Apologies in advance for the long winded post..... So just thinking out loud here, but “if” Peyton Manning were to come to the opinion that next year with a new head coach and/or offensive coordinator and the absence of some of the players he has come to depend on (i.e., Wes Welker and one or both the Thomas brothers) that it’s not worth his while to return and we are in the market for a new quarterback. Who would you like to see Denver make a run at for long term success? Or do we stick with Osweiler and hand him the keys to the franchise? Here are the candidates: (Note: I only chose from those free agents that would be worth looking at. Guys like Matt Hasselbeck are too old and would only provide a “stop-gap” until we could draft our “franchise” guy for the future.) 1. Matt Flynn, GB, 6’2”, 225, 7th Season, 29 yrs old, career passer rating of 85.9% 2. Blaine Gabbert, SF, 6’4”, 235, 4th season, 25 yrs old, career passer rating of 66.8% 3. Ryan Lindley, ARI, 6’3”, 232, 3rd season, 25 yrs old, career passer rating of 50.3% 4. Jake Locker, TEN, 6’3”, 223, 4th season, 26 yrs old, career passer rating of 79.0% 5. Tim Tebow, SEC Nwk, 6’3”, 236, 5th season, 27 yrs old, career passer rating of 75.3% 6. Ryan Mallett, HOU, 6’6”, 245, 4th season, 26 yrs old, career passer rating of 61.0% 7. Christian Ponder, MIN, 6’2”, 229, 4th season, 26 yrs old, career passer rating of 75.9% 8. Mark Sanchez, PHI, 6’2”, 225, 6th season, 28 yrs old, career passer rating of 74.1% 9. Scott Tolzien, GB, 6’2”, 213, 4th season, 27 yrs old, career passer rating of 66.8% 10. T.J. Yates, ATL, 6’4”, 217, 4th season, 27 yrs old, career passer rating of 70.3% 11. Brock Osweiler, DEN, 6’8”, 240, 3rd season, 24 yrs old, career passer rating of 82.5% My personal preference would be to go with a guy like Flynn or Mallet as they both have studied behind multiple Super Bowl winning quarterbacks in Rodgers and Brady. Then there’s always my sentimental favorite Tebow……. I know I’m going to catch a lot of crap for this, but would it really be all that bad to see how he’s progressed at the Veteran Free Agent Combine in March? I mean if he’s progressed in his throwing mechanics and no longer has that long, wind-up, baseball-style throwing motion, why not give him another shot? Remember, he never had an opportunity to run with the ones for a full off-season and training camp. He was thrown into the starting line-up because of pressure from our fan base and the infamous billboard. “We’ve heard everything from “he can’t throw” to “he’s not a good practice player” to “he’s a distraction.” Legendary Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi must be turning over in his grave. He’d be the first to remind us that “Winning isn’t everything — It’s the only thing.” And at every level, all Tebow did was win. The only question worth asking when evaluating your QB, widely recognized as the most important position on the field, is, “Can I win a Championship with this guy?” Tebow won a State Championship in High School, two National Championships in College and a Division Championship in the NFL. In the 2007 College Football season Tebow threw for 29 TD’s and rushed for 21 more, the most in SEC history. He won the Heisman. In 14 career NFL regular season starts, Tebow is 8–6 with 17 passing TD’s and 12 rushing TD’s. That’s 29 total TD’s in his first 14 games! Keep in mind, Tebow has never entered an NFL season as a starting QB. No off-season program as the starter. No training camp reps as the starter. Never. Yet, other QB’s with far less credentials and far fewer wins, have been given years to develop as a starting NFL QB. YEARS! Tebow never even got ONE.” (Matoren, 2014) The article goes on to say… “Would you prefer a guy… who will go 18-for-21… dinking, dunking and checking down? Or a guy like Tebow who goes 10-for-21… and goes balls out for the first down or TD, completion percentage be damned?! Anyone can complete a 2 yard pass on 3rd and 12 to pad his stats. Also, Tebow never slides short of the sticks.” (Matoren, 2014) There are two times in my life where football was never more exciting… first was with the Elway-led Broncos from ’83 to ’99. The “Cardiac Kids” we used to call them because it seemed every game came down to the wire with most times Elway pulling out the win, not always, but most of the time. The second time was that magical 2nd half of the 2011 season with Timmy “Touchdown Jesus” Tebow leading us. Football was never more exciting for me as a Bronco fan. Even though we didn’t always win, with Tebow, much like Elway before him, I felt that we always had a chance to win. Now, with this dink and dunk offense we play, it’s sometimes boring to watch. Now look at some successful quarterbacks that are in the league today and their style of play and how it compares to Tebow? 1. Aaron Rodgers. A traditional pocket passer. Can break the pocket and scramble for 1st downs if necessary (just like Tebow). Isn’t afraid to take the big hit (just like Tebow). Has mucho swagger (just like Tebow). Super Bowl Champion. 2. Russell Wilson. A hybrid pocket/running quarterback. But he has learned to go through his progressions FIRST, then break the pocket and run. Again, isn’t afraid to take the big hit for his team (just like Tebow) and is lightning quick. Super Bowl Champion. 3. Joe Flacco. Another traditional pocket passer. Like Rodgers, can scramble for the 1st down if necessary and take a big hit (just like Tebow). Super Bowl Champion. 4. Ben Roethlisberger, traditional pocket passer who may not be able to run well. Can elude pass rushers to complete those key passes (just like Tebow). Two Time Super Bowl Champion. 5. Tom Brady. Traditional pocket passer like Rodgers and Roethlisberger. Can most times withstand the big hit and has attitude (just like Tebow). Three Time Super Bowl Champion. 6. Andrew Luck. Traditional pocket passer like Rodgers, Brady and Roethlisberger. Can break the pocket and scramble for 1st downs if necessary (just like Tebow). Isn’t afraid to take the big hit (just like Tebow). What do all of these Super Bowl winning quarterbacks have in common……. They comprise 8 of the last 13 Super Bowl winning quarterbacks with 2, Brady and Roethlisberger winning 5 of those 13. And we can probably add Wilson to that list of multiple winners after this year. I’m just saying, maybe for as good as Manning was/is, maybe he’s not the answer? Maybe he’s not going to win another Super Bowl for the Broncos and the Manning family? Maybe it’s time to ride off into the sunset and enjoy those Papa John’s franchises? For the Broncos, maybe it’s time to bring in someone else to give us a different style and opportunity to win? Why not Tim Tebow? By bringing in Tebow now, we get him at a significant discount and we get rid of Manning’s HUGE salary number. That way we can afford to keep both Thomas brothers as well as bring in some younger talent to support Tim? Just my crazy thought process for a slow Friday. Interesting Stat of the Week….. At least to me it is…. Did you know that in the AFC, since 1985 (what I consider the “modern era of football”)… 1985 mind you, that’s 30 years, the Patriots, Ravens, Broncos, Steelers and Colts have appeared in 23 of those conference championship games with 11 of those including two of the above mentioned teams facing each other? AFC Conference Championship Appearances (* indicate Super Bowl Champions for that year): New England – 10 (2013, 2012, 2011, 2007, 2006, 2004*, 2003*, 2001*, 1996, 1985) Denver – 8 (2013, 2005, 1998*, 1997*, 1991, 1989, 1987, 1986) Pittsburgh – 8 (2010, 2008*, 2005*, 2004, 2001, 1997, 1995, 1994) Buffalo – 5 (1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1988) Baltimore – 4 (2012*, 2011, 2008, 2000*) Indianapolis – 4 (2009, 2006*, 2003, 1995) 25 Times in the last 30 years, one of these 6 teams has advanced to the Super Bowl. Only Oakland (2002), Tennessee (1999), San Diego (1994) and Cincinnati (1988) have been the other teams to appear in a Super Bowl outside of those 6 teams in the past 3 decades. Talk about dominating a conference? What are two of the factors that all 6 of these teams have in common during this time? Longevity and consistency with the quarterback and head coach, with no one proving this more than the New England Patriots. Teams, Quarterbacks and Coaches: New England – 2013, 2012, 2011, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2001 (Brady/Belichick), 1996 (Bledsoe/Parcells), 1985 (Grogan/Berry) Denver – 2013 (Manning/Fox), 2005 (Plummer/Shanahan), 1998, 1997 (Elway/Shanahan), 1991, 1989, 1987, 1986 (Elway/Reeves) Pittsburgh – 2010, 2008 (Roethlisberger/Tomlin), 2005, 2004 (Roethlisberger/Cowher), 2001, 1997 (Stewart/Cowher), 1995, 1994 (O’Donnell/Cowher) Buffalo – 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1988 (Kelly/Levy) Baltimore – 2012, 2011, 2008 (Flacco/Harbaugh), 2000 (Dilfer/Billick) Indianapolis – 2009, 2006, 2003 (Manning/Dungy), 1995 (Harbaugh/Marchibroda)
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 18:36:22 +0000
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