Nfl 2010

[R_of_G]

I know I don't have to tell you this, but there are also plenty of Byron Leftwichs and JaMarcus Russells out there who were plenty big and had strong arms, but who just couldn't make it happen. Drew Brees has long been thought of as too small to play, and he's not even much of a scrambler to compensate for his small frame.

I say this just to drive home the point that I consider physical tools important, but nowhere close to the most important thing. I'd say work ethic, luck, and brains are probably more crucial.

Not sure I'd put Leftwich in the same category as Russell. Leftwich was a solid starting QB for the 2005 Jaguars prior to suffering a broken ankle. When he returned in 06, he was off to another good start, but then suffered another ankle injury and surgery. When he returned, the Jaguars had a chance to see the talent they had in Garrard and went in a different direction at QB. Yet another ankle injury ended his run in Atlanta in 2007 before it even got started. He was a solid backup for the Steelers in 2008 before an atrocious attempt at starting for the Bucs last season.

Point is, Leftwich had a serviceable career which was hampered by injuries while JaMarcus never developed into an NFL quality player.

I do agree completely that Drew Brees is the perfect example of someone about whom the so-called "experts" were dead wrong. The only real way to see if someone is an NFL quality player is to let them play in the NFL and see what happens. Brees sure wasn't too small or too weak-of-arm to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

 

[Eric]

Not sure I'd put Leftwich in the same category as Russell. Leftwich was a solid starting QB for the 2005 Jaguars prior to suffering a broken ankle. When he returned in 06, he was off to another good start, but then suffered another ankle injury and surgery. When he returned, the Jaguars had a chance to see the talent they had in Garrard and went in a different direction at QB. Yet another ankle injury ended his run in Atlanta in 2007 before it even got started. He was a solid backup for the Steelers in 2008 before an atrocious attempt at starting for the Bucs last season.

Point is, Leftwich had a serviceable career which was hampered by injuries while JaMarcus never developed into an NFL quality player.

I get what you're saying, but are injuries really any different than an inability to work at and/or grasp the game? They both take away from a player's ability to be effective and productive for his team.

Both QBs may have been drafted due in part to their size, but both ended up being ineffective over the long haul, and not that "franchise quarterback" everybody wants.

 

[R_of_G]

I get what you're saying, but are injuries really any different than an inability to work at and/or grasp the game?

There are more than enough injuries that result from freak accidents in accordance with the simple laws of physics that are in no way reflective of a player's work ethic or mastery of technique. A player can be in peak physical condition and amongst the very best at the technical aspects of his position and still get injured. It's part of playing a contact sport. It happens.

 

[Eric]

You left out the second sentence, which makes my statement slightly less ridiculous.

My primary point was that someone who is injury-prone (and yes, this varies from player to player) but who has massive potential is not much different in my view from someone who just doesn't cut it and eventually gets cut. They both cease to be effective enough to be a steady performer on a team, and in both cases, it's a part of who the person is.

Drug issues, injury risks, poor work ethic, tiny brain, slow legs, bad hands...any of those things can mean a career that never really gets into high gear.

 

[R_of_G]

You're right, neither developed into what one would want from guys drafted first (JaMarcus) and ninth (Leftwich) overall, and I agree that games lost to injury is a perfectly fair criterion by which to assess a player's overall success.

My point was just that I look at someone like Leftwich who was competent when healthy a lot differently than I do someone like Russell who lost his career because he was too lazy to get into playing shape or learn the playbook.

 

[Eric]

Fair point. It's a way of looking at it that I've come to recently.

 

[Bloozcat]

While we make certain generalities about players' abilities and how that translates into the the probability of making it in the NFL, there are certainly many stereo-buster types that make it each year. Drew Brees is a good case in point.

To think that the Dolphins had a shot at Brees and chose Culpepper instead. Brees had recovered from his injury sufficiently at the time where it should not have been a major consideration in the decision. But then again, the Dolphins forte is snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. They're known for it.

 

[marnold]

Well, it appears that the Lions can start and end games, they just have problems with that pesky middle. Best looks like the real deal. I just can't help but think that the Lions would be 2-0 right now if Stafford hadn't gotten hurt. I also can't help but wonder why I still care.

 

[R_of_G]

Yeah, Jahvid Best lived up to his last name today. Still think the Lions have brighter days ahead if Stafford can get and stay healthy.

Was happy to actually get to watch the Bucs on tv today, hooray for road games. Josh Freeman is developing into a solid NFL QB. He's avoiding making mistakes under pressure. When he can't use his legs to get away, he's either throwing it away where it can't be picked off or just taking the sack. Good to see after last season. The Bucs defense looks solid. It was quietly in top half of the league last year and the additions of McCoy and Price at DT are helping a lot.

As for my Jets, aside from the first quarter, this was a much better outing than week one. Still see a lot of areas on the defense that need tightening up, but they managed to avoid a lot of penalties today and kept a high-octane Patriots offense to 14 points (zero in the second half). The offense was much more capable today, picking up first downs and scoring touchdowns instead of field goals. Granted there were several times the Jets benefited from some questionable pass interference/defensive holding calls, but last week we were killed by them so it all evens out. Overall, a very encouraging day for the Jets, other than the injury to Revis. Hopefully he can recover quickly because while this team showed it can play a very solid half game of football without him, it can't play 14 more whole games like that without him.

Anybody watch any of the Houston/Washington game? Was it agreed ahead of time that nobody would play defense or what? Opposing QBs combine for 900+ yards? That's ridiculous.

 

[piebaldpython]

Well........the IGGLES won and Mike Vick threw for a ton of yards. Rumor has it, that Vick will collect splinters next week as hard-head Reid will start Kolb ahead of Vick. Hmmmmmmmm......not sure how I feel about that and I imagine the boo-birds will let Reid have it if Kolb isn't up to snuff.

As a Philly-ite my whole life.....other than the IGGLES winning, nothing pleases us more than when the COWGIRLS lose. They are 0-2 and taking on water.

Will Favre "retire" soon if the Vikes don't start winning?

 

[Commodore 64]

New week. Same old Browns.

 

[R_of_G]

Will Favre "retire" soon if the Vikes don't start winning?

Someone will have to teach him what the word means first. So far, every time he's "retired," he's returned prior to missing any action, which is the same as saying someone is "retiring" when they go home from work on a Friday afternoon and "un-retiring" the next Monday morning. He should stop calling it retirement and call it what it is... "skipping training camp."

 

[Eric]

He should stop calling it retirement and call it what it is... "skipping training camp."

Nice! I think I might use that one in the future.

 

[Bloozcat]

New week. Same old Browns.

And the next seven will be worse.....

 

[Commodore 64]

Yep, it's going to be a freakin' bloodbath in the local sports media.

I'm pretty sure that none of the Browns' receivers or tight ends would be starting on any other team in the NFL.

 

[R_of_G]

Nice! I think I might use that one in the future.

Enjoy it.

I hope the Jets defense is looking forward to that Oct. 11 Monday Night Football game against Favre's Vikings and getting to lay a few hits on the guy.

 

[MAXIFUNK]

Da Steelers

IF we win next week in Tampa Bay Then we'll be 4-0 or 3-1 when Big Ben gets back better lookout AFC if we stay healthy and the O catches up to 3/4 of The D.
A ring for the other hand is not far off. But its early only time will tell but the STEELERS Good start just warms MY BLACK AND GOLD SOUL!!!!

 

[Commodore 64]

IF we win next week in Tampa Bay Then will be 4-0 or 3-1 when Big Ben gets back better look AFC if we stay healthy and the O catches up to 3/4 of The D
ring for the other hand is not far off. But its early time will tell but the STEELERS Good start just warms MY BLACK AND GOLD SOUL!!!!

Typical Steelers fan...struggling with the english language. oke

 

[Eric]

Typical Steelers fan...struggling with the english language. oke

 

[MAXIFUNK]

Typical Steelers fan...struggling with the english language. oke

YOUR IN OHIO THAT SAYS IT ALL IT SURE HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE JIM BROWN!!!!

 

[R_of_G]

IF we win next week in Tampa Bay Then we'll be 4-0 or 3-1 when Big Ben gets back better lookout AFC if we stay healthy and the O catches up to 3/4 of The D.

This one might a bigger "if" than the so-called "experts" may have previously thought. The Bucs are a young team that is starting to put some pieces together on the field.

So who's playing QB for the Steelers this week, Neil O'Donnell? oke

 

[MAXIFUNK]

This one might a bigger "if" than the so-called "experts" may have previously thought. The Bucs are a young team that is starting to put some pieces together on the field.

So who's playing QB for the Steelers this week, Neil O'Donnell? oke

Who cares we'll win no matter who goes out there on the field as the QB all 3 are good enough to get it done. The real question is Tampa Bay ready to play some hardcore take no prisoners smash mouth football doubt it. :dude

 

[R_of_G]

Who cares we'll win no matter who goes out there on the field as the QB all 3 are good enough to get it done. The real question is Tampa Bay ready to play some hardcore take no prisoners smash mouth football doubt it. :dude

Not sure the Bucs are particularly worried about Byron Leftwich who they cut before he returned to Pittsburgh. The Bucs are quite familiar with his skill set.

As for being ready for smashmouth football, they handled the Carolina rushing attack, which is as strong as any in the league, so yeah, I think they're looking forward to the challenge.

I won't say the Bucs will win this game, but underestimating them is a mistake. This is not last year's 3-13 team.

 

[Bloozcat]

Well........the IGGLES won and Mike Vick threw for a ton of yards. Rumor has it, that Vick will collect splinters next week as hard-head Reid will start Kolb ahead of Vick. Hmmmmmmmm......not sure how I feel about that and I imagine the boo-birds will let Reid have it if Kolb isn't up to snuff.

As a Philly-ite my whole life.....other than the IGGLES winning, nothing pleases us more than when the COWGIRLS lose. They are 0-2 and taking on water.

Will Favre "retire" soon if the Vikes don't start winning?

Not so fast my friend...

As I'm sure you're now aware, Reid has announced that Vick will start this week. Now all the speculation is about Kolb's situation. There's talk about trading Kolb, which would seem foolish and entirely premature, but the rumor mill thrives on stories like this.

 

[Eric]

Yeah, I was surprised by that move. If you could listen to the vitriol on sports talk radio this week, it might surprise even the most cynical of people. This has actually turned into a bit of a racial issue, which IMO is ridiculous, though not actually that surprising.

My take on it is that Reid is in a no-win situation. If he goes with Kolb, there's that much more pressure on him to perform immediately and no room for growing pains, with people probably calling for his head after one quarter. If he goes with Vick, people will call Reid a hypocrite for saying he believes in Kolb and then pulling the old switcharoo after 1.5 good games by Vick.

I actually think this is the best option. If Vick is as good as he's been playing, he's probably somebody you'd want as your QB. If he flames out the way some people expect, public demand will die down and you can give Kolb a legit shot. I'm cautiously optimistic. Based on Vick's history, I have low expectations for his maturity and/or passing ability, but I do believe he could have improved, so we'll see.

 

[R_of_G]

There's talk about trading Kolb, which would seem foolish and entirely premature, but the rumor mill thrives on stories like this.

Foolish doesn't even begin to describe the notion of trading Kolb.

Those suggesting it should remember that Vick is a free agent after this season. Should they trade Kolb and Vick decides to sign with another team, where does that leave the Eagles, at the beginning of the Mike Kafka era?

I'm not saying they should start Kolb right now instead of Vick, but Vick is not exactly the most consistent player in NFL history, and while he is very elusive, any player that runs as often as he does gets hit a lot. We've seen time and again how a single hit can put someone on the shelf for several weeks (like Kolb for instance).

The Eagles are in a division that appears to be wide open for anyone to win. They'd be better served keeping their QB options open.

 

[marnold]

All I know is that the Lions D-line got to Vick early and often. Yes, the Eagles won and he played well, but they need to address that O-line or whoever is behind center is going to be in a world of pain. Detroit's D is certainly not the best they will face all year.

Hopefully the Lions can get to Favre just as much.

 

[R_of_G]

Hopefully the Lions can get to Favre just as much.

I hope so too, but try to leave him somewhat capable of playing in Week 6 so the Jets can tear him to pieces. :rockya

 

[marnold]

I hope so too, but try to leave him somewhat capable of playing in Week 6 so the Jets can tear him to pieces. :rockya

I'll talk to Vanden Bosch about it

Because the Packers are on Monday night I'll actually be able to see the game on Sunday--on my new plasma in HD no less. Awesome T.V. for $399.

 

[piebaldpython]

All I know is that the Lions D-line got to Vick early and often. Yes, the Eagles won and he played well, but they need to address that O-line or whoever is behind center is going to be in a world of pain. Detroit's D is certainly not the best they will face all year.

The problems with the left side of the O line are exactly why Vick MUST play and not Kolb. Vick, a lefty, can see the wall crumbling and adjust. Kolb would just be blind-sided.

Reid HAD to go with Vick. In Week #1, he didn't give Kolb much of a ringing endorsement by bringing Vick in every series for that option stuff.

With Vick, they have a chance to beat Jacksonville.