very little to prove otherwise this season. Injuries hurt a great deal, but the Saints defense simply couldn't cover anyone and failed to create turnovers. Malcolm Jenkins will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his skills against a talented set of playmakers for LSU in the BCS Championship game. If Jenkins can do that, expect him to leave school early and wind up much like his teammate Gholston, in the top 10.
11. Buffalo Bills (7-9) Needs: LB,TE,CB,DT,WR
Derrick Harvey DE Florida
Buffalo winds up in a tough spot here. They will have to decide if it is too high to take a chance on DeSean Jackson who would give Trent Edwards another option in the passing game. Ryan Clady would also draw consideration but the Bills line really came together and played extremely well down the stretch. However, the defense struggled to get pressure getting just 26 sacks a year ago. With a young secondary, that will not win you many ball games especially in an extremely competitive AFC. Derrick Harvey has the burst and and quickness to get upfield and really pressure the quarterback.
12. Denver Broncos (7-9) Needs: DT,OL,S,RB,WR
Kenny Phillips S Miami (Fl)
Denver's rush defense last season was 30th in the NFL and last most of the year. They would love to get a defensive tackle to plug that middle, but there isn't really a value here. John Lynch is getting old, and was hurt much of the season. Nick Ferguson also wound up on injured reserve, leaving the safety position extremely thin. Kenny Phillips has a chance to return to school and continue to help Miami rebuild their program, but he is really the only top tier talent at safety in this year's draft. Phillips is always around the ball, and should be next in line of great Miami safeties to succeed in the NFL.
13. Carolina Panthers (7-9) Needs: WR,DL,QB,S,TE
Andre Woodson QB Kentucky
John Fox did an excellent job of keeping his team focused on winning even after they had to play 70 year old Vinny Testaverde at QB. Steve Smith is one of the most dangerous players in the NFL, but the defense for the Panthers unachieved. DeSean Jackson would be awfully tough next to Steve Smith, but Jake Delhomme has had a problem staying healthy and really hasn't been the same player since the Panthers lost to the Patriots in the Super Bowl. If John Fox gets an extension longer than a year or two, expect a QB here. Woodson carved up the Florida State defense to finish his season strong. The long throwing motion scares some scouts, but other believe Woodson has the most upside of any QB in the draft.
14. Chicago Bears (7-9) Needs: QB,G,T,RB,S,WR
Ryan Clady OT Boise State
The Bears were a disappointing team both offensively and defensively. The lines on both sides were banged up and exposed the lack of depth at a number of positions. The offensive line was particularly weak this season opening very few holes for Cedric Benson. Ryan Clady would provide an infusion of talent into a line that has gotten very hold. Clady can explode off the line and get after it in a division full of rush ends. The Bears would also like to see Andre Woodson here, but with Carolina drafting ahead of them, it seems unlikely that he would drop.
15. Detroit Lions (7-9) Needs: OL,CB,TE,LB,S
Mike Jenkins CB South Florida
Detroit fans will be happy to see the Lions drafting outside of the top 10 for the first time in what seems like forever. What started off as promise, turned into disappointment for this team after there weaknesses in the secondary were exposed on Thanksgiving Day. Mike Jenkins is the top senior defensive back in 2008 and the Lions desperately need him. He can play corner or safety, both weak positions for the Lions. That type of versatility will excite Rod Marinelli and hopefully give the Lions an impact player on defense right away.
16. Arizona Cardinals (8-8) Needs: OL,DL,LB,RB,S
Keith Rivers OLB USC
The Cardinals offense was able to score in bunches all season long even without Matt Leinart. The Cardinals were able to stuff the run ranking 9th in rushing yards. Arizona's defense simply lacks difference makers and couldn't stop anyone in the passing game. Unfortunately, there isn't value here at either corner or safety. Keith Rivers is a sideline to sideline demon who never stops working. The Cardinals have solid but unspectacular linebackers and Rivers would bring a winning attitude and work ethic to a team that has been losing for a long time. There are bigger needs along the
17. Minnesota Vikings (8-8) Needs: QB,WR,DE,RT,CB
DeSean Jackson WR Cal
Minnesota proved last year they were willing to take the best player available by taking Adrian Peterson when they had bigger needs. Peterson is already a star on ground, but the passing game is pathetic. Tavaris Jackson is a mediocre QB at best right now, but he has no one to throw to. Early word out of Minnesota is that they're targeting another first round pass rusher and Calais Campbell is certainly a possibility here. However, Jackson is a better pure wide receiver than Ted Gin Jr. and certainly could be an impact player as a rookie. DeSean Jackson and Adrian Peterson would give the Vikings a scary combination of big play ability.
18. Houston Texans (8-8) Needs: OL,CB,WR,RB,LB
Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
With a number of upper-echelon teams underachieving, the Houston Texans was one of the bottom feeders succeeding. Mario Williams and Andre Johnson are blossoming stars in the league and the Texans have talent on both sides of the ball. Houston has done a terrific job of drafting the past several years and Jonathan Stewart can be a franchise back. Ahman Green was playing extremely well before he went down and Ron Dayne played well as a fill in. However, Green is getting older and Dayne is certainly not a #1 back. Stewart dominated Central Florida for more than 250 yards on the ground. He would give Schaub and company balance on offense.
19. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8) Needs: WR,S,G,LB,OT
Limas Sweed WR Texas
The Eagles haven't had a true #1 at receiver since they lost Terrell Owens and that has increased the work load on Brian Westbrook. Regardless of who is playing quarterback for the Eagles next season, he will need more weapons to succeed. Sweed lost his season to a wrist injury, but he has played a ton at Texas and been nothing but successful. The former Longhorn has a big powerful frame and soft hands. He may lack top end speed, but Sweed can get open in space and use his body to shield defenders. Whoever is throwing passes for the Eagles will welcome the Texas standout on the outside.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) Needs: OL,CB,LB,WR,RB
Jeffrey Otah OT Pittsburgh
Jon Gruden has done an exceptional job of getting Tampa Bay back to the playoffs with the NFC South Division Championship. The division was weak however, and this team is aging at a number of positions. The Tampa offensive line has been a thin position for a number of years now and the Bucs have only begun to address it. Jeff Otah is a big, physical presence who will give running lanes to Cadillac Williams and Earnest Graham as well as give Jeff Garcia time to find his play maker Joey Galloway in the passing game.
21. Washington Redskins (9-7) Needs: DL,S,OLB,WR,OL
Calais Campbell DE Miami (Fl)
No team in recent memory has had to deal with the tragic murder of a player in the middle of a season. The way the Redskins have responded speaks volume of their character and this team is playing excellent football heading to the playoffs. One of the reasons the 'Skins are playing so well is the play of their front four. They have created pressure with their lineman all season, but their front 7 is againg, with Rocky McIntosh and Andre Carter the only players under the age of 30 in that group. Campbell has has an enormous frame and power to get to the quarterback. He can play the run as well as get pressure. The Redskins have a glaring hole at safety with the aforementioned tragedy with Sean Taylor, but there simply isn't a player here to fill that need. The 'Skins will settle for another former Hurricane to give them a burst off the corner.
22. Dallas Cowboys F/ Browns (13-3) Needs: DB,DT,MLB,RB,OL
Early Doucet III WR LSU
This pick could have been different before Tony Romo struggled mightily without Terrell Owens against Washington. Owens has been a dominant force this season and Patrick Crayton is an excellent third option, but Terry Glenn was supposed to be the #2 WR for this team. With very little depth and no real playmakers beyond Owens, Jerry Jones will take the opportunity to get one for his young quarterback here. Doucet is a burner and can give the Cowboys a down the field threat that will open up the underneath routes for Witten and Owens.
23. Seattle Seahawks (10-6) Needs: G,RB,WR,OLB,CB
Sam Baker OT USC
Seattle will go to the playoffs once again under Mike Holmgren, this season, inspite of a running game. Former league MVP Shaun Alexander and Mo Morris have failed to give the Seahawks any balance. The loss of Steve Hutchinson has really hurt the run game and outside of Walter Jones, the 'Hawks line has been average. Baker does not play with a lot of power and strength, but he has fantastic feet, balance, and instinct. With some time and some additional strength, Baker has the ability to be a Pro Bowl tackle.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) Needs: OT,S,WR,OLB,DE
Michael Oher OT Ole' Miss
This Pittsburgh Steelers team does not seem to follow the blueprint of Steeler teams of old. This Steelers team does not tackle well and lately have been outmuscled and simply outplayed. Their offensive line has allowed too many sacks, even though they've given Willie Parker a ton of holes in the run game. Michael Oher is a massive tackle who can really get after it. The Ole' Miss product has been steadily climbing draft boards and could climb even higher. Oher may go back to school, but he has a first round grade and would help a very inconsistent Steelers line.
25. Tennessee Titans (10-6) Needs: WR,CB,LB,OL,DT
Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma
Tennessee surprised plenty of people when they took Michael Griffin in the first round instead of adding a receiver for Vince Young. Without much help on the outside VY struggled to complete passes and score, forcing him to make more plays with his legs. That kind of burden took its toll on Young. Kelly is the kind of threat the Titans need to give Vince. Kelly is a big smooth athlete would uses his body well in traffic, but can make some people miss even at 6'4'' 217 pounds. A top 5 team could keep Kelly at Oklahoma for next season, but Kelly is rumored to be leaning toward entering the draft.
26. New York Giants (10-6) Needs: LB,DB,WR,OL
Dan Connor LB Penn State
The Giants could certainly use another wide receiver as Plaxico Burress has been the only reliable target for Eli Manning. However, Dan Connor has tremendous value here and the Giants desperately need help at linebacker. Aqib Talib could also be the pick here, but Aaron Ross showed promise this season and another first round corner would only add pressure to a group of defensive backs who struggled at times to get off the field. Connor tackles as well as any player in the country, something the Giants struggled to do all season long.
27. San Diego Chargers (11-5) Needs: MLB,WR,DT,LB,S,RB
Felix Jones RB Arkansas
After getting off to a slow start, the Chargers are playing excellent football and it is because of the new LT. Tomlinson has put this team on his shoulders since he got here and hasn't slowed down. Michael Turner will be a free agent and probably draw considerable interest in the free agent market. San Diego has more pressing needs like inside linebacker and safety, but there isn't value there. At this point, San Diedgo can take best player available which is Jones who will provide them a playmaker with speed and quickness in all phases.
28. Jacksonville Jaguards (11-5) Needs: WR,LB,S,DL,
Ali Highsmith OLB LSU
Jacksonville's success this season has been predicated on physicality and toughness. The Jags offense has been all about the running game, but they have a QB who can make all the throws and doesn't make mistakes. Much like San Diego, Jacksonville does not have many holes. Their linebacking unit is slow and could use a difference maker. Highsmith is a high energy player who can rush the passer and really attack in the run game. With top end speed for a linebacker, the LSU standout can get sideline to sideline in a flash. With Stroud and Henderson in the middle shield him, Highsmith's lack of bulk would be minimized.
29. Green Bay Packers (13-3) Needs: S,RB,OL,TE,OLB
Aqib Talib CB Kansas
After struggling to run the ball most of the year, it seemed a lock the Pack would draft a running back in the first round. Ryan Grant looks like the real deal and even Brandon Jackson has come on of late. The Packers still need more consistent play from their safeties and could use some depth at corner. Talib has tremendous ball skills, and even saw time at WR with Kansas. He lacks top end speed, but is physical and could potentially move to safety where the Packers could also use him. Either way, he will add depth at corner and is built much like Charles Woodson. Under the tutelage of Woodson and Al Harris, Talib will get every opportunity to learn and grow. Talib's size and ball skills gives up as much upside as any corner in this draft and he could be an impact player on this defense as a rookie.
30. Dallas Cowboys (13-3) Needs: DB,DT,MLB,RB,OL
Reggie Smith CB/S
Rumors about Jerry Jones wanting to trade his two first rounders to get into a position to draft Darren McFadden. If that doesn't happen, they will definitely be in the market for depth in the defensive backfield. Reggie Smith has solid ball skills and instincts, but his speed is still a question mark. He can be dynamic with the ball in his hand and has the potential to make big plays at either corner or safety for the Cowboys. The last time the Cowboys drafted a big physical corner from Oklahoma, they got a hard hitter pro bowl safety. Reggie Smith is better in coverage than Roy Williams and could even be the guy who spells Williams on passing downs.
31. San Francisco 49ers F/ Colts (5-11) Needs: OL,WR,DT,S,OLB
Kentwan Balmer DT North Carolina
San Francisco's season was extremely disappointing and Alex Smith seemed to regress as their QB and leader. Mike Nolan might not survive the next few weeks and this offense struggled mightily all season. However, the WR class is extremely deep and the 49ers will have their pick at the top of the second round to get a guy like Mario Manningham or Adarius Bowman to upgrade their receiving unit. Balmer is a force in the middle who can get after the QB and stuff the run. Bryant Young has been a main stay in the middle of that 49ers defense. Balmer has the kind of talent to make an impact right away for a defense that will miss Young's contributions.
New England Patriots 16-0
Forfeit pick
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Freshly Squeezed: Juicing and Records put Baseball in Tough Position
The Mitchell Report. It seems to have taken on a nature of its own in recent days as some unexpected names found their way on the 300 plus page packet. Since then, pundits from ESPN to Fox News have weighed in on what is to be done about steroids in baseball. After all, that is why Commissioner Bud Selig had the report financed....isn't it? Curt Schilling said in his blog(wait...really?) that he thinks Roger Clemens should have any numbers from years in which the Rocket used PED's stripped and the 4 Cy Young's on Clemens' mantle should be also rescinded. The famous asterisk discussion seems to come back. What are we to do with the records in baseball if it turns out they're was foul play? The answer is simple:they ought to be in the books, but only as a footnote.
In other words, take a cue from track and field where numbers are everything. The fastest 100 meter dash time ever run by a human was Ben Johnson in 9.79 seconds in 1988. But if you look in the record books you'll see Carl Lewis is the Gold Medalist from that Olympics with a time of 9.92 seconds. From there semantics vary, but inevitably there will be a footnote of some sort. Looking down towards the bottom of the page, you see something to the effect, "Carl Lewis was awarded the Gold Medal after Ben Johnson of Canada, the original winner in 9.79, tested positive for steroids"
Ben Johnson's accomplishment stood as the fastest time on record until recently when Asafa Powell and then Justin Gatlin broke his records, presumably without the help of performance enhancers. Baseball fans expect, and now HOPE Alex Rodriguez is able to play long enough to break Bonds' record. In the same way people hoped someone would break Ben Johnson's record without the help of steroids.
This obsession with numbers seems to be a side effect of our culture. We constantly look for ways to measure greatness. If you ask any person over the age of 40 who the greatest home run hitter of all time, most people would tell you without much hesitation "Hammerin' Hank." The record books say Barry Bonds hit more home runs than any player ever, but since when does that matter? Nolan Ryan holds a number of pitching records and yet is not considered the greatest pitcher ever, but rather one of the greatest. Records do necessarily translate into greatness. Until Peyton Manning won a Super Bowl, he was considered "that" QB, who just couldn't get his team to the promise land. We all have our preferences on who the "greatest" is, but we have our own criteria. You can love Sammy Sosa and suspect he was juicing.
I am just as guilty. In an effort to prove Brett Favre is the greatest QB ever, I did a statistical analysis. But I can think Favre is the greatest ever, and you can think Marino is. That is the beauty of it. Baseball's fascination with individual stats in a TEAM oriented game simply proves baseball needs fixing.
One last point and it is something that has really bothered me about this entire process. I discussed it with a friend of mine and we came to the same conclusion. Athletes are being privileged in a way that is reprehensible. Professional athletes get paid millions of dollars a year to play something that is based on abilities God gave them(I understand it is more complex than that) They have plush locker rooms, access to whatever they need and celebrity status around the world. That is fine....I suppose. But that does not mean they are subject to the law any differently than anyone else.
A stock broker's job is to make money. He is to make money for him and his clients. If he breaks the law to gain an edge, assuming he gets caught, he loses his job and faces jail time and federal fines. Professional athletes get CAUGHT uses steroids, not only do they not go to jail, they play again that season. That is unacceptable, and that we, the fans, do not speak up louder about penalties for such actions is equally wrong.
In other words, take a cue from track and field where numbers are everything. The fastest 100 meter dash time ever run by a human was Ben Johnson in 9.79 seconds in 1988. But if you look in the record books you'll see Carl Lewis is the Gold Medalist from that Olympics with a time of 9.92 seconds. From there semantics vary, but inevitably there will be a footnote of some sort. Looking down towards the bottom of the page, you see something to the effect, "Carl Lewis was awarded the Gold Medal after Ben Johnson of Canada, the original winner in 9.79, tested positive for steroids"
Ben Johnson's accomplishment stood as the fastest time on record until recently when Asafa Powell and then Justin Gatlin broke his records, presumably without the help of performance enhancers. Baseball fans expect, and now HOPE Alex Rodriguez is able to play long enough to break Bonds' record. In the same way people hoped someone would break Ben Johnson's record without the help of steroids.
This obsession with numbers seems to be a side effect of our culture. We constantly look for ways to measure greatness. If you ask any person over the age of 40 who the greatest home run hitter of all time, most people would tell you without much hesitation "Hammerin' Hank." The record books say Barry Bonds hit more home runs than any player ever, but since when does that matter? Nolan Ryan holds a number of pitching records and yet is not considered the greatest pitcher ever, but rather one of the greatest. Records do necessarily translate into greatness. Until Peyton Manning won a Super Bowl, he was considered "that" QB, who just couldn't get his team to the promise land. We all have our preferences on who the "greatest" is, but we have our own criteria. You can love Sammy Sosa and suspect he was juicing.
I am just as guilty. In an effort to prove Brett Favre is the greatest QB ever, I did a statistical analysis. But I can think Favre is the greatest ever, and you can think Marino is. That is the beauty of it. Baseball's fascination with individual stats in a TEAM oriented game simply proves baseball needs fixing.
One last point and it is something that has really bothered me about this entire process. I discussed it with a friend of mine and we came to the same conclusion. Athletes are being privileged in a way that is reprehensible. Professional athletes get paid millions of dollars a year to play something that is based on abilities God gave them(I understand it is more complex than that) They have plush locker rooms, access to whatever they need and celebrity status around the world. That is fine....I suppose. But that does not mean they are subject to the law any differently than anyone else.
A stock broker's job is to make money. He is to make money for him and his clients. If he breaks the law to gain an edge, assuming he gets caught, he loses his job and faces jail time and federal fines. Professional athletes get CAUGHT uses steroids, not only do they not go to jail, they play again that season. That is unacceptable, and that we, the fans, do not speak up louder about penalties for such actions is equally wrong.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Panic in Philly?? No
For the past several years there has been a conversation that is so ridiculous I cannot even understand why the people engaging in it, are allowed to speak in public. The question at hand is "Should Donovan McNabb's time in Philly be over?" They drafted Kevin Kolb this past year after Jeff Garcia lead the Eagles to the playoffs last year in dramatic fashion. That was enough to start whispers that McNabb was on the way out.
The doubters have always been there for #5. On Draft Day, he was booed when the Eagles took him. What did he do in his first full year as a starter? He finished second in the AP voting for the MVP award to Marshall Falk throwing for over 3,000 yards 21 TD's and rushing for six more. And oh yeah, the Eagles went to the playoffs for the first time in 4 seasons.
Maybe you are in need of a brief history lesson on the former Syracuse great. The next season, 2001, McNabb lead the Eagles to the NFC Championship game where they almost beat a heavily favored Rams team on the road. Philly fans clearly forget, this was the first NFC title game they had played in since 1980. McNabb lead them to three straight NFC Championships from 2001-2003.
In 2004 McNabb won a franchise record 13 games, threw 31 TD's to just 8 INTs and lead his team to the Super Bowl where they lost a thriller to the New England Patriots in one of the most exciting title games in recent memory. McNabb passed for nearly 400 yards and 3 scores and was literally exhausted by games end, unable to get anything going on the team's final drives.
The locker room cancer, TO, blamed the loss on McNabb for not being in shape. Owens should get credit for coming back off a leg injury to dominate in the Super Bowl, but McNabb carried the team on his back in that game, making throws all over the field. The only reason McNabb wasn't the league's MVP was Peyton Manning's record breaking season (in which he did NOT make the Super Bowl).
Since then he has played less than 11 games two years in a row, but his numbers before those injuries were excellent and his teams were winning. McNabb is a physical QB, one of the biggest and baddest runners in the positions history, and is susceptible to injury. Need we forget this is a guy who played through a BROKEN LEG to throw 4 TD's against Arizona?
But he's on his way out...WHAT? Donovan McNabb is the face of the franchise. Say what you want about the unbelievable moves of Brian Westbrook or the huge hits of Brian Dawkins, McNabb represents the Eagles and has proudly shouldered that burden since 1999. He has always been candid with famously fickle Philly fans. Then he gets burned for saying black QB's are under more pressure and scrutiny than their white counterparts.
Hmmmm....It took Peyton Manning 9 seasons to get to the Super Bowl and was famously dominated by the Patriots his whole career until recently. Well recently, McNabb has been hurt and the talent around him is slowly dwindling rather than rising like the Colts. The failings of the Eagles does not fall on the broad shoulders of Donovan and it is completely unfair and maybe race IS an issue. In fact, before his injury this year, Donovan was on pace to have better numbers than Peyton does currently. The Colts have injuries, no doubt, but McNabb has had an elite receiver ONCE in his career and dominated teams. Manning has had at least one his whole career, he has had TWO recently plus an elite tight end and now an elite running back. Just like we can say with Brady, if McNabb had the weapons Manning does, this would not be a question.
This is slowly becoming a Kevin Garnett scenario. He had no help in Minnesota and the one time he did, they ran into a dominant Lakers team who they played very tough. McNabb, like Garnett, should be getting the benefit of the doubt for keeping his mouth shut about getting help for a long long time. McNabb's window is closing, but he can still be an elite QB. McNabb works harder physically than just about any player in the league to get himself ready to play. He wants to win, he can win, the Eagles should be getting him some help because he gives them a chance to win. The talk about his career being over is awful and ridiculous. The fans in Philly, the national media, and most importantly the Eagles brass, must recognize this guy has killed himself to win for them. Get him a contract extension and get him some help. If you aren't willing to do that, send him somewhere he can help and I hope he beats your brains in the first chance he gets on a Sunday afternoon.
The doubters have always been there for #5. On Draft Day, he was booed when the Eagles took him. What did he do in his first full year as a starter? He finished second in the AP voting for the MVP award to Marshall Falk throwing for over 3,000 yards 21 TD's and rushing for six more. And oh yeah, the Eagles went to the playoffs for the first time in 4 seasons.
Maybe you are in need of a brief history lesson on the former Syracuse great. The next season, 2001, McNabb lead the Eagles to the NFC Championship game where they almost beat a heavily favored Rams team on the road. Philly fans clearly forget, this was the first NFC title game they had played in since 1980. McNabb lead them to three straight NFC Championships from 2001-2003.
In 2004 McNabb won a franchise record 13 games, threw 31 TD's to just 8 INTs and lead his team to the Super Bowl where they lost a thriller to the New England Patriots in one of the most exciting title games in recent memory. McNabb passed for nearly 400 yards and 3 scores and was literally exhausted by games end, unable to get anything going on the team's final drives.
The locker room cancer, TO, blamed the loss on McNabb for not being in shape. Owens should get credit for coming back off a leg injury to dominate in the Super Bowl, but McNabb carried the team on his back in that game, making throws all over the field. The only reason McNabb wasn't the league's MVP was Peyton Manning's record breaking season (in which he did NOT make the Super Bowl).
Since then he has played less than 11 games two years in a row, but his numbers before those injuries were excellent and his teams were winning. McNabb is a physical QB, one of the biggest and baddest runners in the positions history, and is susceptible to injury. Need we forget this is a guy who played through a BROKEN LEG to throw 4 TD's against Arizona?
But he's on his way out...WHAT? Donovan McNabb is the face of the franchise. Say what you want about the unbelievable moves of Brian Westbrook or the huge hits of Brian Dawkins, McNabb represents the Eagles and has proudly shouldered that burden since 1999. He has always been candid with famously fickle Philly fans. Then he gets burned for saying black QB's are under more pressure and scrutiny than their white counterparts.
Hmmmm....It took Peyton Manning 9 seasons to get to the Super Bowl and was famously dominated by the Patriots his whole career until recently. Well recently, McNabb has been hurt and the talent around him is slowly dwindling rather than rising like the Colts. The failings of the Eagles does not fall on the broad shoulders of Donovan and it is completely unfair and maybe race IS an issue. In fact, before his injury this year, Donovan was on pace to have better numbers than Peyton does currently. The Colts have injuries, no doubt, but McNabb has had an elite receiver ONCE in his career and dominated teams. Manning has had at least one his whole career, he has had TWO recently plus an elite tight end and now an elite running back. Just like we can say with Brady, if McNabb had the weapons Manning does, this would not be a question.
This is slowly becoming a Kevin Garnett scenario. He had no help in Minnesota and the one time he did, they ran into a dominant Lakers team who they played very tough. McNabb, like Garnett, should be getting the benefit of the doubt for keeping his mouth shut about getting help for a long long time. McNabb's window is closing, but he can still be an elite QB. McNabb works harder physically than just about any player in the league to get himself ready to play. He wants to win, he can win, the Eagles should be getting him some help because he gives them a chance to win. The talk about his career being over is awful and ridiculous. The fans in Philly, the national media, and most importantly the Eagles brass, must recognize this guy has killed himself to win for them. Get him a contract extension and get him some help. If you aren't willing to do that, send him somewhere he can help and I hope he beats your brains in the first chance he gets on a Sunday afternoon.
Monday, October 15, 2007
No doubt, the greatest
I recognize that many times people create arguments based on something other than logic and reason. Phrases like "greatest of all-time" become common place and thus lose their meaning. Certainly a 60 year-old Cowboys fan will argue that Roger Staubach was much better than Terry Bradshaw, but certainly the thought process to create that argument would involve a deep seething hatred for the Steelers. As I wrote previously, I believe Brett Favre is the greateset quarterback to have ever put on a jersey and my review of the fact may have been somewhat biased and my account of statistics somewhat cursory. In an effort to make a stronger point I, with the help of pro-football-reference.com, will attempt to show Brett Favre belongs not only in the discussion of greatest of all time, but is in fact THE greatest of all time. In order to do this, I will present facts and statistics, and then explain how relevant they are to our discussion.
With that in mind, in order to determine WHO the greatest is, we must first determine under what criteria is this to be decided. There are literally hundreds of statistics from which to choose, I will use and explain the importance of some of the most standard measuring tools we have for quarterbacks. Unfortunately, those old school NFL fans may be disappointed to see I have not included quarterbacks like Sammy Baugh, Otto Graham, or others from the pre-modern era. Peyton Manning could have played in the 50's, I'm convinced of it. Otto Graham could take a hit from Ray Lewis and walk again, end of discussion. Quarterbacks present an interesting problem in that regard. Many argue Don Hutson could take the field on Sunday and play for any NFL team with rumors he could run a sub-4.4 40. In other words, quarterbacks are different today than they've ever been; in this case, different is better...much better.
Games
The quarterback position provides a set of challenges, both physical and mental, unlike any other in sport. On any given play the quarterback has to make his players are in the right spots, how much time is on the play clock, remember the down and distance, determine what defense the other team is in, decide whether or not to audible, then on passing downs: determine protection schemes, look off the defense, make his reads, take his drop, set his feet, throw the ball with accuracy, timing, and touch THEN do it all over again with at least 4 guys trying to rip his head off. Guys like Warren Moon, Vinny Testaverde, and Johnny Unitas, played for years because they could do all of those things. The history of the NFL is littered with first round draft picks, even number 1 overall picks, who simply couldn't hack it either physically or mentally at the QB position in the NFL. Here is the list of the quarterbacks examined in order of most games played.
1. Brett Favre 247
2. Dan Marino 242
3. John Elway 234
4. Johnny Unitas 211
5. Joe Montana 192
6. Steve Young 169
7. Peyton Manning 149
***Through 6 weeks of 2007 NFL Season
I understand faulting Peyton Manning for not having played an entire career seems unfair, however he has yet to miss a start and is on pace to shatter just about every quarterback record imaginable. Keeping Peyton is necessary to show that having all the statistics does necessarily determine the greatest quarterback. One need only look to a case like baseball where Nolan Ryan holds numerous records, though many do not consider him the greatest pitcher of all time. Brett Favre has shown unique durability especially for the quarterback position, as he approaches the record for consecutive games started by a player at ANY position. Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Joe Montana among many others were forced from the game due to injury. One interesting note, Dan Marino is the only quarterback among those listed without a Super Bowl Ring. That is not a shot at Marino, but rather demonstrates that to play for any period of time, the quarterback, more than any other position, is tasked with "wins." That is the reason a quarterback accounts for wins as losses as we'll see later.
Completion Percentage
Rather than simply list the all time completion and attempts leaders, completion percentage allows us to include players like Steve Young and Peyton Manning, who simply don't have the attempts and completions necessary to be considered here. (It is worth noting that Brett Favre is the NFL's all time completion and attempts leader). Completion percentage refers to the rate at which a quarterback is able to complete his passes. This directly correlated to the efficiency with which a quarterback leads his team.
1. Steve Young 64.3%
2. Peyton Manning 64.2%
3. Joe Montana 63.2%
4. Brett Favre 61.2%
5.Dan Marino 59.4%
6.John Elway 56.9%
7. Johnny Unitas 54.6%
A number of interesting facts in this list seem to pop out. First, many do not know Steve Young actually had a higher completion percentage for his career than Joe Montana and held a number of completion percentage related records, many of which Peyton has or probably will break. One might think John Elway would be higher on the list, however Elway completed over 60% of his passes only 3 times in 16 seasons, while Brett Favre did so 11 times in 17 seasons(Favre is also on pace to do it for a 12th time this season). The man many consider to be the architect of the QB position, Johnny U, is a disappointing 7th, completing under 55% of his passes. This comes in an era without zone blitzes, cover 2, and 280 pounds rush ends who can run 4.5 40's. Unitas draws praise for being a leader and a winner, but in a time when the quarterback was to prevent his team from losing more than help his team win (that dreaded "game manager moniker) Unitas seems to come up short of modern QB's.
Yards
Understanding "yards" in and of itself may not be a worthy criterion essentially because the longer one plays the the more yards one is likely to accumulate, yards per game will be a suitable alternative. It is the quarterbacks job to make sure the offense moves up and down the field. In order to do this, he must wrack up yards in the process. (Of our QB's only Marino, Favre, and Elway have over 50,000 career yards and Favre sits a little more than 2,000 yards from breaking Marino's NFL record for career yards).
1. Peyton Manning 261.11
2.Dan Marino 253.56
3.Brett Favre 239.74
4. John Elway 219.98
5. Joe Montana 211.20
6. Steve Young 196.00
7. Johnny Unitas 190.71
Again, Unitas simply does not measure up statistically with modern quarterbacks. Other than Peyton Manning and Steve Young, he attempted and completed less passes than anyone on our list, but as you'll see later, threw more than his fair share of interceptions. It should come as no surprise Favre and Marino are in the top 3, however Manning's presence also makes sense. Perhaps more startling, is the fact tat after Brett Favre there is a precipitous drop off. John Elway threw for nearly 20 yards less per game and Montana nearly 30. The fact that this statistic is pro-rated, takes out much of the discussion about inflated yardage numbers. Favre and Marino top the all-time yardage lists, but played longer than guys like Montana and Young. While one could argue that, in and of itself, is credit to the staying power of Favre and Marino, but making it yards per games played, we can better understand what each quarterback brought to his team on a game to game basis.
Touchdowns
With that, we find ourselves moving the ball down the field and wishing to score. Touchdowns have to be examined on a number of different levels. If we were to simply list the all time touchdown leaders, the list would not surprise with Favre, Marino, and Elway leading the way in that order. While Favre and Marino are the only QB's on the list with more than 301 touchdowns (Favre:423, Marino:420), again we are going to create a ratio to better level the comparison. To do this we will examine each quarterback's touchdown per attempt ratios. This way we can account for those quarterbacks with less attempts due to playing fewer downs. The key is to have the fewest attempts per touchdown.
1. Peyton Manning 17.73:1
2. Steve Young 17.88:1
3. Johnny Unitas 18.23:1
4. Joe Montana 19.74:1
5. Dan Marino 19. 90:1
6. Brett Favre 20.02:1
7. John Elway 24.16:1
While Favre and Marino have by far the highest touchdown totals, they have some of the highest attempt per touchdown ratios. While this does not necessarily constitute a failure or lack of consistency on their part, it does speak to the relative efficiency of their peers. Joe Montana boasts a better ratio than both, but again Steve Young bests him. This continues to prove my theory that Joe Montana is the most overrated quarterback in NFL history. Johnny Unitas finally makes an appearance in our top 3. Unitas threw more touchdowns in his career than both Montana and Young, yet attempted and completed less passes than both of them. John Elway stands alone with a remarkable 24.16 ratio more than 4 attempts more than Favre. The gap from Favre to Elway is actually larger than the gap from Peyton to Favre. #7 only threw 20 or more touchdowns 6 times in his career, something Favre(his closest place holder on this list) did 13 times. Favre actually threw for 30 touchdowns more times (7) than Elway did 20 (6), and actually threw 30+ touchdowns in 5 consecutive seasons. This disparity comes with only 13 games played separating the two.
Interceptions
Nothing kills a team more than turnovers, especially by the quarterback. Interceptions can ruin drives, seasons, even careers. A propensity to turn the ball over can show a lack of discipline or simply an incapability to make the proper reads and throws. Again, career interception totals prove misleading. Brett Favre heads the only list he'd rather be left off, but the fallibility of such examinations also bears itself out. Peyton Manning and Joe Montana have similar career numbers right now. Manning has 285 TD's to 141 INT's, a more than 2-1 touchdown to interception ratio, in 149 games. In his career, Joe Montana threw 272 touchdowns and 139 INT's, a 1.96 touchdown to interception ratio. Hoever, Montana threw 2 less interceptions in 43 fewer games, and has a lower attempt per interception rate by nearly 3 attempts. While there is no real way to quantitatively account for interceptions, we will compare attempt per interceptions ratios first, then a secondary measurement to put things into perspective.
1. Steve Young 38.78:1
Joe Montana 38.78:1
3. Peyton Manning 35.85:1
4. Dan Marino 33.16:1
5. John Elway 32.07:1
6. Brett Favre 30.26:1
7. Johnny Unitas 20.89:1
Steve Young actually edges Joe Montana because Young 38.78 is actually 38.779 and rounds to 38. Steve Young continues to beat out Montana in our lists and Johnny U continues to struggle. Unitas has far and away the worst percentage, when this format was supposed to account for his lack of attempts. For his career, only Favre has thrown more picks than Unitas and threw one more than Marino in 3,000 fewer attempts.
So far, it may seem as though I am disproving my own argument for Brett Favre as the greatest of all time. From an average standpoint, the categories we've discussed so far, the list would look like this:
1. Peyton Manning
2. Steve Young
3. Joe Montana
4. Dan Marino
5. Brett Favre
6. John Elway
7. Johnny Unitas
However, the statistics above do not begin to explain the last list. Many so-called experts consider Elway and Unitas ahead of everyone on that list with the possible exception of Joe Montana. That is because we have left out the most important aspect of what it is to be a quarterback.
Wins
The famous quote by Vince Lombardi about winning being the only thing rings are true today as it did when he said it. He had one of the all-time great winners at the QB position in Bart Starr, and I would catch flack from my grandpa if he knew I were leaving Starr off this list. Brett Favre recently passed John Elway and Fran Tarkenton on the NFL all-time wins list. Elway we certainly think of as a winner, but Tarkenton's horrendous efforts in Super Bowls have tarnished his legacy somewhat. Again, we have to find a ratio that works to accommodate those with fewer games played. However, it must be noted that just because one plays longer does not necessarily mean he will accumulate more wins. It is a fact that a quarterback has an equal chance of accumulating wins and losses as his career moves forward since on any given weekend he could win or lose. This is a case where Brett Favre's perch as the winningest quarterback in league history is owed the kind of reverence we give all-time great winners. For the sake of consistency however, the list is as follows:
1. Joe Montana 71.34%
2. Brett Favre 65.51%
3. Peyton Manning 64.63%
4. Dan Marino 63.36%
5. John Elway 63.24%
6. Johnny Unitas 56.40%
Brett Favre is only total handful of wins ahead of John Elway on the all time list, yet is almost 2.5% points ahead of him in terms of winning percentage. How can this be explained?? How can a quarterback who throws interceptions win so much? The answer is not quite as simple as looking stats from Elias Sports. Brett Favre makes his teams better. He has experienced a losing season just ONCE in his career.
Winning defines a quarterback. For better or for worse, we give quarterbacks the credit for winning and the blame for losing. No one has taken both with more professionalism and grace than Brett Favre. No one has ever wanted to win more than Brett Favre and no one has won more than Brett Favre. Only Joe Montana has won at a higher rate than Favre, and he did so with a glut of talent, the likes of which Favre never experienced. Favre was the leader and the catalyst. Montana simply directed a who's who list of talent rich football orchestra. Favre was forced to make music with garbage cans and plastic tubes like the blue man group.
He makes his teammates better because he is willing to take risks, fight for his teammates, and put them in position to make plays. He's done this all without the kind of weapons his peers have experienced.
Weapons
Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrisson are the highest scoring QB-WR tandem in history with Steve Young and Jerry Rice holding that position for a decade. Joe Montana also had the pleasure of throwing to Rice, on some of the most talented offensive teams of all times. Roger Craig, John Tyler, Jerry Rice and other litter the cast of offensive weapons Montana had to go along with the greatest coaching staff ever assembled in the history of sport. At one point in time Dan Marino and Mark Clayton formed the highest scoring tandem in history, although Marino never had the kind of receivers his counterparts did. Johnny Unitas to Raymond Berry ranks 5th on the list all time. Elway didn't win until he started handing the ball to Terrell Davis who, if he had stayed healthy, would be a hall of famer. Elway's Super Bowl rings also came during the height of Hall of Fame careers from Shannon Sharpe and Rod Smith. Elway took advantage of a weak AFC early in his career in his Super Bowl runs, eventually getting drubbed by NFC opponents.
Brett Favre has played with no offensive Hall of Fame players and only a hand full of Pro Bowl skill position players. Reggie White is the best player ever to play on a Favre lead team, and the two only played together a handful of seasons. As Tom Brady shreds defenses, the question is being asked "What if Brady had Peyton's weapons?" When Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith were the best running backs in the game, many wondered, "What if Sanders had Smith's line?" What if Favre had been throwing to Harrison,Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and Brandon Stokley, or handing the ball to Terrell Davis or Roger Craig? Would this discussion even be close?Favre made his teammates better because he trusted them and they trusted him. Brett may have thrown picks, but he also threw touchdowns and won games. He won games like no one else and was/is electric to watch do so. Even at 38, he's having an MVP type season on the youngest team in pro football. How can that be explained? Because Brett makes his team better. No single player in the history of the game has had more of an impact on the success of his team. Without Brett Favre, the Packers would have had top 10 draft pick after top 10 draft pick in the early 90's and may be a solid team right now, but Brett Favre lead the Packers back to glory, won a title, 3 MVP's threw broke every record imaginable, and took his team to the playoffs year in and year out. Literally hundreds of quarterbacks have started in the NFL since Brett took over the reigns in Green Bay. No one has done for his team what Brett Favre has, perhaps in the history of the game. Brett Favre has accounted for more wins for his team than any single player in history. It is fitting that the leagues only player in history to be the league three straight most valuable player awards, may be the most valuable player the league has even seen.
With that in mind, in order to determine WHO the greatest is, we must first determine under what criteria is this to be decided. There are literally hundreds of statistics from which to choose, I will use and explain the importance of some of the most standard measuring tools we have for quarterbacks. Unfortunately, those old school NFL fans may be disappointed to see I have not included quarterbacks like Sammy Baugh, Otto Graham, or others from the pre-modern era. Peyton Manning could have played in the 50's, I'm convinced of it. Otto Graham could take a hit from Ray Lewis and walk again, end of discussion. Quarterbacks present an interesting problem in that regard. Many argue Don Hutson could take the field on Sunday and play for any NFL team with rumors he could run a sub-4.4 40. In other words, quarterbacks are different today than they've ever been; in this case, different is better...much better.
Games
The quarterback position provides a set of challenges, both physical and mental, unlike any other in sport. On any given play the quarterback has to make his players are in the right spots, how much time is on the play clock, remember the down and distance, determine what defense the other team is in, decide whether or not to audible, then on passing downs: determine protection schemes, look off the defense, make his reads, take his drop, set his feet, throw the ball with accuracy, timing, and touch THEN do it all over again with at least 4 guys trying to rip his head off. Guys like Warren Moon, Vinny Testaverde, and Johnny Unitas, played for years because they could do all of those things. The history of the NFL is littered with first round draft picks, even number 1 overall picks, who simply couldn't hack it either physically or mentally at the QB position in the NFL. Here is the list of the quarterbacks examined in order of most games played.
1. Brett Favre 247
2. Dan Marino 242
3. John Elway 234
4. Johnny Unitas 211
5. Joe Montana 192
6. Steve Young 169
7. Peyton Manning 149
***Through 6 weeks of 2007 NFL Season
I understand faulting Peyton Manning for not having played an entire career seems unfair, however he has yet to miss a start and is on pace to shatter just about every quarterback record imaginable. Keeping Peyton is necessary to show that having all the statistics does necessarily determine the greatest quarterback. One need only look to a case like baseball where Nolan Ryan holds numerous records, though many do not consider him the greatest pitcher of all time. Brett Favre has shown unique durability especially for the quarterback position, as he approaches the record for consecutive games started by a player at ANY position. Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Joe Montana among many others were forced from the game due to injury. One interesting note, Dan Marino is the only quarterback among those listed without a Super Bowl Ring. That is not a shot at Marino, but rather demonstrates that to play for any period of time, the quarterback, more than any other position, is tasked with "wins." That is the reason a quarterback accounts for wins as losses as we'll see later.
Completion Percentage
Rather than simply list the all time completion and attempts leaders, completion percentage allows us to include players like Steve Young and Peyton Manning, who simply don't have the attempts and completions necessary to be considered here. (It is worth noting that Brett Favre is the NFL's all time completion and attempts leader). Completion percentage refers to the rate at which a quarterback is able to complete his passes. This directly correlated to the efficiency with which a quarterback leads his team.
1. Steve Young 64.3%
2. Peyton Manning 64.2%
3. Joe Montana 63.2%
4. Brett Favre 61.2%
5.Dan Marino 59.4%
6.John Elway 56.9%
7. Johnny Unitas 54.6%
A number of interesting facts in this list seem to pop out. First, many do not know Steve Young actually had a higher completion percentage for his career than Joe Montana and held a number of completion percentage related records, many of which Peyton has or probably will break. One might think John Elway would be higher on the list, however Elway completed over 60% of his passes only 3 times in 16 seasons, while Brett Favre did so 11 times in 17 seasons(Favre is also on pace to do it for a 12th time this season). The man many consider to be the architect of the QB position, Johnny U, is a disappointing 7th, completing under 55% of his passes. This comes in an era without zone blitzes, cover 2, and 280 pounds rush ends who can run 4.5 40's. Unitas draws praise for being a leader and a winner, but in a time when the quarterback was to prevent his team from losing more than help his team win (that dreaded "game manager moniker) Unitas seems to come up short of modern QB's.
Yards
Understanding "yards" in and of itself may not be a worthy criterion essentially because the longer one plays the the more yards one is likely to accumulate, yards per game will be a suitable alternative. It is the quarterbacks job to make sure the offense moves up and down the field. In order to do this, he must wrack up yards in the process. (Of our QB's only Marino, Favre, and Elway have over 50,000 career yards and Favre sits a little more than 2,000 yards from breaking Marino's NFL record for career yards).
1. Peyton Manning 261.11
2.Dan Marino 253.56
3.Brett Favre 239.74
4. John Elway 219.98
5. Joe Montana 211.20
6. Steve Young 196.00
7. Johnny Unitas 190.71
Again, Unitas simply does not measure up statistically with modern quarterbacks. Other than Peyton Manning and Steve Young, he attempted and completed less passes than anyone on our list, but as you'll see later, threw more than his fair share of interceptions. It should come as no surprise Favre and Marino are in the top 3, however Manning's presence also makes sense. Perhaps more startling, is the fact tat after Brett Favre there is a precipitous drop off. John Elway threw for nearly 20 yards less per game and Montana nearly 30. The fact that this statistic is pro-rated, takes out much of the discussion about inflated yardage numbers. Favre and Marino top the all-time yardage lists, but played longer than guys like Montana and Young. While one could argue that, in and of itself, is credit to the staying power of Favre and Marino, but making it yards per games played, we can better understand what each quarterback brought to his team on a game to game basis.
Touchdowns
With that, we find ourselves moving the ball down the field and wishing to score. Touchdowns have to be examined on a number of different levels. If we were to simply list the all time touchdown leaders, the list would not surprise with Favre, Marino, and Elway leading the way in that order. While Favre and Marino are the only QB's on the list with more than 301 touchdowns (Favre:423, Marino:420), again we are going to create a ratio to better level the comparison. To do this we will examine each quarterback's touchdown per attempt ratios. This way we can account for those quarterbacks with less attempts due to playing fewer downs. The key is to have the fewest attempts per touchdown.
1. Peyton Manning 17.73:1
2. Steve Young 17.88:1
3. Johnny Unitas 18.23:1
4. Joe Montana 19.74:1
5. Dan Marino 19. 90:1
6. Brett Favre 20.02:1
7. John Elway 24.16:1
While Favre and Marino have by far the highest touchdown totals, they have some of the highest attempt per touchdown ratios. While this does not necessarily constitute a failure or lack of consistency on their part, it does speak to the relative efficiency of their peers. Joe Montana boasts a better ratio than both, but again Steve Young bests him. This continues to prove my theory that Joe Montana is the most overrated quarterback in NFL history. Johnny Unitas finally makes an appearance in our top 3. Unitas threw more touchdowns in his career than both Montana and Young, yet attempted and completed less passes than both of them. John Elway stands alone with a remarkable 24.16 ratio more than 4 attempts more than Favre. The gap from Favre to Elway is actually larger than the gap from Peyton to Favre. #7 only threw 20 or more touchdowns 6 times in his career, something Favre(his closest place holder on this list) did 13 times. Favre actually threw for 30 touchdowns more times (7) than Elway did 20 (6), and actually threw 30+ touchdowns in 5 consecutive seasons. This disparity comes with only 13 games played separating the two.
Interceptions
Nothing kills a team more than turnovers, especially by the quarterback. Interceptions can ruin drives, seasons, even careers. A propensity to turn the ball over can show a lack of discipline or simply an incapability to make the proper reads and throws. Again, career interception totals prove misleading. Brett Favre heads the only list he'd rather be left off, but the fallibility of such examinations also bears itself out. Peyton Manning and Joe Montana have similar career numbers right now. Manning has 285 TD's to 141 INT's, a more than 2-1 touchdown to interception ratio, in 149 games. In his career, Joe Montana threw 272 touchdowns and 139 INT's, a 1.96 touchdown to interception ratio. Hoever, Montana threw 2 less interceptions in 43 fewer games, and has a lower attempt per interception rate by nearly 3 attempts. While there is no real way to quantitatively account for interceptions, we will compare attempt per interceptions ratios first, then a secondary measurement to put things into perspective.
1. Steve Young 38.78:1
Joe Montana 38.78:1
3. Peyton Manning 35.85:1
4. Dan Marino 33.16:1
5. John Elway 32.07:1
6. Brett Favre 30.26:1
7. Johnny Unitas 20.89:1
Steve Young actually edges Joe Montana because Young 38.78 is actually 38.779 and rounds to 38. Steve Young continues to beat out Montana in our lists and Johnny U continues to struggle. Unitas has far and away the worst percentage, when this format was supposed to account for his lack of attempts. For his career, only Favre has thrown more picks than Unitas and threw one more than Marino in 3,000 fewer attempts.
So far, it may seem as though I am disproving my own argument for Brett Favre as the greatest of all time. From an average standpoint, the categories we've discussed so far, the list would look like this:
1. Peyton Manning
2. Steve Young
3. Joe Montana
4. Dan Marino
5. Brett Favre
6. John Elway
7. Johnny Unitas
However, the statistics above do not begin to explain the last list. Many so-called experts consider Elway and Unitas ahead of everyone on that list with the possible exception of Joe Montana. That is because we have left out the most important aspect of what it is to be a quarterback.
Wins
The famous quote by Vince Lombardi about winning being the only thing rings are true today as it did when he said it. He had one of the all-time great winners at the QB position in Bart Starr, and I would catch flack from my grandpa if he knew I were leaving Starr off this list. Brett Favre recently passed John Elway and Fran Tarkenton on the NFL all-time wins list. Elway we certainly think of as a winner, but Tarkenton's horrendous efforts in Super Bowls have tarnished his legacy somewhat. Again, we have to find a ratio that works to accommodate those with fewer games played. However, it must be noted that just because one plays longer does not necessarily mean he will accumulate more wins. It is a fact that a quarterback has an equal chance of accumulating wins and losses as his career moves forward since on any given weekend he could win or lose. This is a case where Brett Favre's perch as the winningest quarterback in league history is owed the kind of reverence we give all-time great winners. For the sake of consistency however, the list is as follows:
1. Joe Montana 71.34%
2. Brett Favre 65.51%
3. Peyton Manning 64.63%
4. Dan Marino 63.36%
5. John Elway 63.24%
6. Johnny Unitas 56.40%
Brett Favre is only total handful of wins ahead of John Elway on the all time list, yet is almost 2.5% points ahead of him in terms of winning percentage. How can this be explained?? How can a quarterback who throws interceptions win so much? The answer is not quite as simple as looking stats from Elias Sports. Brett Favre makes his teams better. He has experienced a losing season just ONCE in his career.
Winning defines a quarterback. For better or for worse, we give quarterbacks the credit for winning and the blame for losing. No one has taken both with more professionalism and grace than Brett Favre. No one has ever wanted to win more than Brett Favre and no one has won more than Brett Favre. Only Joe Montana has won at a higher rate than Favre, and he did so with a glut of talent, the likes of which Favre never experienced. Favre was the leader and the catalyst. Montana simply directed a who's who list of talent rich football orchestra. Favre was forced to make music with garbage cans and plastic tubes like the blue man group.
He makes his teammates better because he is willing to take risks, fight for his teammates, and put them in position to make plays. He's done this all without the kind of weapons his peers have experienced.
Weapons
Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrisson are the highest scoring QB-WR tandem in history with Steve Young and Jerry Rice holding that position for a decade. Joe Montana also had the pleasure of throwing to Rice, on some of the most talented offensive teams of all times. Roger Craig, John Tyler, Jerry Rice and other litter the cast of offensive weapons Montana had to go along with the greatest coaching staff ever assembled in the history of sport. At one point in time Dan Marino and Mark Clayton formed the highest scoring tandem in history, although Marino never had the kind of receivers his counterparts did. Johnny Unitas to Raymond Berry ranks 5th on the list all time. Elway didn't win until he started handing the ball to Terrell Davis who, if he had stayed healthy, would be a hall of famer. Elway's Super Bowl rings also came during the height of Hall of Fame careers from Shannon Sharpe and Rod Smith. Elway took advantage of a weak AFC early in his career in his Super Bowl runs, eventually getting drubbed by NFC opponents.
Brett Favre has played with no offensive Hall of Fame players and only a hand full of Pro Bowl skill position players. Reggie White is the best player ever to play on a Favre lead team, and the two only played together a handful of seasons. As Tom Brady shreds defenses, the question is being asked "What if Brady had Peyton's weapons?" When Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith were the best running backs in the game, many wondered, "What if Sanders had Smith's line?" What if Favre had been throwing to Harrison,Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and Brandon Stokley, or handing the ball to Terrell Davis or Roger Craig? Would this discussion even be close?Favre made his teammates better because he trusted them and they trusted him. Brett may have thrown picks, but he also threw touchdowns and won games. He won games like no one else and was/is electric to watch do so. Even at 38, he's having an MVP type season on the youngest team in pro football. How can that be explained? Because Brett makes his team better. No single player in the history of the game has had more of an impact on the success of his team. Without Brett Favre, the Packers would have had top 10 draft pick after top 10 draft pick in the early 90's and may be a solid team right now, but Brett Favre lead the Packers back to glory, won a title, 3 MVP's threw broke every record imaginable, and took his team to the playoffs year in and year out. Literally hundreds of quarterbacks have started in the NFL since Brett took over the reigns in Green Bay. No one has done for his team what Brett Favre has, perhaps in the history of the game. Brett Favre has accounted for more wins for his team than any single player in history. It is fitting that the leagues only player in history to be the league three straight most valuable player awards, may be the most valuable player the league has even seen.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Much Maligned Decline of a Legend
As Brett Favre's career draws to a close, the media has provided a number of different opinions regarding his career and potential retirement. Now head coach Mike McCarthy suggests Brett will be a game manager. Brett responded in the media that he was not a game manager and would continue to be a playmaker.
Therein lies the biggest issue: those two are not necessary mutually exclusive. Many believe Joe Montana to be the greatest quarterback of all time. Montana certainly did not have the strongest arm in the league, nor did he take the most shots down the field. Montana managed the game. The best signal caller in the game today is a "game manager." There is not greater game manager, maybe ever, than Peyton Manning. The difference is Peyton Manning is a playmaker. It is the job of the quarterback to make plays and not make mistakes, regardless of his skill set. Any team who believes they have a quarterback who they'd just assume not have to throw at all, is in a tenuous position. The only reason a team like the Ravens at the turn of the century could do it is because they had an all-time great defense and a fantastic special teams.
Brett Favre is not, nor has he ever been, nor will be ever be a "game manager." Not in as much as you hand him the ball and say, "Just don't screw it up." That is not Brett Favre's game, it never has been. That is what made Brett one of the most feared playmakers in the league in his prime, a guy who could hurt you in so many ways. The only thing that seems to be lacking this year from any other Brett Favre Packer team is playmakers at the skill position. However, further review might prove otherwise.
Brett Favre won a Super Bowl and an MVP while throwing to Don Beebe and Andre Rison. Granted, Robert Brooks and Antonio Freemen started that year, but neither played 16 games, and Brooks didn't play in the post-season. The next year, an arguably better team, lost to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl, but John Elway's team was arguably superiorly equipped on offense. Elway had a 2,000 rusher in Terrell Davis. He had a future Hall of Famer in Rod Smith on one side, and one of the great possession receivers of the decade in Ed McCaffrey on the other side. If that weren't enough, he had arguably the greatest receiving tight end ever(At least at the time) in Shannon Sharpe.
Against an excellent Broncos defense Favre completed 25 out of 42 passes for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 1 interception. Elway finished the game completing just 12 out of 22 pass completions, for 123 yards and 1 pick. Elway won the game...how can this be? Some lucky breaks and key defensive break downs allowed the Broncos to eek out a victory, in spite of Elway's effort, not because of it.
When "experts" list the greatest quarterbacks of all time Montana's name normally comes up with Elway's, Terry Bradshaw, Bart Starr and any number of other greats. Montana is perhaps the most overrated PLAYER and quarterback of all time. Cool under pressure, and a come back whiz, Montana was a surgeon on the football field, but if you wanted a quarterback to win you one game Montana's name is not at the top of the list. The same can be said for Bart Starr. Starr was meticulously accurate and efficient with the ball, a game manager before it became a derogative term. A quarterback's success is based on his ability to win games. Steve Young is the ultimate testament to Montana's ability. Young took a similar team running a similar offense and had similar success (At a time when the NFC was far more competitive). The leaves Elway and Favre.
Elway needed 14 seasons before he won a Super Bowl, and as mentioned, the team won the first for reasons not in Elway's direct control. Elway "lead" that team to a win only in as much as he was the quarterback. He played in 5 Super Bowls and holds the Super Bowl record with 8 throws to guys with the other color jersey (a record I was sure Jim Kelly would have held).
Elway did have the ability to make plays with his legs, probably the most effective run/pass QB of all time. He had a knack for making plays a way no one before him had.
UNTIL...
Brett Favre. Brett Favre makes plays that are unexplainable, unimaginable, and often indescribable. He is a coach's dream and a play by play announcer's nightmare. Brett Favre would win a game, or die trying and thats how he went about it every single week. If there was 1 game that needed to be won to save the planet from certain death, the man who would give the Earth the best shot to remain free would be Brett Favre.
Favre is on the verge of breaking almost every QB record he does not already hold, and will do it in less time than the current record holders. The only three-time league MVP in history never played with a Hall of Fame offensive player and while racking up 10 NFL records. Favre is second in 10 other categories and third in 3 more, with only a small chance he won't be first in the majority of those categories after the 2007 season barring injury.
While he never wracked up rushing yards, Brett had probably the best pocket presence and ability to improvise in the pocket ever. While players like Michael Vick had the ability to make people miss and turn sure sacks into big gains, or Elway could take off and turn 5 yards into 25 just as easily, Elway is the most sacked QB in history and Vick consistently threw picks and took bigger losses trying to turn a bad play into a big play.
I write this with the worry that I pull a Bill Simmons with David Ortiz(after he compared Ortiz to Larry Legend). Regardless of what happens this year however,(With the Pack probably not contending for a Super Bowl title) Favre is the greatest of all time, regardless of what "experts" say about guys named Montana, Elway, or Unitas.
Therein lies the biggest issue: those two are not necessary mutually exclusive. Many believe Joe Montana to be the greatest quarterback of all time. Montana certainly did not have the strongest arm in the league, nor did he take the most shots down the field. Montana managed the game. The best signal caller in the game today is a "game manager." There is not greater game manager, maybe ever, than Peyton Manning. The difference is Peyton Manning is a playmaker. It is the job of the quarterback to make plays and not make mistakes, regardless of his skill set. Any team who believes they have a quarterback who they'd just assume not have to throw at all, is in a tenuous position. The only reason a team like the Ravens at the turn of the century could do it is because they had an all-time great defense and a fantastic special teams.
Brett Favre is not, nor has he ever been, nor will be ever be a "game manager." Not in as much as you hand him the ball and say, "Just don't screw it up." That is not Brett Favre's game, it never has been. That is what made Brett one of the most feared playmakers in the league in his prime, a guy who could hurt you in so many ways. The only thing that seems to be lacking this year from any other Brett Favre Packer team is playmakers at the skill position. However, further review might prove otherwise.
Brett Favre won a Super Bowl and an MVP while throwing to Don Beebe and Andre Rison. Granted, Robert Brooks and Antonio Freemen started that year, but neither played 16 games, and Brooks didn't play in the post-season. The next year, an arguably better team, lost to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl, but John Elway's team was arguably superiorly equipped on offense. Elway had a 2,000 rusher in Terrell Davis. He had a future Hall of Famer in Rod Smith on one side, and one of the great possession receivers of the decade in Ed McCaffrey on the other side. If that weren't enough, he had arguably the greatest receiving tight end ever(At least at the time) in Shannon Sharpe.
Against an excellent Broncos defense Favre completed 25 out of 42 passes for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 1 interception. Elway finished the game completing just 12 out of 22 pass completions, for 123 yards and 1 pick. Elway won the game...how can this be? Some lucky breaks and key defensive break downs allowed the Broncos to eek out a victory, in spite of Elway's effort, not because of it.
When "experts" list the greatest quarterbacks of all time Montana's name normally comes up with Elway's, Terry Bradshaw, Bart Starr and any number of other greats. Montana is perhaps the most overrated PLAYER and quarterback of all time. Cool under pressure, and a come back whiz, Montana was a surgeon on the football field, but if you wanted a quarterback to win you one game Montana's name is not at the top of the list. The same can be said for Bart Starr. Starr was meticulously accurate and efficient with the ball, a game manager before it became a derogative term. A quarterback's success is based on his ability to win games. Steve Young is the ultimate testament to Montana's ability. Young took a similar team running a similar offense and had similar success (At a time when the NFC was far more competitive). The leaves Elway and Favre.
Elway needed 14 seasons before he won a Super Bowl, and as mentioned, the team won the first for reasons not in Elway's direct control. Elway "lead" that team to a win only in as much as he was the quarterback. He played in 5 Super Bowls and holds the Super Bowl record with 8 throws to guys with the other color jersey (a record I was sure Jim Kelly would have held).
Elway did have the ability to make plays with his legs, probably the most effective run/pass QB of all time. He had a knack for making plays a way no one before him had.
UNTIL...
Brett Favre. Brett Favre makes plays that are unexplainable, unimaginable, and often indescribable. He is a coach's dream and a play by play announcer's nightmare. Brett Favre would win a game, or die trying and thats how he went about it every single week. If there was 1 game that needed to be won to save the planet from certain death, the man who would give the Earth the best shot to remain free would be Brett Favre.
Favre is on the verge of breaking almost every QB record he does not already hold, and will do it in less time than the current record holders. The only three-time league MVP in history never played with a Hall of Fame offensive player and while racking up 10 NFL records. Favre is second in 10 other categories and third in 3 more, with only a small chance he won't be first in the majority of those categories after the 2007 season barring injury.
While he never wracked up rushing yards, Brett had probably the best pocket presence and ability to improvise in the pocket ever. While players like Michael Vick had the ability to make people miss and turn sure sacks into big gains, or Elway could take off and turn 5 yards into 25 just as easily, Elway is the most sacked QB in history and Vick consistently threw picks and took bigger losses trying to turn a bad play into a big play.
I write this with the worry that I pull a Bill Simmons with David Ortiz(after he compared Ortiz to Larry Legend). Regardless of what happens this year however,(With the Pack probably not contending for a Super Bowl title) Favre is the greatest of all time, regardless of what "experts" say about guys named Montana, Elway, or Unitas.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Pre Season NFL Draft Top 5's (Defense)
| DE | |||
| 1.) | Chris Long | 6-3 266 | Virginia |
| 2.) | Tommy Blake | 6-2 252 | TCU |
| 3.) | Calais Campbell | 6-6 277 | Miami |
| 4.) | Kendall Langford | 6-5 290 | Hampton |
| 5.) | Derrick Harvey | 6-4 255 | Florida State |
| DT | |||
| 1.) | Glen Dorsey | 6-1 310 | LSU |
| 2.) | Sedrick Ellis | 6-1 205 | USC |
| 3.) | Frank Okam | 6-4 325 | Texas |
| 4.) | Jeff Owens | 6-3 295 | Georgia |
| 5.) | Demario Pressley | 6-4 290 | NC State |
| OLB | |||
| 1.) | Dan Connor | 6-3 228 | Penn State |
| 2.) | Keith Rivers | 6-3 236 | USC |
| 3.) | Erin Henderson | 6-2 240 | Maryland |
| 4.) | Xavier Adibi | 6-2 219 | Virginia Tech |
| 5.) | Malik Jackson | 6-2 221 | Louisville |
| ILB | |||
| 1.) | Vincint Hall | 5-11 236 | Virginia Tech |
| 2.) | James Laurinaitis | 6-3 242 | Ohio State |
| 3.) | Jonathan Goff | 6-2 236 | Vanderbilt |
| 4.) | Phillip Wheeler | 6-2 234 | Georgia Tech |
| 5.) | Ray Maualuga | 6-2 245 | USC |
| CB | |||
| 1.) | Antoine Cason | 6-0 190 | Arizona |
| 2.) | Malcom Jenkins | 6-0 205 | Ohio State |
| 3.) | Justin King | 6-0 186 | Penn State |
| 4.) | Dwight Lowery | 6-0 185 | San Jose State |
| 5.) | DeJaun Tribble | 5-9 190 | Boston College |
| S | |||
| 1.) | Kenny Phillips | 6-1 205 | Miami (Fla.) |
| 2.) | Quintin Demps | 5-11 202 | UTEP |
| 3.) | Darien Williams | 5-11 190 | Oklahoma |
| 4.) | Jonathan Hefney | 5-8 180 | Tennessee |
| 5.) | Tom Zbikowski | 5-11 207 | Notre Dame |
***Italics denotes underclassmen**
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Pre-Season NFL Draft Rankings 2008 Offense
| QB | |||
| 1.) | Brian Brohm | 6-3 223 | Louisville |
| 2.) | John David Booty | 6-2 210 | USC |
| 3.) | Chad Henne | 6-2 225 | Michigan |
| 4.) | Andre Woodson | 6-2 225 | Kentucky |
| 5.) | Colt Brennan | 6-4 190 | Hawaii |
| RB | |||
| 1.) | Mike Hart | 5-9 200 | Michigan |
| 2.) | Darren McFadden | 6-2 210 | Arkansas |
| 3.) | Steve Slaton | 5-10 200 | West Virginia |
| 4.) | Ray Rice | 5-9 193 | Rutgers |
| 5.) | Allen Patrick | 6-0 195 | Oklahoma |
| WR | |||
| 1.) | DeSean Jackson | 5-11 180 | Cal |
| 2.) | Mario Manningham | 6-0 188 | Michigan |
| 3.) | Early Doucet III | 6-0 210 | LSU |
| 4.) | Limas Sweed | 6-4 219 | Texas |
| 5.) | Adarius Bowman | 6-3 225 | Oklahoma State |
| TE | |||
| 1.) | Travis Beckum | 6-4 225 | Wisconsin |
| 2.) | John Carlson | 6-4 252 | Notre Dame |
| 3.) | Martellus Bennett | 6-6 250 | Texas A&M |
| 4.) | Fred Davis | 6-3 245 | USC |
| 5.) | Martin Rucker | 6-4 245 | Missouri |
| T | |||
| 1.) | Jake Long | 6-7 309 | Michigan |
| 2.) | Sam Baker | 6-5 312 | USC |
| 3.) | Barry Richardson | 6-6 345 | Clemson |
| 4.) | Ryan Clady | 6-5 318 | Boise State |
| 5.) | Gosder Cherilus | 6-6 312 | Boston College |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Starting off
One of my favorite quotes is "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." While that may not be universally true, it is the reason we have the first amendment and the reason I can have this blog, to say whatever I want.
While a Voltaire reference may go over the head of most people, especially the sports fans I am attempting to reach, it is important to remember the only reason PTI and Around the Horn are successful is because society allows sports writers to be hypercritical even when writing "objectively." No one would ever allow a writer for the New York Times to show overt political bias in an article about Bush. That is the reason people view Fox News as a less than credible news source. Local sportswriters are the worst kind of hypocrites. They are masters at twisting words to achieve their own means.
While in the post game press conference for Brewers skipper Ned Yost, a local sports writer asked Yost about his starting pitcher Chris Capuano who had lost 10 straight decisions and 15 straight overall. That writer inquired as to how long Yost could stay with Cappy in the starting rotation. Not 5 minutes later that same writer was talking to that very pitcher. He had the nerve to say that SOMEONE in the press conference had brought up the issue of his spot in the rotation.
All the articles in the paper the next day were about the pitcher's precarious situation and the seemingly untenable position of Yost keeping Capuano in the line up. Certainly sports writers CAN say whatever they want. Yost did seem to hint that taking Capuano out of the rotation was a possibility, but sure enough that very next day Yost announced he would make his next start.
Sportswriters are the ultimate in applying the credo "Never let the facts get in the way of a good story." All you have to do is look at headlines. Most of verbiage is subjective language. This time of year with NFL training camps in full swing most of the football related articles are speculative evaluations of rookies and veterans alike.
Unfortunately for many, those are the only way the public can get that knowledge they seek. Everyone wants to know how their teams first round draft choice is doing. The Jaguars fans want desperately to learn that Reggie Nelson is ready to be the starting safety. Browns fans want Brady Quinn to be ready for September. The only way short of going to practice to find out if that is the case is to read local newspapers. The only problem is, no matter how many practices a sports writer has seen, he or she is still a sports WRITER, not a talent scout. It is a sports writers obligation to give the facts unless it is clear he or she is giving his or her opinion.
Now that I've gone on and on I will get to the point. This blog is my thoughts, my opinions, my feelings, as related to facts. I will do my best to research and present valid factual accounts of events, but the reason you have a blog is to give your opinion. If someone wants facts they read the Times (or a whatever your news source of choice may be)
Feel free to disagree with what I say; chances are, I'll disagree with you at some point. Let me know! Feedback, opinions, comments, they're always appreciated. We're started, let's roll
While a Voltaire reference may go over the head of most people, especially the sports fans I am attempting to reach, it is important to remember the only reason PTI and Around the Horn are successful is because society allows sports writers to be hypercritical even when writing "objectively." No one would ever allow a writer for the New York Times to show overt political bias in an article about Bush. That is the reason people view Fox News as a less than credible news source. Local sportswriters are the worst kind of hypocrites. They are masters at twisting words to achieve their own means.
While in the post game press conference for Brewers skipper Ned Yost, a local sports writer asked Yost about his starting pitcher Chris Capuano who had lost 10 straight decisions and 15 straight overall. That writer inquired as to how long Yost could stay with Cappy in the starting rotation. Not 5 minutes later that same writer was talking to that very pitcher. He had the nerve to say that SOMEONE in the press conference had brought up the issue of his spot in the rotation.
All the articles in the paper the next day were about the pitcher's precarious situation and the seemingly untenable position of Yost keeping Capuano in the line up. Certainly sports writers CAN say whatever they want. Yost did seem to hint that taking Capuano out of the rotation was a possibility, but sure enough that very next day Yost announced he would make his next start.
Sportswriters are the ultimate in applying the credo "Never let the facts get in the way of a good story." All you have to do is look at headlines. Most of verbiage is subjective language. This time of year with NFL training camps in full swing most of the football related articles are speculative evaluations of rookies and veterans alike.
Unfortunately for many, those are the only way the public can get that knowledge they seek. Everyone wants to know how their teams first round draft choice is doing. The Jaguars fans want desperately to learn that Reggie Nelson is ready to be the starting safety. Browns fans want Brady Quinn to be ready for September. The only way short of going to practice to find out if that is the case is to read local newspapers. The only problem is, no matter how many practices a sports writer has seen, he or she is still a sports WRITER, not a talent scout. It is a sports writers obligation to give the facts unless it is clear he or she is giving his or her opinion.
Now that I've gone on and on I will get to the point. This blog is my thoughts, my opinions, my feelings, as related to facts. I will do my best to research and present valid factual accounts of events, but the reason you have a blog is to give your opinion. If someone wants facts they read the Times (or a whatever your news source of choice may be)
Feel free to disagree with what I say; chances are, I'll disagree with you at some point. Let me know! Feedback, opinions, comments, they're always appreciated. We're started, let's roll
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