finn

Right, but I'm disputing the premise that crying = weakness. In fact, I would go further: Show me a manly man who can't or won't cry in public and I'll show you a weak man, or at least a man who still has room to be stronger. If he agrees, he's halfway there. I'll ask him. He blew his knee out in one game, ending his football career. I won't be surprised if he cried then--and that his teammates didn't think anything less of him for it.

Saying this without judgment, but your reaction might say more about you (and our culture) than Stroud. I don't see anything immature or unleaderly about showing grief at your best friend's devastating injury. Would it have been better for him to grimace and shake his head in a manly way and suppress his emotions? I mean, I get it: He was showing vulnerability, which men aren't supposed to display because they're the Protectors. But we're past that, aren't we? Weep away, CJ. As long as you keep producing as QB, you're a team leader. Full disclosure: My brother in law is 6'3" 250, played DE at Brown. He's a self-described cry baby, weeping at weddings, etc. No one questions his manliness, believe me. I suspect Stroud's teammates see him in the same light.

So does this mean other teams will target his hand from here on?

I'd like to see all the young guns get some work: Bishop, Carter, Solomon, SGV...even Hardy and Grable. Meanwhile, start ramping down the starters so they're healthy and rested for the playoffs.

I hope he sticks around next year. Git 'er done, Beane!

Agree. This was the year to move up, not down. Last year was the year to move down, and the previous year, too. Elam was a swing and miss and LaPorta would have been available if Kincaid had been taken. Plus, Beane would have had the two fourth-rounders to work with. But hindsight makes it easy. Beane is doing just fine.

Not that I have any lingering resentment, no, but I would love to see the Bills run the ball on every single play and win, just to make a statement. Every. Last. Play.

I haven't watched Baltimore, except for the Bills game, where their defense did a pretty good job against Allen. How do you like the Bills offense against that defense in the playoffs in Buffalo?

Missed the game. Are people going to be saying Jackson is the real MVP after this game?

Looking forward to the day when extraordinary passes are labeled "Allenian." (Hey, I like the sound of that!)

Call me a homer, but when people similarly rave about Mahomes' passes, they seem to mostly be talking about trick shots, like sidearm, falling-down, shovel passes or alley-oops, not incredible throws like the ones you're describing here. I mean, they're cute, but they're not jaw-dropping. See for yourself. Is there any throw on this compilation we haven't seen Allen make? Or, to put it another way, do you agree that half of these throws wouldn't be among Allen's top 30? (Off to see my therapist about why my guy always has to be the best... 😧)

Right? Had me a heart attack.

Well, as we learned Sunday, they just need a few stops so they get a lead. Then keep up the scoring.

The ultimate insult is to no longer hate them--or even think about them. No, it's the Chiefs, by a mile. Hated the adulation they get as much as I hated the decades (centuries?) of Brady worship. Somehow, I don't mind the recent Allen adulation, however. 😁

Thanks, I must have been thinking of the Rams game. On two occasions, a runner went past Jefferson where a more athletic player would have disengaged and made the tackles. We need us a Montez Sweat-type player.

Toohill made some plays a few games ago. I'd rather have him than Jefferson, who was sluggish against Detroit.

Me, too. You have to go back to 1990, with Will Wolford, House Ballard, Kent Hull, John Davis, and Jim Richter. Frerotte and Glenn Parker the backups.

Rarely have I been so happy to be wrong!

In any event, it's so nice having a back with breakaway speed. We just haven't seen that much over the years. You have to go back to, who, Spiller maybe? McGahee might have been as fast or faster before he was hurt. I just don't remember any back running away from the DBs like Cook does routinely.

I'd like to see both of them gain experience and confidence. They're young and athletic and should improve fast with time on task. Hamlin has already hit his (low) ceiling, and Douglas' play has dropped quite a bit from last year. He's solid but not an asset. Elam has potential. Maybe he can play his way out of McDermott's mysterious (to us) doghouse.

The sheer number of things he does as well or better than anyone is just crazy. His velocity and accuracy means he can fit the ball in tiny openings, his uncanny mobility and pocket presence means he can extend plays until his receivers get open, he's so athletic he can throw while in the air, across his body, and without setting his feet, he's so fricking big tacklers bounce off him, he's so fast he can outrun linebackers and deke out safeties, and he's seasoned enough now that he can quickly diagnose a defensive look and adjust as well as anyone. Maybe most importantly, he's so extraordinarily competitive that you just can't stop him. His enormous willpower makes his teammates want to run through a brick wall for him. I mean, he's pretty much the best of Brady, Jackson, Favre, Young, Kelly, Newton, and Mahomes in one person. And he's a good guy!

Might be a long shot, but as I recall, non-playoff teams start shedding veteran players with big salary caps in the final weeks of the season, giving these players a chance to sign with a contender once they clear waivers. Would love to see a behemoth one-technique tackle to spell DeQuan.

To those who have paid more attention than I have: How does Allen's season compare to those of players who have won the MVP in the past?

He's the player whose play I'm most interested in hearing about once the All-22s come out. The stakes are high: If he did in fact play "pretty well," despite so few reps this season, that bodes well for not just the rest of the season but next year as well. Douglas' play hasn't been very good (I recall he's allowing a high catch percentage and high QB rating targeting him), and it would be great if a young, athletic, up-and-coming Elam were ready to step in opposite the excellent Benford. Still a mystery why McDermott scowls whenever Elam's name comes up.

I wanted them to try a 68-yard field goal (or was it longer?). Bass has the leg. But maybe the chance of it being blocked is too high.