The final game of The Canon Review Football Fix Weekend (and yes, I know it's not the weekend anymore, but due to connectivity issues this post was delayed a day) features two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time playing in a week 6 game from 1993 as John Elway led the Denver Broncos against Brett Favre's Green Bay Packers. The Packers got out to a quick 17-0 lead, then went into halftime leading 30-7. But John Elway and the Broncos wouldn't go away, as the Broncos got within three points before finally falling to the Pack 30-27. A few notes about this game.
- Back in 1993, Brett Favre wasn't a quarterback revered by the media for his gunslinging ways and 'playing like a kid out there'. Instead he was a talented young quarterback who had trouble handling the blitz and sometimes moved too fast for his own good. In this game, Favre was rahter inconsistent. In the first half, Favre was great, constantly finding the open man and throwing a 66 yard touchdown to tight end Jackie Harris. In the second half, Favre didn't do so well, as he threw three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Denver LB Mike Croel (and probably shouldn't have counted as the receiver was clearly interfered with). One pick was really bad in particular, as Favre panicked on a safety blitz and threw a wobbling duck in the air that landed in the hands of CB Le-Lo Lang that gave the ball back to the Broncos on the Green Bay 43 with just over two minutes left. I mean, as soon as Favre let go of the ball, I knew exactly what was going to happen. To be fair to Favre, he didn't have any help at all from his running game (Favre had his team's longest run with a 17 yard scamper in the first quarter), so the Broncos pretty much played the pass for most of the second half because they knew Green Bay couldn't run on them, so that may have contributed to Favre's poor second half. Also, it was refreshing to watch a game with Brett Favre in it where the announcers didn't bend over backwards trying to explain that a Favre INT was somehow the receiver's fault, as TNT announcers (yes this game was on TNT) Gary Bender and Pat Haden were fair with Favre instead of deifying him like some current announcers have done in recent seasons.
- As for the other legendary quarterback, John Elway actually set a career high for moss passes thrown in a game with 59, and most completions with 33 (although that record was later topped). It's not surprising that Elway threw so much since the Broncos trailed big early and basically spent the last three quarters in a hurry-up offense, but despite the Packers constantly playing nickel and dime packages, Elway did rather well. His favorite target during the game was WR Vance Johnson, who made his impact felt on the game with 10 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown. Not only that, but Johnson made two or three remarkable catches and always seemed to make the catch just when the Broncons needed another third-down conversion. Elway's legendary arm strength was on display in this one, as he threw a couple of passes that almost went through his receivers, and threw one to Johnson so fast that even though a Packer was nearly in front of him, Elway's pass somehow got through for a first down.
- The Packers came into this game 1-3 after signing the biggest free agent of all time, DE Reggie White. Before the game, the announcers stated that Reggie went to the coaching staff and told them that despite the poor start, he still felt that coming to Green Bay was the right decision. Well, good for Reggie for not panicking after his first four games of a five year contract. I mean, what did they expect him to say, that the Packers suck and he should have gone to San Francisco or Miami instead? Anyway, Reggie had a whale of a ball game here, getting three sacks and many pressures on Elway. White was lined up against Denver OT Russell Freeman all game long, and poor Russell never had a chance. When White bull-rushed, he'd go through Freeman. When White decided to go to the outside, he got by Freeman with ease. When Freeman decided to block low, White hurdled over him and still got heat on the quarterback. With less than two minutes left in the game and the Broncos just outside of field-goal range, White decided that he'd just go ahead and clinch the win himself, getting back-to-back sacks on Denver's final two plays of the game. Simply put, White was the best player on the field that night.
- Denver's defense played excellent in the second half, but in the first half they weren't so good. TE Jackie Harris particularly gave them trouble, as for the game he caught 5 passes for 128 yards and a 66-yard touchdown. Most of Harris's catches came against Denver ILB Karl Mecklenburg, a fine player in his own right but also a player that struggled to keep up with the much faster Harris. Harris was actually the perfect player for Brett Favre, a tight end with downfield speed who could also make the tough catch in the middle of the field. Instead of becoming a star in Green Bay in playing in Super Bowls, Harris decided to chase the money and signed with Tampa Bay after the 1993 season, and was really never quite as good as he was during the 1992 and 1993 seasons for the Packers, while the Packers moved on with Mark Chmura taking his spot. No offense to Chmura, but Harris was the better athlete and better pass-catcher (although Harris wasn't much of a blocker) and had Harris stayed in Green Bay, I'm willing to bet that Chmura would have either been on the bench or on another team during Green Bay's Super Bowl run.
- Denver had a couple of key plays late in the fourth quarter that went the other way against them. On third down and inside Green Bay territory with less than four minutes to go, Elway fired a pass to rookie WR Tony Kimbourgh that hit the rookie in the hands and bounced to the ground (and also led Kimbourgh straight into S Mike Prior, who creamed him). On the next play, Elway seemed to convert a fourth down with a pass to WR Derek Russell at the 25 yard line, but a false start by Freeman nullified the play and led to the Broncos punting it away. If either play goes the Broncos way, K Jason Elam more than likely kicks a field goal and takes the game into overtime, or Elway leads the Broncos to another touchdown and gets yet another comeback victory, as it looked as if the Packers' offense was so out of sync that it would be hard to imagine them scoring after blowing a 23 point lead.
- A couple of other tidbits from this game: One, two sets of brothers, the Sharpes (Sterling and Shannon), and the Widells (Doug and Dave) played against each other in the game. In fact, the announcers mentioned that the Sharpe brothers had a $20,000 bet for who would have the most catches at the end of the season. Sterling won by the way, with a total of 112 to Shannon's 81. Second, despite being in the NFL for 24 seasons, this was the Broncos' first trip to Lambeau Field. Third, John Elway and Brett Favre would only fave each other twice in their careers, the first being this game, and the second being Super Bowl XXXII, where the Broncos won 31-24.
Well, that's all for now. I think I've overdosed on football for the time being, although since there probably won't be NFL football for three years the only option I'll have is to watch classic NFL games such as this. After this game, both teams would go on to make the playoffs, with the Broncos losing to the Los Angeles Raiders in the first round and the Packers beating the Detroit Lions before falling to the Dallas Cowboys in the second round. Well, thanks for reading, and if you any ideas for future posts, or thoughts about this post, than either leave a comment on the blog or send them to me at e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
Showing posts with label Brett Favre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brett Favre. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Your 2010 Canon Review Pro Football Preview End of Season Review
2010 was quite possibly the wildest and wackiest season the NFL has ever had. Well, except for the 1987 season where teams put out replacement players due to the strike, but that's another story. This season had all sorts of unexpected occurrences, from the collapse of the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, to a team with a losing record, the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks, winning their division and becoming the first losing team to ever make the postseason. This season saw the redemption of Michael Vick, the reestablishment of Tom Brady as the NFL's best quarterback, and saw Donovan McNabb get traded to the Redskins, sign a multi-million dollar contract extension the same night his team gets crushed by his former team, the Eagles, and eventually sees coach Mike Shanahan bench McNabb for the immortal Rex Grossman. Also, 2010 was (hopefully) the final season of Brett Favre, who proved two things, that even he can't play at a high level forever, and that it's not a good idea to send pictures of your junk to female team employees. We also saw the saga of Randy Moss, who in a matter of weeks managed to complain about his current team (the Patriots) not offering him a contract extension, get traded to the Vikings, come back to play the Patriots and then praise the Patriots organization during his entire post-game press conference, complain about the team's catering to such an extent that the Vikings cut him, and sign with the Titans where he does absolutely nothing (6 catches for 80 yards).. Those events are only the tip of the iceberg in a crazy season that will probably be followed by the craziest offeseaon in recent memory, as the owners and players union try to work out a new collective bargaining agreement which has been greatly complicated due to commissioner Roger Goodell's insistence to extend the regular season to 18 games, among other factors, and if an agreement is not reached, well we could be without pro football next year. But that's next year, instead it's time for me to take a look back at my picks at the beginning of this season and see just how good, or bad, I was able to prognosticate the 2010 NFL season. If you want, you can take a look at my original picks here, and my midseason review here.
AFC East (* - Wild Card)
Predictions: Current Record:
1. New England Patriots 1. New England Patriots (14-2)
2. Miami Dolphins* 2. New York Jets* (11-5)
3. New York Jets 3. Miami Dolphins (7-9)
4. Buffalo Bills 4. Buffalo Bills (4-12)
Although I was correct about New England, I'd be lying if I said I expected the Patriots to dominate to the extent that they have this season. QB Tom Brady has the Patriots offense firing on all cylinders, and unheralded players such as RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis and TE Rob Gronkowski have developed into dangerous offensive players. After finishing the season on an eight game winning streak, the Patriots are the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl. I was wrong about the Jets, as the team that I thought was overrated proved me wrong and won 11 games to earn a spot in the playoffs. A Super Bowl appearance seems unlikely for New York, but Rex Ryan and his boys are hungry, and will be looking to snack on their playoff foes. The Dolphins has a solid defense, but their offense wasn't so good, as they scored the third fewest points in the NFL this year. At midseason, some people, including me, were afraid that the Bills would go the entire season without a win. But those fears were unfounded, as the Bills went 4-4 in the second half, and were a dropped pass away from beating the playoff bound Steelers. Maybe next year will be the year that the Bills get out of the cellar in back into playoff contention. After all, if the Raiders, Chiefs, and Bucs can drastically improve, then why not the Bills.
AFC North
1. Baltimore Ravens 1. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers* 2. Baltimore Ravens* (12-4)
3. Cincinnati Bengals 3. Cleveland Browns (5-11)
4. Cleveland Browns 4. Cincinnati Bengals (4-12)
Well, I had the top two teams making the playoffs, but just in the wrong order. The Steelers, despite missing QB Ben Roethlisberger for the first four games of the season, cruised to a 12-4 record and a first round bye, thanks in large part due to their top ranked defense and running game. Meanwhile, the Ravens also went 12-4 behind their third ranked defense, but could have gone 15-1 had they been able to close out games against Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and New England. To be fair, those teams had the three best records in the NFL, so the Ravens have at least proven they can hang with anybody in the league. Here's hoping for a third matchup between the Ravens and Steelers in the playoffs. I didn't think too highly of the Bengals at the beginning of the season, but I didn't think they would sink from 11 wins to 4 this year. It might be time to make massive changes in Cincinnati this offseason. The Browns were what we thought they were, although to their credit, they are only one of two teams to beat the Patriots this year. That wasn't enough to save coach Eric Mangini's job, but at least the Browns showed some glimmers of hope this season.
AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts 1. Indianapolis Colts (10-6)
2. Tennessee Titans 2. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars 3. Tennessee Titans (6-10)
4. Houston Texans 4. Houston Texans (6-10)
2. Tennessee Titans 2. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars 3. Tennessee Titans (6-10)
4. Houston Texans 4. Houston Texans (6-10)
The Colts may have been banged up this year, but QB Peyton Manning and his crew survived enough injuries to put up a ten win season and win another division title. Of course, it helped that the other three teams had issues of their own. The Jaguars went 8-8 after a three game losing streak at the end of the season. In week 15, the Jaguars could have clinched the division with a win against the Colts, but fell, and then injuries to players such as RB Maurice Jones-Drew did the Jags in in the next two games. The Titans started the season 5-2 and had signed Randy Moss to gear up for the stretch run. After that, the Titans won one game as QB Vince Young and coach Jeff Fisher had a falling out, and the team collapsed along with the Young-Fisher relationship. The Texans had the league's leading rusher in Arian Foster, but once again found new and exciting ways to lose close games. In spite of this and other problems, the Texans are bringing back head coach Gary Kubiak. Well, it's not something I would do, but maybe the sixth year is the charm for Kubiak, assuming that there is any football next season.
AFC West:
1. San Diego Chargers 1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
2. Denver Broncos 2. San Diego Chargers (9-7)
3. Oakland Raiders 3. Oakland Raiders (8-8)
4. Kansas City Chiefs 4. Denver Broncos (4-12)
2. Denver Broncos 2. San Diego Chargers (9-7)
3. Oakland Raiders 3. Oakland Raiders (8-8)
4. Kansas City Chiefs 4. Denver Broncos (4-12)
Well, I was quite wrong about the Kansas City Chiefs, who won most of the games they were supposed to win to win the division. Well, it wasn't quite that simple, as RB Jamaal Charles, WR Dwayne Bowe, and OLB Tamba Hali put together great seasons for Kansas City on their way to the division crown. The Chargers had the second highest scoring team, a defense that allowed the fewest yards in the league, and still find themselves out of the playoffs, thanks in large part to some horrendous play on special teams and key players missing time due to injuries and holdouts, like TE Antonio Gates and WR Vincent Jackson. I did have the Raiders third, although to be honest I thought they would be 6-10 instead of 8-8. Somehow, the Raiders went 6-0 against AFC West opponents and became the only team in NFL history to go undefeated in their division and miss the playoffs. The Broncos weren't so good this year, and so coach Josh McDaniels was shown the door before the end of the year. But kudos to WR Brandon Lloyd, who came back from obscurity to lead the NFL in receiving yards this year with 1,448.
NFC East:
1. Dallas Cowboys 1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
2. New York Giants 2. New York Giants (10-6)
3. Washington Redskins 3. Washington Redskins (6-10)
4. Philadelphia Eagles 4. Dallas Cowboys (6-10)
2. New York Giants 2. New York Giants (10-6)
3. Washington Redskins 3. Washington Redskins (6-10)
4. Philadelphia Eagles 4. Dallas Cowboys (6-10)
The Cowboys let everybody down in the first half of the season, but did show signs of life with a 5-3 finish under interim coach Jason Garrett. Nevertheless, 2010 was a disappointment for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys. 2010 was also disappointing for the Giants, particularly their 4th quarter collapse against the Eagles and their 45-17 shellacking by Green Bay late in the season. As it turns out, I had the Giants pretty much exactly where they finished, but the Giants had a team talented enough to do much more. The Eagles found their quarterback, although it wasn't Kevin Kolb, but Michael Vick, who put together his best season and became the player everybody hoped he would after being drafted number one in 2001. As for the Redskins, it seems to happen every year, but once again their big name acquisition, in this case QB Donovan McNabb, disappoints and is unable to make the Redskins a winning team again. After over a decade of big name players underachieving in Washington, you would think that Daniel Snyder and company would try something else, but I'm sure they'll go out and get Steve Smith or somebody like that next year and repeat the cycle all over again.
NFC North:
1. Green Bay Packers 1. Chicago Bears (11-5)
2. Minnesota Vikings* 2. Green Bay Packers* (10-6)
3. Chicago Bears 3. Detroit Lions (6-10)
4. Detroit Lions 4. Minnesota Vikings (6-10)
2. Minnesota Vikings* 2. Green Bay Packers* (10-6)
3. Chicago Bears 3. Detroit Lions (6-10)
4. Detroit Lions 4. Minnesota Vikings (6-10)
At the beginning of the season, I felt that the Bears were too risky of a team to pick for the playoffs, as I figured that they would struggle on offense and finish 8-8 or something similar. Instead, the Bears won some close games, QB Jay Cutler and company improved enough on offense and now the Bears are the number two seed in the division. At least my choice for NFC Champions, the Packers, bailed me out and made the playoffs after wins against the Giants and the Bears in the season's final two weeks. However, despite their 10-6 record, only the Patriots had a bigger point differential then the Packers, who scored 148 more points then they allowed, so they could be a darkhorse in the postseason. The 2010 Minnesota Vikings season was so wacky and chaotic that there will probably be multiple books written about it. Their quarterback was involved in a sex scandal, they cut an All-Pro wide receiver three weeks after trading for him, they fired their coach after multiple reports leaked out about how little his team respected him, the roof on their stadium collapsed, and to top it all off, they won the NFL's first Tuesday game in 64 years behind a third-string quarterback. Other than that, it was business as usual for the Vikings, who at least got another strong season out of RB Adrian Peterson. The Lions were 6-10, losing six games by five points or less, and finishing the season with a four game winning streak that will probably make them the chic sleeper pick in the next football season, whenever that will be. Seriously, if QB Matthew Stafford stays healthy and the Lions get a consistent running game, then the Lions might see postseason play for the first time this century.
NFC South:
1. Atlanta Falcons 1. Atlanta Falcons (13-3)
2. New Orleans Saints* 2. New Orleans Saints* (11-5)
3. Carolina Panthers 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4. Carolina Panthers (2-14)
2. New Orleans Saints* 2. New Orleans Saints* (11-5)
3. Carolina Panthers 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4. Carolina Panthers (2-14)
Hey, I was right about the top two teams in this division, as the Falcons were able to stay healthy this season and win 13 games behind a mistake-free offense powered by QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, and WR Roddy White. The Saints weren't quite as dominant as they were in 2009, but were still one of the best teams in the league, and QB Drew Brees, despite his higher interception total, is able to lead his team to victory in even the toughest circumstances, as we saw last Monday night in Atlanta. Tampa Bay won one game against a winning team this year (Sunday against the Saints) but nevertheless, it was quite a comeback season for the Bucs, who found their quarterback of the future in Josh Freeman (25 TDs, 6 INTs). The Panthers had the worst offense in the NFL, as their two 1,000 yard running backs from 2009, DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart, missed time due to injuries. Not to mention the issues Carolina had at quarterback, which were so bad that the Panthers were not able to use their best offensive player, WR Steve Smith, effectively. The Panthers were so inept that no offensive player scored more than three touchdowns. Predictably, the Panthers decided to fire their entire coaching staff, and will probably get rid of a lot of players as well.
NFC West:
1. Arizona Cardinals 1. Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
2. San Francisco 49ers 2. St. Louis Rams (7-9)
3. St. Louis Rams 3. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
4. Seattle Seahawks 4. Arizona Cardinals (5-11)
2. San Francisco 49ers 2. St. Louis Rams (7-9)
3. St. Louis Rams 3. San Francisco 49ers (6-10)
4. Seattle Seahawks 4. Arizona Cardinals (5-11)
The worst division in the history of football, bar none. The Seahawks, to their credit, exceeded expectations by winning seven games and the division, which isn't too bad considering that most people felt they would be the worst team in football in 2010. The 49ers were a popular pick to win the division this year, but poor quarterback play and disputes with coach Mike Singletary did them in, and ultimately led to Singletary being fired last week. I felt that despite the loss of Kurt Warner, the Cardinals would be fine with QB Derek Anderson leading the way. Whoops. The Rams were the favorites to win the division as of Sunday Night behind a strong rookie season from QB Sam Bradford. But the Rams couldn't win against Seattle last night. If it makes them feel any better, at least the Rams made me look bad by finishing second instead of third, although not quite as bad as the Cardinals made me look.
AFC Championship Game: Ravens over Colts
NFC Championship Game: Packers over Falcons
Super Bowl: Ravens over Packers
Well, My NFC Championship Game pick can't happen, as the Packers will have to play the Falcons in round two if they survive against the Eagles this week. I am surprised that all four of my 'final four' picks made the playoffs, so that's something. Since the Ravens and Packers are still alive, I'm going to keep my picks and go down with the ship, even if the Patriots and Steelers are probably better choices in the AFC, and the Falcons, Saints, and Eagles are better candidates to win the Super Bowl out of the NFC. Then again, the Ravens nearly beat the Patriots and have beaten the Steelers, while the Packers nearly beat the Falcons and beat the Eagles, so it wouldn't be too surprising if Baltimore and Green Bay were to make it through to postseason into the Super Bowl.
NFL MVP:
Preseason Picks:
1. QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (312 completions in 475 attempts, 3,922 yards, 28 TD passes, 11 interceptions, 101.2 QB Rating)
2. QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (450-649, 4700, 33-17, 91.9)
3. QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots (324-492, 3900, 36-4)
Dark Horse: QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (357-571, 3705, 28-9, 91.0)
Midseason Favorites:
1. Manning
2. Brady
3. QB Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (357-541, 4710, 30-13, 101.8)
4. OLB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers (13.5 Sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD)
At the end of the season, Brady is the obvious choice for MVP, as he led the league in touchdown passes, quarterback rating, and set a record for most consecutive passes without an interception (335) while leading the Patriots to a league best 14-2 record. With all due respect to Manning, Rodgers, and Eagles QB Michael Vick (233-372, 3018, 21-6, 100.2, 676 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs), it's really not even close. Ryan and Rivers also had solid seasons, but each player is a notch below Brady and Vick as well.
NFL Most Outstanding Offensive Player:
Preseason Picks:
1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings (283 attempts, 1298 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns, 36 catches)
2. Aaron Rodgers
3. Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee Titans (316, 1364, 11, 44 catches)
Dark Horse: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals (90 catches, 1137 yards, 6 TDs)
Dark Horse: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals (90 catches, 1137 yards, 6 TDs)
Midseason Favorites:
1. Rivers
2. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans (327, 1616, 16, 66 catches)
3. Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons (115, 1389, 11)
4. Peterson
Peterson was good once again this year, but his team's poor performance doesn't help him any here. Same for Johnson, while Fitzgerald had no chance at this award due mainly to the poor play of his quarterbacks. Once again, despite strong seasons from Foster, White, Vick, and Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (230, 1467, 5, 45 catches), this is basically Brady's award here as well, as no other player in the NFL had a better season on offense than Tom Brady.
NFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player:
Preseason Favorites:
1. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Dallas Cowboys (15.5 sacks, 2 fumble recovery, 1 TD)
2.Troy Polamalu, S, Pittsburgh Steelers (7 INTs, 49 tackles, 1 TD)
3. Patrick Willis, ILB, San Francisco 49ers (101 tackles, 6 sack)
Dark Horse: Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets (2 fumble recoveries)
Midseason Favorites:
1. Matthews
2. Haloti Ngata, DT, Baltimore Ravens (5.5 sacks, 47 tackles)
3. Tamba Hali, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs (14.5 sacks)
4. Aqib Talib, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6 Ints, 1TDs)
Ware led the NFL in sacks, but normally players on losing teams don't win the Defensive POY award unless they are clearly dominant over the field. Matthews somewhat slumped in the second half (3 sacks in the final eight games), while Willis played well, but like Ware, played for a losing team. Revis was nowhere near the impact player he was in 2009. In my estimation, there are five main contenders for the award, Matthews, Ngata, Hali, Polamalu, and the Ravens S Ed Reed (8 INT in 10 games). Each player is probably deserving of the award, but if it were up to me, I'd give it to Polamalu, as his return from an injury filled 2009 season made all the difference for the Steelers. Without Polamalu, the Steelers defense is not nearly as good as it is with him, and in my opinion, no other player on defense has a bigger impact on his team's performance than Troy Polamalu. But, we'll see who wins the award at the end of the day.
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year:
Preseason Picks:
1. Ryan Matthews, RB, San Diego Chargers (158 carries, 678 yards, 7 touchdowns)
2. Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions (171, 555, 4, 58 catches, 487 yards)
3. Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams (354-590, 3512, 18-15, 76.5 rating)
Dark Horse: Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys (45 catches, 561 yards, 6 TDs, 2 punt return TDs)
Midseason Favorites:
1. Bradford
2. Bryant
3. Mike Williams, WR, (65 catches, 964 yards, 11 TDs)
4. Maurkice Pouncey, C, Steelers
Williams might have a strong case for the award, and Pouncey is the only offensive rookie to make the Pro Bowl, but Bradford had quite a rookie season for the Rams, setting a rookie record for most completions in the seasons and making the Rams passing game succeed despite losing his top two receivers to injury early in the year. Matthews and Best had their moments, while Bryant proved to be a top-notch playmaker before suffering an injury of his own, but Bradford is the clear favorite here.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year:
Preseason Picks:
1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions (10 sacks, 48 tackles)
2. Eric Berry, S, Kansas City Chiefs (4 INTs, 72 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 TD)
3. Rolando McClain, ILB, Oakland Raiders (59 tackles, 0.5 sack, 1 INT)
Dark Horse: Derrick Morgan, DE, Tennessee Titans (1.5 sacks)
Midseason Favorites:
1. Suh
2. Berry
3. Earl Thomas, S, Seattle Seahawks (5 INTs, 60 tackles)
4. Koa Misi, OLB, Miami Dolphins (4.5 sacks, 29 tackles)
This is another award that will not be a close vote, as Suh was everything the Lions hoped for and then some, giving the team a disruptive force in the middle of the line, and you could make the case that he is the best defensive tackle in the NFL right now (I'd say Ngata is the only one better than Suh, but still). Patriots CB Devin McCourty (7 INT), like Suh, will be going to the Pro Bowl, while both Thomas and Berry proved to be playmakers from the safety position for their respective teams. But I would be shocked beyond belief if Suh did not win this award.
Coach Most Likely to be Fired:
1. John Fox, Panthers
2. Lovie Smith, Bears
3. Jack Del Rio, Jaguars
Dark Horse: Andy Reid, Eagles
Of the four listed here, only one, John Fox, ended up being fired. Smith and Reid led their teams to division championships, so I'm pretty sure that they're safe, while it looks like the Jaguars will bring Jack Del Rio back for another season. As of this writing, there are six teams (Dallas, Minnesota, Denver, San Francisco, Carolina, and Cleveland) that fired their coaches, but there are whispers that Oakland's Tom Cable, Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis, and Tennessee's Jeff Fisher might also be on the chopping block.
Well, thanks for reading this rather long post, and if you have any comments about this or previous posts, or ideas for future reviews or posts, than share them either by leaving a comment or by sending me an e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Canon Review List-A-Mania: The Ten Worst Quarterbacks in Atlanta Falcons History
Last week, I put together a list of the Top Ten Quarterbacks in Atlanta Falcons history, which you can read right here. So after that, Canon Review reader Ben W. asked for a companion list naming the ten worst quarterbacks in Falcons history. Well, with so many fine candidates to choose from, I have decided to do just that. So, without further adieu, here are the worst ten quarterbacks to ever play for the Atlanta Falcons.
10. Dick Shiner (Falcons Career: 1971-1973) - Maybe if his name was Rick Shiner or Dick Snyder, I would have chosen someone else. But Shiner, while he had his moments, just wasn't that good in Atlanta, as he threw four more interceptions than touchdowns (9-8) and put up a quarterback rating of 67.0 during his Falcons career. Plus, how am I supposed to ignore a man with the name of Dick Shiner. I suppose there are men with more unfortunate names, but I mean, come on. Can you imagine if Dick Shiner played today? We'd be getting bad joke after bad joke about the man's moniker.
9. Brett Favre (1991) - Favre made the best quarterbacks list at this spot because of what he went on to do elsewhere, but in his one year in Atlanta, Favre threw exactly four passes, two of which were intercepted. When Favre was picked by the Falcons in the 1991 NFL Draft, coach Jerry Glanville was not happy, and at one point Glanville said that it would "take a plane crash" for Favre to get in the game. Not to mention that Favre took rather kindly to the Atlanta nightlife during his short stay there. So, in 1992, the Falcons traded Favre to Green Bay, and the rest is history. Now, in hindsight, the Falcons should have kept Favre, but at the time, I guess the deal made sense. Although even if Falcons' brass had no idea what Favre would become, it does seem awfully quick to give up on a high second round pick, but I digress.
8. Tony Graziani (1997-1999) - Graziani was a seventh round pick from the University of Oregon that the Falcons hoped would develop into a solid backup for Chris Chandler, or something. Instead, when Graziani got his chance, the Falcons were so disenchanted they had to turn to a 43 year-old Steve DeBerg to relieve him. In three seasons, Graziani completed less than 50 percent of his passes and threw eight interceptions against two touchdowns. After leaving the Falcons, Graziani had some success as an Arena League quarterback, once throwing 99 touchdowns in a single season. Also, he was quite impressive in relief of an injured Chris Chandler in my Madden 2000 franchise done so many years ago. I remember he threw for something like 18 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, and was so impressive I considered trading Chandler in spite of Graziani's low rating on the game. I'm sure nobody else wants to hear about my video game accomplishments, but honestly, that's my strongest memory of Graziani other than watching him hold a clipboard behind Dan Reeves.
7. June Jones (1977-1981) - The only Falcons quarterback to later become the team's head coach, Jones was actually named the team's starting quarterback over Steve Bartkowski to begin the 1978 season. That lasted three games, as Jones completed 9 out of 28 passes in the last two games he started and Bartkowski was back at the helm. Jones, quite frankly, never played well when given his shot, as his completion percentage of 45.2 was unacceptable and he put up a QB rating of 51.4. Later, Jones would coach the Falcons to a playoff berth in 1995, and coached the University of Hawaii to the Sugar Bowl in 2007. I guess the old saying is true, those who can do, and those who can't teach.
6. Mike Moroski (1979-1984) - Moroski was a 6th round pick out of Cal-Davis and was primarily a backup for Steve Bartkowski during his tenure with the club. Moroski did have a 303 yard, two touchdown performance in a 1983 win against the Green Bay Packers, but other than that, Moroski was rather mediocre. Moroski got an extended look in 1984 when Bartkowski went down to injury, and the results (2 tds, 9 ints, 56.8 qb rating) were not pretty. But, at least he did have a moment in the sun.
5. Randy Johnson (1966-1970) - Johnson was a first round pick in the 1966 NFL Draft, and since the expansion Falcons had no one else better, Johnson was thrown into the fray right away. That probably wasn't the best move for everyone involved, as Johnson had to adjust to the NFL playing with an expansion team and running for his life behind a patchwork line. The results were not pretty, as Johnson threw nearly twice as many interceptions than touchdowns (65-34), completed less than 50 percent of his passes (48.1), and went 8-28-1 as a starter during his five year stay in Atlanta. Unfortunately, life wasn't very kind to Johnson after leaving Atlanta, as he battled for years with substance abuse and passed away in 2009 as a recluse with few friends and little money.
4. Doug Johnson (2000-2003) - Doug Johnson may have better statistics than a lot of other men on this list, but he ranks this high because he was the most frustrating quarterback I ever remember watching playing for the Falcons. Yes, his completion percentage (57.0) was decent, but Johnson seemed to have a tendency to overthrow his receivers by at least ten yards. Whether it was a deep pass to Peerless Price or a screen to Warrick Dunn, Johnson would wind up and fire the ball as hard as he could. The man threw some of the prettiest overthrown passes that you will ever see. In fact, he did this so often that it became an inside joke between my brother and I as whenever we toss the football around and one of us overthrows a pass, we say we 'Doug Johnson'd' the throw. Johnson got most of his playing time in 2003, as Michael Vick broke his leg in the presason and Johnson was pressed into action. The first game, a win against the Dallas Cowboys, was a victory, but Johnson lost his next eight starts with a 6-11 touchdown to interception ratio. Of course, without Vick, Johnson was the best option the Falcons had, and when he went down due to injury, the next man that stepped in was ...
3. Kurt Kittner (2002-2003) - Transitioning from Johnson to Kittner was like going from being repeatedly punched in the jaw to being repeatedly punched in the groin. Kittner may have led Illinois to the 2002 Sugar Bowl, but as a pro, he wasn't so good. Of all the quarterbacks that threw 100 or more passes in a single season in the past decade, Kittner was the only quarterback to complete less than 40 percent of his passes (38.6). Kittner's 32.5 QB Rating is also the lowest of any quarterback with over 100 throws in a single season since 1981. Yes, worse than any season put up by Ryan Leaf, Jarmarcus Russell, Heath Shuler, and every other bad quarterback you can think of over the past 25 years.
2. Pat Sullivan (1972-1975) - After winning the Heisman Trophy in 1971, the Falcons picked Sullivan in the second round of the 1972 Draft, hoping that he would be the quarterback of the future. Things didn't quite work out that way, as Sullivan started five games in his four seasons with the club, and lost them all. In 220 career passes, Sullivan threw 16 interceptions against five touchdowns, and put up a QB rating of 36.5. Sullivan may have been a college legend, but like so many others, his game just didn't translate to the next level.
1. Kim McQuilken (1974-1977) - McQuilken is not only the worst quarterback in Falcons' history, he may be the most inept quarterback in the history of football. Put it this way, if you throw one incomplete pass, your QB Rating is 39.6. In his four years with the Falcons, McQuilken's QB Rating was 18.2. During his Falcons' career, McQuilken threw four touchdown passes and 29 interceptions in a mere 268 attempts. His completion percentage was 39.7. For his career, McQuilken's QB Rating of 17.9 is the lowest among players with at least 100 pass attempts in the last 60 years. With the Falcons' having a history full of failure, it's only fitting that the game's worst quarterback spent four seasons in a Falcons uniform.
Well, that was fun. The truth is, there were a few bad quarterbacks that didn't crack the top ten, like Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, David Archer, and others, but I think 10 was enough. Thanks for reading, and remember, if you have any ideas for future reviews, or comments about this or previous reviews, then send them to me either by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on the blog.
10. Dick Shiner (Falcons Career: 1971-1973) - Maybe if his name was Rick Shiner or Dick Snyder, I would have chosen someone else. But Shiner, while he had his moments, just wasn't that good in Atlanta, as he threw four more interceptions than touchdowns (9-8) and put up a quarterback rating of 67.0 during his Falcons career. Plus, how am I supposed to ignore a man with the name of Dick Shiner. I suppose there are men with more unfortunate names, but I mean, come on. Can you imagine if Dick Shiner played today? We'd be getting bad joke after bad joke about the man's moniker.
9. Brett Favre (1991) - Favre made the best quarterbacks list at this spot because of what he went on to do elsewhere, but in his one year in Atlanta, Favre threw exactly four passes, two of which were intercepted. When Favre was picked by the Falcons in the 1991 NFL Draft, coach Jerry Glanville was not happy, and at one point Glanville said that it would "take a plane crash" for Favre to get in the game. Not to mention that Favre took rather kindly to the Atlanta nightlife during his short stay there. So, in 1992, the Falcons traded Favre to Green Bay, and the rest is history. Now, in hindsight, the Falcons should have kept Favre, but at the time, I guess the deal made sense. Although even if Falcons' brass had no idea what Favre would become, it does seem awfully quick to give up on a high second round pick, but I digress.
8. Tony Graziani (1997-1999) - Graziani was a seventh round pick from the University of Oregon that the Falcons hoped would develop into a solid backup for Chris Chandler, or something. Instead, when Graziani got his chance, the Falcons were so disenchanted they had to turn to a 43 year-old Steve DeBerg to relieve him. In three seasons, Graziani completed less than 50 percent of his passes and threw eight interceptions against two touchdowns. After leaving the Falcons, Graziani had some success as an Arena League quarterback, once throwing 99 touchdowns in a single season. Also, he was quite impressive in relief of an injured Chris Chandler in my Madden 2000 franchise done so many years ago. I remember he threw for something like 18 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, and was so impressive I considered trading Chandler in spite of Graziani's low rating on the game. I'm sure nobody else wants to hear about my video game accomplishments, but honestly, that's my strongest memory of Graziani other than watching him hold a clipboard behind Dan Reeves.
7. June Jones (1977-1981) - The only Falcons quarterback to later become the team's head coach, Jones was actually named the team's starting quarterback over Steve Bartkowski to begin the 1978 season. That lasted three games, as Jones completed 9 out of 28 passes in the last two games he started and Bartkowski was back at the helm. Jones, quite frankly, never played well when given his shot, as his completion percentage of 45.2 was unacceptable and he put up a QB rating of 51.4. Later, Jones would coach the Falcons to a playoff berth in 1995, and coached the University of Hawaii to the Sugar Bowl in 2007. I guess the old saying is true, those who can do, and those who can't teach.
6. Mike Moroski (1979-1984) - Moroski was a 6th round pick out of Cal-Davis and was primarily a backup for Steve Bartkowski during his tenure with the club. Moroski did have a 303 yard, two touchdown performance in a 1983 win against the Green Bay Packers, but other than that, Moroski was rather mediocre. Moroski got an extended look in 1984 when Bartkowski went down to injury, and the results (2 tds, 9 ints, 56.8 qb rating) were not pretty. But, at least he did have a moment in the sun.
5. Randy Johnson (1966-1970) - Johnson was a first round pick in the 1966 NFL Draft, and since the expansion Falcons had no one else better, Johnson was thrown into the fray right away. That probably wasn't the best move for everyone involved, as Johnson had to adjust to the NFL playing with an expansion team and running for his life behind a patchwork line. The results were not pretty, as Johnson threw nearly twice as many interceptions than touchdowns (65-34), completed less than 50 percent of his passes (48.1), and went 8-28-1 as a starter during his five year stay in Atlanta. Unfortunately, life wasn't very kind to Johnson after leaving Atlanta, as he battled for years with substance abuse and passed away in 2009 as a recluse with few friends and little money.
4. Doug Johnson (2000-2003) - Doug Johnson may have better statistics than a lot of other men on this list, but he ranks this high because he was the most frustrating quarterback I ever remember watching playing for the Falcons. Yes, his completion percentage (57.0) was decent, but Johnson seemed to have a tendency to overthrow his receivers by at least ten yards. Whether it was a deep pass to Peerless Price or a screen to Warrick Dunn, Johnson would wind up and fire the ball as hard as he could. The man threw some of the prettiest overthrown passes that you will ever see. In fact, he did this so often that it became an inside joke between my brother and I as whenever we toss the football around and one of us overthrows a pass, we say we 'Doug Johnson'd' the throw. Johnson got most of his playing time in 2003, as Michael Vick broke his leg in the presason and Johnson was pressed into action. The first game, a win against the Dallas Cowboys, was a victory, but Johnson lost his next eight starts with a 6-11 touchdown to interception ratio. Of course, without Vick, Johnson was the best option the Falcons had, and when he went down due to injury, the next man that stepped in was ...
3. Kurt Kittner (2002-2003) - Transitioning from Johnson to Kittner was like going from being repeatedly punched in the jaw to being repeatedly punched in the groin. Kittner may have led Illinois to the 2002 Sugar Bowl, but as a pro, he wasn't so good. Of all the quarterbacks that threw 100 or more passes in a single season in the past decade, Kittner was the only quarterback to complete less than 40 percent of his passes (38.6). Kittner's 32.5 QB Rating is also the lowest of any quarterback with over 100 throws in a single season since 1981. Yes, worse than any season put up by Ryan Leaf, Jarmarcus Russell, Heath Shuler, and every other bad quarterback you can think of over the past 25 years.
2. Pat Sullivan (1972-1975) - After winning the Heisman Trophy in 1971, the Falcons picked Sullivan in the second round of the 1972 Draft, hoping that he would be the quarterback of the future. Things didn't quite work out that way, as Sullivan started five games in his four seasons with the club, and lost them all. In 220 career passes, Sullivan threw 16 interceptions against five touchdowns, and put up a QB rating of 36.5. Sullivan may have been a college legend, but like so many others, his game just didn't translate to the next level.
1. Kim McQuilken (1974-1977) - McQuilken is not only the worst quarterback in Falcons' history, he may be the most inept quarterback in the history of football. Put it this way, if you throw one incomplete pass, your QB Rating is 39.6. In his four years with the Falcons, McQuilken's QB Rating was 18.2. During his Falcons' career, McQuilken threw four touchdown passes and 29 interceptions in a mere 268 attempts. His completion percentage was 39.7. For his career, McQuilken's QB Rating of 17.9 is the lowest among players with at least 100 pass attempts in the last 60 years. With the Falcons' having a history full of failure, it's only fitting that the game's worst quarterback spent four seasons in a Falcons uniform.
Well, that was fun. The truth is, there were a few bad quarterbacks that didn't crack the top ten, like Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, David Archer, and others, but I think 10 was enough. Thanks for reading, and remember, if you have any ideas for future reviews, or comments about this or previous reviews, then send them to me either by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on the blog.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Canon Review List-A-Mania: Top Ten Quarterbacks in Atlanta Falcons History
As a long suffering fan of the Atlanta Falcons, I have seen many a quarterback pass through the franchise over the years. Whether they were tall or short, fast or slow, talented or untalented, the one thing that these men have in common is that they played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, and more than likely they have been a major disappointment at one point or another in their Falcons' careers. Today, the Falcons seem set at the quarterback position with Matt Ryan, but you never know when injury or involvement in a dog-fighting ring will change plans. For now, Ryan is the man, but I was wondering where Ryan would rank amongst Falcons quarterbacks all-time, and just who are the top quarterbacks in Falcons history. So, I've decided to rank the top 10 quarterbacks in Atlanta Falcons history, according to The Canon Review.
10. Wade Wilson (Falcons Career: 1992) - Wilson only played one year and started three games, which tells you all you need to know about the history of Falcons quarterbacks. Seriously though, among quarterbacks with more than 100 passes, Wilson has the highest QB rating in franchise history (110.1). Yes, he started only three games, but in each of those three games, Wilson threw for over 300 yards, and threw for five touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wilson parlayed his success with the Falcons into a starting gig with the New Orelans Saints the next year, with mixed results, and spent the rest of his career as a backup for a variety of teams. But for three weeks in 1992, Wilson played like an All-Pro
9. Brett Favre (1991) - True, Brett only threw four passes for the Atlanta Falcons before partying himself into Jerry Glanville's doghouse and out of Atlanta. But Favre is the only quarterback on this list likely to sniff the Hall of Fame anytime soon, unless space aliens trick the voters into voting in Jeff George. Also, I didn't like any of the other choices, such as David Archer, Joey Harrington, and (not that) Randy Johnson. So Favre makes this list not for what he did in Atlanta, but for what he accomplished after the Falcons traded him for a draft pick that would turn into Tony Smith. If you don't know who Tony Smith is, than you are not alone.
8. Bobby Hebert (1993-1996) - Hebert is more remembered for his play with the New Orleans Saints, but for four years, Hebert played in Atlanta. During his Falcons stint, Hebert was selected for his only Pro Bowl in 1993, and in 1995, Hebert came off the bench after an injury to Jeff George and led the Falcons to victory over the San Francisco 49ers to clinch a playoff berth for the Falcons. Sure, Hebert went only 7-18 as a starter, but at least he had some success with the Falcons.
7. Bob Berry (1968-1972) - Berry went to three Super Bowls, as a backup quarterback for Fran Tarkenton with the Vikings. Before that, Berry was the Atlanta Falcons' first league-average quarterback. Berry was the Falcons' first Pro Bowl quarterback after being named to the game in 1969, although he only played half of the team's games that year. That makes me question the validity of that selection somewhat, even though Berry played well (10 TDs, 2 INTs) when he was in there, but I digress. From 1969-1972, Berry had the 2nd highest quarteback rating (81.6) of any quarterback in the NFL with a minimum of 500 attempts. That's a better rating than guys such as Namath, Tarkenton, Dawson, and Unitas put up during that time period. Not too bad, even if the Falcons had three losing seasons and a 7-7 season in that span.
6. Chris Miller (1987-1993) - Miller is 2nd in franchise history in passing yards, completions, and tied for second in touchdown passes. Miller led the Falcons to the playoffs in 1991, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns. Miller had an up-and-down career with the Falcons, as he, like every other quarterback on this list excluding one, played for some pretty lousy teams and couldn't lead them over the top. But Miller had his moments, and his five and a half seasons as the Falcons starting QB is the second longest stint in team history.
5. Jeff George (1994-1996) - George had a rocket of an arm and could make any throw on the field provided he had time to throw. Because of that, he seemed to be the ideal quarterback for June Jones' run and shoot offense. George had some success in Atlanta, including throwing for over 4,000 yards in 1995 and leading the Falcons to the playoff (although it was Hebert that clinched the spot in the last game, George did all the work beforehand). Things went well until 1996, when George and coach June Jones got into a public shouting match in a nationally televised game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and that would be all for George in Atlanta, where he became the most hated quarterback in team history until Michael Vick came along. But for a short time, it looked as if the ultra-talented, if hard-headed, George would one day become a star in Atlanta for a long time.
4. Matt Ryan (2008-) - Even after two years, Ryan is easily a top-5 quarterback in franchise history. For one, he's already done something that no other Falcons quarterback could do by leading the team the consecutive winning seasons, and although Sunday's game was a disappointment, chances are good that he will lead the Falcons to a third straight winning season and perhaps another playoff game. The 2008 Offensive Rookie of the Year is 20-11 as a starter for the Falcons, and with a full season could rank amongst the top five all time in yards and touchdown passes in franchise history, which is somewhat sad if you think about it.
3. Michael Vick (2001-2006) - The most dynamic player in Falcons history, and the team's first true superstar. Vick had his share of ups and downs during his career in Atlanta. On one hand, he led the team to two playoff appearances and the 2004 NFC Championship Game, and also provided a boost to the offense with running skills not seen in an NFL quarterback since Randall Cunningham back in the day with the Eagles. In 2006, Vick became the first quarterback in NFL history to run for over 1,000 yards in a season, and the first quarterback to be photographed shooting his fans the bird after walking off the field. His passing skills were often criticized by the media and some of the fans, although in his favor, Vick only had one season where he threw more interceptions than touchdowns (2001), made three Pro Bowls, and went 38-28-1 as a starter. Chances are good that Vick would still be the Falcons' quarterback today if not for his involvement and funding in a dog-fighting ring which you might have heard about. But even so, Vick is still amongst the top quarterbacks in Falcons' history, and I may have actually underrated him by putting Vick at #3.
2. Chris Chandler (1997-2001) - Chandler had two great years and three not so great years with the Falcons, but he ranks number 2 on this list mainly because he was the only quarterback to lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl, which he accomplished during the 1998 season. During that season, Chandler put up a QB Rating of 100.9, threw for 3,154 yards and 25 touchdowns, and went 15-2 as a starter during the regular season and postseason. Chandler played in the Pro Bowl after the 1997 and 1998 seasons, and even though he couldn't repeat his success of '98, Chandler currently ranks third and passing yards and completions and tied for second and touchdowns, and his 87.4 rating is the highest amongst Falcons passers with more than 500 attempts.
1. Steve Bartkowski (1975-1985) - Our choice for top Falcons quarterback is the only man on this list that has had his number retired, and ranks first all time in Falcons' history in completions (1,871), passing yards (23,470), and touchdown passes (141). Bartkowski led the Falcons to three different playoff appearances (1978, 1980, 1982), led the league in touchdown passes in 1980 with 31, and in QB rating in 1983 with a 97.6 mark. The first pick in the 1975 NFL Draft, Bartkowski survived some rough patches early in his career, and in 1980 and 1981, was named to the Pro Bowl. Sure, one day Matt Ryan may take the top spot on this list, but for now, the clear choice for top quarterback in Falcons' history has got to be Bartkowski.
Well, thanks for reading. Remember, if you have any ideas for future reviews, or comments about this or previous reviews, then send them to me either by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on the blog.
10. Wade Wilson (Falcons Career: 1992) - Wilson only played one year and started three games, which tells you all you need to know about the history of Falcons quarterbacks. Seriously though, among quarterbacks with more than 100 passes, Wilson has the highest QB rating in franchise history (110.1). Yes, he started only three games, but in each of those three games, Wilson threw for over 300 yards, and threw for five touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wilson parlayed his success with the Falcons into a starting gig with the New Orelans Saints the next year, with mixed results, and spent the rest of his career as a backup for a variety of teams. But for three weeks in 1992, Wilson played like an All-Pro
9. Brett Favre (1991) - True, Brett only threw four passes for the Atlanta Falcons before partying himself into Jerry Glanville's doghouse and out of Atlanta. But Favre is the only quarterback on this list likely to sniff the Hall of Fame anytime soon, unless space aliens trick the voters into voting in Jeff George. Also, I didn't like any of the other choices, such as David Archer, Joey Harrington, and (not that) Randy Johnson. So Favre makes this list not for what he did in Atlanta, but for what he accomplished after the Falcons traded him for a draft pick that would turn into Tony Smith. If you don't know who Tony Smith is, than you are not alone.
8. Bobby Hebert (1993-1996) - Hebert is more remembered for his play with the New Orleans Saints, but for four years, Hebert played in Atlanta. During his Falcons stint, Hebert was selected for his only Pro Bowl in 1993, and in 1995, Hebert came off the bench after an injury to Jeff George and led the Falcons to victory over the San Francisco 49ers to clinch a playoff berth for the Falcons. Sure, Hebert went only 7-18 as a starter, but at least he had some success with the Falcons.
7. Bob Berry (1968-1972) - Berry went to three Super Bowls, as a backup quarterback for Fran Tarkenton with the Vikings. Before that, Berry was the Atlanta Falcons' first league-average quarterback. Berry was the Falcons' first Pro Bowl quarterback after being named to the game in 1969, although he only played half of the team's games that year. That makes me question the validity of that selection somewhat, even though Berry played well (10 TDs, 2 INTs) when he was in there, but I digress. From 1969-1972, Berry had the 2nd highest quarteback rating (81.6) of any quarterback in the NFL with a minimum of 500 attempts. That's a better rating than guys such as Namath, Tarkenton, Dawson, and Unitas put up during that time period. Not too bad, even if the Falcons had three losing seasons and a 7-7 season in that span.
6. Chris Miller (1987-1993) - Miller is 2nd in franchise history in passing yards, completions, and tied for second in touchdown passes. Miller led the Falcons to the playoffs in 1991, throwing for over 3,000 yards and 26 touchdowns. Miller had an up-and-down career with the Falcons, as he, like every other quarterback on this list excluding one, played for some pretty lousy teams and couldn't lead them over the top. But Miller had his moments, and his five and a half seasons as the Falcons starting QB is the second longest stint in team history.
5. Jeff George (1994-1996) - George had a rocket of an arm and could make any throw on the field provided he had time to throw. Because of that, he seemed to be the ideal quarterback for June Jones' run and shoot offense. George had some success in Atlanta, including throwing for over 4,000 yards in 1995 and leading the Falcons to the playoff (although it was Hebert that clinched the spot in the last game, George did all the work beforehand). Things went well until 1996, when George and coach June Jones got into a public shouting match in a nationally televised game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and that would be all for George in Atlanta, where he became the most hated quarterback in team history until Michael Vick came along. But for a short time, it looked as if the ultra-talented, if hard-headed, George would one day become a star in Atlanta for a long time.
4. Matt Ryan (2008-) - Even after two years, Ryan is easily a top-5 quarterback in franchise history. For one, he's already done something that no other Falcons quarterback could do by leading the team the consecutive winning seasons, and although Sunday's game was a disappointment, chances are good that he will lead the Falcons to a third straight winning season and perhaps another playoff game. The 2008 Offensive Rookie of the Year is 20-11 as a starter for the Falcons, and with a full season could rank amongst the top five all time in yards and touchdown passes in franchise history, which is somewhat sad if you think about it.
3. Michael Vick (2001-2006) - The most dynamic player in Falcons history, and the team's first true superstar. Vick had his share of ups and downs during his career in Atlanta. On one hand, he led the team to two playoff appearances and the 2004 NFC Championship Game, and also provided a boost to the offense with running skills not seen in an NFL quarterback since Randall Cunningham back in the day with the Eagles. In 2006, Vick became the first quarterback in NFL history to run for over 1,000 yards in a season, and the first quarterback to be photographed shooting his fans the bird after walking off the field. His passing skills were often criticized by the media and some of the fans, although in his favor, Vick only had one season where he threw more interceptions than touchdowns (2001), made three Pro Bowls, and went 38-28-1 as a starter. Chances are good that Vick would still be the Falcons' quarterback today if not for his involvement and funding in a dog-fighting ring which you might have heard about. But even so, Vick is still amongst the top quarterbacks in Falcons' history, and I may have actually underrated him by putting Vick at #3.
2. Chris Chandler (1997-2001) - Chandler had two great years and three not so great years with the Falcons, but he ranks number 2 on this list mainly because he was the only quarterback to lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl, which he accomplished during the 1998 season. During that season, Chandler put up a QB Rating of 100.9, threw for 3,154 yards and 25 touchdowns, and went 15-2 as a starter during the regular season and postseason. Chandler played in the Pro Bowl after the 1997 and 1998 seasons, and even though he couldn't repeat his success of '98, Chandler currently ranks third and passing yards and completions and tied for second and touchdowns, and his 87.4 rating is the highest amongst Falcons passers with more than 500 attempts.
1. Steve Bartkowski (1975-1985) - Our choice for top Falcons quarterback is the only man on this list that has had his number retired, and ranks first all time in Falcons' history in completions (1,871), passing yards (23,470), and touchdown passes (141). Bartkowski led the Falcons to three different playoff appearances (1978, 1980, 1982), led the league in touchdown passes in 1980 with 31, and in QB rating in 1983 with a 97.6 mark. The first pick in the 1975 NFL Draft, Bartkowski survived some rough patches early in his career, and in 1980 and 1981, was named to the Pro Bowl. Sure, one day Matt Ryan may take the top spot on this list, but for now, the clear choice for top quarterback in Falcons' history has got to be Bartkowski.
Well, thanks for reading. Remember, if you have any ideas for future reviews, or comments about this or previous reviews, then send them to me either by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on the blog.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Brett Favre is BACK! I think, and more fun with YouTube reccomendations
Well boys and girls, it seems as if our national crisis is over. Brett Favre is in Minnesota right now and all sings are pointing to Favre coming back for a 93rd season in the NFL. Personally I'm disappointed, as I thought Favre would drag the suspense out one more week before coming back. But Favre's back and his return can only mean one thing, that football season has officially begun. I'm so excited that I can't think straight, so I'm going to watch a few videos that YouTube tells me to watch and share my thoughts about them.
Video 1: Brett Favre's First Completion
Actually, this wasn't a recommendation, I just wanted to see a Brett Favre video. This video is of a young Brett Favre in 1992 playing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who at this time were still wearing their hideous orange and white uniforms. In this clip, Favre rolls out to the right and throws, but his pass is tipped by defensive end Ray Seals. Favre, ever the competitor, is undaunted by this turn of events, and proceeds to catch the live ball himself. This doesn't go well for Mr. Favre, as he is quickly tackled for a loss. So, yes, Brett Favre's first completed pass was to himself. Also, even as a youngster, the announcers are quick to point out the competivness of Brett Favre. If he pulled this same play this year, I'm sure whoever is announcing will have an on-air orgasm explaining how Brett Favre 'just likes to have fun out there' Especially if those idiots on the ESPN Monday Night Football crew call the game. I don't think there's a football player those guys don't love, especially Jon Gruden, who gushes over quarterbacks ad nauseum. But I digress.
Video 2: Bobby Heenan unveils Narcissist Lex Luger
Well, this was rather interesting. I believe after watching this video that not only is the Narcissist in love with himself, but Bobby Heenan is in love with the Narciassist. The whole video is five minutes of Luger posing in front of a mirror while Heenan prods him on by saying things such as 'Don't tease us Lex, show us', and "oh, are you ever put together". Finally, Luger stops posing to drop some knowledge on us, telling us that all the other wrestlers will bow down on their knees before him, and that he is the "most mesamorphically, magnificent physical specimen" Luger threatens Heenan's former charge Mr. Perfect some and that's all there is to it. After the interview, Heenan says that this is the "highlight of my career". I'm 99.9% sure that Heenan would not say the same about this moment today. Anyway, the Narcissist made such an impact that he was repacked a mere six months later as Lex Luger, the All-American.
Video 3: ESPN MLB Commercial
I believe that this commercial is from 2007, but I'm not 100% sure. Anyway, it's just a basic commercial which describes how much you love baseball or something like that. I wouldn't think that I needed to be told how and why I came to love baseball, but by golly ESPN does that for me anyway. Maybe I'm just tired, but I did not care much for this commercial. Perhaps you will like it more.
Video 4: The Price is Right: Temptation Goof from 1983:
In this clip of a Price is Right episode from back in the day, a woman is playing a game called Temptation, where she must select a number from the prices of four items to guess the correct price of a new car. It's hard to believe that the price of a new car could be less than 10,000 dollars, but here we are. The person can either take the four prizes and walk away, or try to play for the car. If they win the car, they also get the other prizes, if not they win nothing. Usually they play for the car. The prizes are a $350 dollar space heater, some luggage, an electronic blood pressure reader, and a touchtone telephone which must have been a big deal at this time, because it was valued at $550 dollars. I wouldn't pay more than five dollars for that phone today. Anyway, the lady chooses her numbers, and gets the first three right without a problem. But as Bob Barker pushes the button to reveal the fourth number, the door won't drop. Bob tries and tries, but the blasted thing won't work. Bob explains to the lady that she will have to wait until the next day. The lady then tries to push the button and what do you know? It works and she won the car. To be honest, I think they made up a malfunction just to build up suspense, but hey, that's showbuisness for you. I wonder what happened to all of those prizes?
Well, I think I'll stop for now. Tommorrow I will try to have two posts on the Canon Review, but I'm not promising anything. I will promise that soon justice is coming to The Canon Review, and by justice I mean TNA's Hardcore Justice 2010. I can feel your excitement coming from your various internet connections. Remember, if you have any ideas for future reviews, or comments on this post, then send them to me either by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on the blog.
Video 1: Brett Favre's First Completion
Actually, this wasn't a recommendation, I just wanted to see a Brett Favre video. This video is of a young Brett Favre in 1992 playing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who at this time were still wearing their hideous orange and white uniforms. In this clip, Favre rolls out to the right and throws, but his pass is tipped by defensive end Ray Seals. Favre, ever the competitor, is undaunted by this turn of events, and proceeds to catch the live ball himself. This doesn't go well for Mr. Favre, as he is quickly tackled for a loss. So, yes, Brett Favre's first completed pass was to himself. Also, even as a youngster, the announcers are quick to point out the competivness of Brett Favre. If he pulled this same play this year, I'm sure whoever is announcing will have an on-air orgasm explaining how Brett Favre 'just likes to have fun out there' Especially if those idiots on the ESPN Monday Night Football crew call the game. I don't think there's a football player those guys don't love, especially Jon Gruden, who gushes over quarterbacks ad nauseum. But I digress.
Video 2: Bobby Heenan unveils Narcissist Lex Luger
Well, this was rather interesting. I believe after watching this video that not only is the Narcissist in love with himself, but Bobby Heenan is in love with the Narciassist. The whole video is five minutes of Luger posing in front of a mirror while Heenan prods him on by saying things such as 'Don't tease us Lex, show us', and "oh, are you ever put together". Finally, Luger stops posing to drop some knowledge on us, telling us that all the other wrestlers will bow down on their knees before him, and that he is the "most mesamorphically, magnificent physical specimen" Luger threatens Heenan's former charge Mr. Perfect some and that's all there is to it. After the interview, Heenan says that this is the "highlight of my career". I'm 99.9% sure that Heenan would not say the same about this moment today. Anyway, the Narcissist made such an impact that he was repacked a mere six months later as Lex Luger, the All-American.
Video 3: ESPN MLB Commercial
I believe that this commercial is from 2007, but I'm not 100% sure. Anyway, it's just a basic commercial which describes how much you love baseball or something like that. I wouldn't think that I needed to be told how and why I came to love baseball, but by golly ESPN does that for me anyway. Maybe I'm just tired, but I did not care much for this commercial. Perhaps you will like it more.
Video 4: The Price is Right: Temptation Goof from 1983:
In this clip of a Price is Right episode from back in the day, a woman is playing a game called Temptation, where she must select a number from the prices of four items to guess the correct price of a new car. It's hard to believe that the price of a new car could be less than 10,000 dollars, but here we are. The person can either take the four prizes and walk away, or try to play for the car. If they win the car, they also get the other prizes, if not they win nothing. Usually they play for the car. The prizes are a $350 dollar space heater, some luggage, an electronic blood pressure reader, and a touchtone telephone which must have been a big deal at this time, because it was valued at $550 dollars. I wouldn't pay more than five dollars for that phone today. Anyway, the lady chooses her numbers, and gets the first three right without a problem. But as Bob Barker pushes the button to reveal the fourth number, the door won't drop. Bob tries and tries, but the blasted thing won't work. Bob explains to the lady that she will have to wait until the next day. The lady then tries to push the button and what do you know? It works and she won the car. To be honest, I think they made up a malfunction just to build up suspense, but hey, that's showbuisness for you. I wonder what happened to all of those prizes?
Well, I think I'll stop for now. Tommorrow I will try to have two posts on the Canon Review, but I'm not promising anything. I will promise that soon justice is coming to The Canon Review, and by justice I mean TNA's Hardcore Justice 2010. I can feel your excitement coming from your various internet connections. Remember, if you have any ideas for future reviews, or comments on this post, then send them to me either by e-mail at KtheC2001@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on the blog.
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