Punch

Is it noteworthy that the Buffalo Bills official twitter account retweeted this link from Bills employee John Murphy, which is an article on the official Buffalo Bills website quoting Nassib at the Senior Bowl? Buffalo Bills ‏@buffalobills RT @johnmurphyshow: Nassib on Buffalo: "A match made in heaven" http://wp.me/plmrg-7jt Maybe it's just due diligence: Buffalo Bills ‏@buffalobills Mike Glennon on Bills, Senior Bowl http://ow.ly/2upH9n

How has Nassib jumped into the national conversation at QB? From the sounds of it, Nassib at 8 won't be considered a "reach" by the pundits--- not that the opinions of pundits means much: West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith didn't do enough this season to differentiate himself from NC State's Mike Glennon, Oklahoma's Landry Jones or Syracuse's Ryan Nassib. Those three are all here, and they might vault themselves past Smith with a good showing.

Former Sports Illustrated writer Joe Posnanski attempted an approximation of a Steve Tasker-Bill Bellichick postgame interview from last night's game had it occurred: Steve Tasker: "Bill, obviously that was a tough loss." Bill Belichick: "True, Steve. But it is so important to remember that to fall from a great height, you must first climb to that great height. I believe it was Steinbeck who wrote that it's so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone." Tasker: That was "The Winter of Our Discontent" wasn't it? Belichick: Yes. I find that Steinbeck comforts me in times like these. He had a deep understanding for losing. Also, now I think of the words of Anais Nin, whose journals I keep close for moments like these. I believe she said that we put off dying by living and risking and losing ... Tasker: Well, to be precise, I believe she said, "I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing." Belichick: Yes, that's the wording. Tasker: "Dreams are necessary to life." She said that too. Belichick: True words, Steve. Very true words. Tasker: What would you say to Ray Lewis right now? Belichick: I think instead of C.S. Lewis who said, "We cannot understand. The best is perhaps what we understand least." Tasker: Thank you Bill for your time and wisdom. Belichick: Of course Steve. And please tell Shannon Sharpe to $^&% #$*&.

Git'r'done, Buddy!!!

http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2013/01/21/arkansas-qb-likes-jim-kelly-comparison/ ESPN Draft Guru Mel Kiper made waves last week, when he compared Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson to Bills Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. “We all remember Jim Kelly when he came out of Miami he was recruited as a linebacker at Penn State,” Kiper said. “(Wilson) is a guy with an NFL arm and tremendous toughness. Under the previous coaching staff and with the talent around him, remember they lost their top three receivers from the prior year you expected this year to be a tough go and then he had an injury early on.” We had a chance to talk with Wilson today at the Senior Bowl, and asked him about Kiper’s comparison. “I heard that in the past week,” Wilson said. “Obviously, those are pretty good words. I got to go out and prove it this week and have a good week. That’s exciting though.”

This would be valid if the Patriots didn't go to 5 Super Bowls and win 3. Atlanta has won 1 playoff game. It's not really the same at all.

The Patriots are still winning convincingly on a regular basis and continue to be legitimate Super Bowl contenders in year 12 since their first Super Bowl win. The Steelers teams of the '70s fell off pretty quickly after their 4th Championship. The 49ers were pretty comparable as I said in another post, but by the time they won their 5th, Dallas had overcome them as the league's dominant franchise. My point was about consistency over the longhaul. The Patriots have been considered the NFL's "premier" franchise over the course of the past 12 years and the standard by which other team's are judged. Cheating almost certainly played a role, I wouldn't argue that. In fact, I'd argue in favor of it being a key factor leading to their success. Regardless, they and their fanbase have devolved into whiny bitches.

If you want to redefine the term "game manager" to broadly include any QB that has ever successfully executed an offense then yes, Tom Brady is a "game manager". This is fair. I can't really argue with any of it.

I didn't just mean the 3 Super Bowl wins, I meant the "dynasty" overall although it doesn't read that way. The 3 wins in 4 years was just the start but they've consistently dominated for 12 years, much longer then those other teams. The Cowboys tailed off pretty quickly. The 49ers extended run is probably pretty comparable.

To be fair, the link where Glennon goes to the Bills was a prediction of how he thought the 1st round would go, posted 12/18/12. The other more recent link is how the National Football Post team actually evaluated the QBs.

Dear god man, the points regarding a balanced offense are points that I first offered, not you. If that's what you meant from the getgo, then we agree. His passing statistics have gotten exponentially more impressive over time as have the passing statistics of the NFL as a whole. His "average" statistics in 2002-05 were excellent at the time. They would be slightly below average today. His statistics are higher in total today, but that has no bearing on how he was regarded comparatively around the NFL at the time. The Pats are running a different offensive system that is generating more yardage overall as the league has evolved into one dominated by offense. This isn't heady stuff. The top 5 QBs over the past 2 seasons have averaged approximately 5,000 passing yards each. That was unheard of from 2002-05 throughout the NFL. The argument you stated from the post I first quoted was that he was a game manager. That is really my only quibble. Also, touche does not mean what you think it does. Facts!

Fair enough. I'm not crazy about the Orwellian environment at OBD you portray but I certainly appreciate you disclosing it.

Yes. Reality, logic, facts, etc. Enjoy the tin foil hat.

Would you happen to know how common this is amongst other teams for this time of year in today's NFL?

Wow. Hardly. The point you've "proven" is not the point you were making. Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger were not game managers no matter how tightly you close your eyes and click your heels. I've never heard anyone suggest such a thing. The average statistics for a top tier QB from 2002-05 would be considered slightly below average today. In later seasons, the passing game came to the forefront in both New England and Pittsburgh, statistics became exaggerated across the NFL and the team's offenses became arguably less balanced. I've already agreed that the versions of the Pats and Steelers with more sparkling passing numbers and shoddier defenses have had difficulty winning in the postseason, but this is obvious and also not the point you were making. There is ample evidence that both Brady and Roethlisberger were responsible for several dramatic comebacks and winning performances during that stretch. Their "legend" was born out of such performances. Not from "game managing" as other players led the way.

You're insane. It is possible you are suggesting that they were not able to win all by themselves, which is obviously true. The most complete team wins, and any team relying on the passing game alone will not win. That is the extent of the benefit of the doubt I will give you. Tom Brady's statistics were amongst the league leaders in every year since 2002. As the NFL passing game has evolved, so have his statistics (and those of other top QBs) improved. In 2005 Ben Roethlisberger started only 12 games due to injury. His cumulative statistics were not amongst the league leaders, however, he led the league in the following categories: Yds/Pass Att - 8.9, Yds/ Pass Comp. - 14.2, Passing TD% - 6.3% and was 3rd in Passer Rating - 98.2 I don't know what else to say. "Game manager" is a term reserved for the likes of Trent Dilfer, Alex Smith & Christian Ponder. There is no corroborative evidence or commentary that suggests either of them were considered "game managers" of the vintage you offer. Yes, the Patriots are cheaters. And the Seahawks were perhaps cheated out of a competitive chance at a Super Bowl victory.

Is this some kind of joke? Passing statistics have increased exponentially over the past decade. Fitz' stats in 2011-12 would have been top 10 or even top 5 in 2002-05. Tom Brady was not considered a game manager in 2003-04. Ben Roethlisberger was not a game manager. Your point is what exactly?

In 12 games as a 2nd year player during the 2005 season, Ben had 2385 yds, 17 TDs, 9 INTs and a 62.7% comp. He had a terrible Super Bowl, and the Steelers won by the skin of some terrible officiating. Neither Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger were considered "game managers" aside from very early in their careers--- essentially the first 2 seasons for each. I'm not really sure what the argument is.

??? Am I allowed to look up the stats?

Brady was considered a game manager in the Super Bowl against the Rams, but that was it. Roethlisberger was considered a game manager as a rookie, but not beyond then and certainly not during either of their SB wins.

I don't know man. Bellichick has earned his accolades. He unarguably went too far, but his preparation, strategizing and will to win are unparallelled.

You could arguably add Scott Pioli and Thomas Dmitroff to that list as executives. But that's just what happens. The Bill Walsh coaching tree is largely unimpressive. Several Bills free agents from the Super Bowl era went on to receive relatively big paydays with other teams, including Ray Bentley and Mitch Frerrotte.

Fitz went to Harvard.

That seems a bit much, no? I can't imagine anyone noticing this. If it happens, it's ridiculous. Obviously, the incidental swearing is also ridiculous. Carry on.

Why would they?