Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Cutler's Legacy Tarnished in Chicago

No matter how serious his MCL injury really is, Jay Cutler's performance on the sidelines in the NFC Championship has forever tarnished his legacy as a Chicago Bear.

In a sport as violent and brutal as football, every player must have the gladiator mentality. Give 100% when your healthy, give more when you're hurt. Injuries will happen---especially to vulnerable quarterbacks. Midway through the second quarter, Cutler had to leave the game with a bum knee. Not only did he leave the game, he left Bears fans with an image of him that they will not soon forget.

There was no training staff running onto the field, no collapse to the floor, no significant limp, and certainly no reason to believe Cutler had suffered a sprained MCL. From the way he went to the sidelines to the way he appeared on the bench, Cutler could not have handled the situation any worse. He did not have any competitive facial expression and looked as if he had put up no fight to get back into the game. He simply put on his coat, took a seat, and became an uninterested spectator. If Cutler was a 3rd string fullback this would not be a story. However, Cutler is not only the starting quarterback of one of the most beloved franchises in the NFL, he is the franchise.

Not since Sid Luckman left the field in 1950 have the Chicago Bears had a quarterback as prestigious and talented as Jay Cutler. Personally, I believe Cutler does not get enough respect for his play on the field. Sure, there is always the chance he throws a dumb interception, but people fail to remember that he can also make a touchdown pass through triple coverage look easy. No matter which offensive linemen, running backs, or wide receivers line up along side him, Cutler will always give you a chance to win because he can make throws that most other quarterbacks could only dream of. On the field, Cutler can be spectacular. Off the field? Not so much. He has never been fully accepted by Bears fans because they do not see the fight and willpower of a Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger. They see too much of the droopy, woe-is-me, disgruntled look of a quarterback who looks as if he was just told hes not getting any dessert after dinner. Compare the look on Cutler's face from Sunday to the look on Peyton Manning's face when he was pulled from a week 16 game against the Jets in which the Colts were going for the perfect season. Manning looked like he was dieing to get back on the field. Cutler looked content with the bench.

Getting back to Sunday, Cutler's act looked pathetic because of what we have seen from other quarterbacks in the face of injury. There are numerous images of quarterbacks fighting through pain and staying on the field. The recent news about Drew Brees playing through a sprained MCL this season does nothing to help Cutler's case. If Brees could play through numerous regular season games with a sprained MCL, how could Cutler not play in the NFC championship with one? Granted, the severity of the injuries may be different but the comparisons have been made and have been compared. Only three years ago, Phillip Rivers played the entire AFC Championship game in Foxboro with a torn ACL. Though the Chargers lost the game, Rivers earned himself a career's worth of respect with his toughness and courage of playing with such a severe injury. If one goes back a couple more years, they will remember Donovan McNabb playing a regular season game against the Arizona Cardinals with a broken ankle.

Perhaps the most disheartening thing for Bears fans was to see how many current and former players attacked Cutler. No journalist, commentator, or broadcaster can imagine what it is like to be on an NFL field if they have never experienced it. At a time when NFL players are uniting as they anticipate a work stoppage, not only did they criticize one of their own, they openly questioned his heart and his manhood. Cutler will not only have to prove to Bears fans that he genuinely couldn't play, he has to prove to his fellow players that he has a competitive spirit and would have done anything to play in the championship game.

Many of Cutler's teammates and coaches have come to his defense, saying the quarterback is a tough player and could not go back into the game. While that may all be true, would they really say otherwise? The Bears invested a great deal in Cutler so any player or coach who goes against him would be going against the entire franchise. Even if Cutler could in no way go back into the game, the players and coaches had to be upset with how content he seemed to look on the sidelines. Factor in that he appeared to be making no effort to help 3rd string quarterback Caleb Hanie when he entered the game and Cutler's leadership looks even worse.

Until he proves otherwise, Cutler has plenty to prove before Bears fans accept him. It may take a Super Bowl trophy because even before Sunday's incidents Bears fans had their doubts about Cutler. As for now? Cutler is left with a bum knee and a tarnished legacy.


Wednesday, January 12, 2011

For Jets and Ravens, A Chance to Take Control

Since 2008, the Jets, Patriots, Ravens, and Steelers have been some of the primary powers in the AFC. In each of the last three seasons, all four teams have had winning records. Though they have been successful, the Jets and Ravens have not been able to overtake their division rivals. Neither team has won a division title and neither team has beaten their biggest foe when it mattered most.

This weekend will be the first time since the 1978 wildcard playoff format came into fruition that both divisional matchups will be between two teams in the same division. A double dose of round three---what could be better?

There is no shortage of storylines going into the Jets-Patriots third meeting of the season. Though the teams split the season series, the 45-3 beatdown of the Jets at the hands of Tom Brady and company is fresh in everyone's mind. Since Rex Ryan became coach of the Jets in January of 2009, the New York-New England rivalry has reached new heights. Rex's Jets have gone 23-13 (including the postseason) over the last two years while Belichick's Patriots have gone 24-9 (including postseason.) The all time series between the teams is deadlocked at 51-51-1. After Sunday, one team will not only be ahead in the all time standings, they will be one game away from the Super Bowl.

The rest of the NFL has grown to hate the Jets since Rex Ryan took over the reigns. Between the arrogant trash talking, Hard Knocks, Sal Alosi etc. the Jets have become the modern day version of the 1970's Oakland Raiders. The Jets have made it possible to actually root for the Patriots in this back and forth contest between the northeast rivals. Over the last decade, the Patriots have been the Evil Empire. After the Jets shenanigans over the last two years, New England suddenly appears to be a band of choir boys and Tom Brady has turned into Rocky.

In terms of the game itself, everyone has the same prediction. The Patriots are heavy favorites and rightfully so. They have the best coach in the game with the best quarterback in the game. They are also the overwhelming Super Bowl favorite (6-5 odds in Las Vegas.) The Jets 28-14 week two victory over New England seems like years ago. The Jets are going to need to play a flawless game in order to beat the Patriots. Though the Jets have won three of the last five meetings, none have come in as big a spot as this Sunday. Either the obnoxious Jets will be send home with their tails between their legs or the AFC East will undergo a radical changing of the guard with gang green at the forefront.

While the Jets and Patriots prepare for their showdown on Saturday night, western Pennsylvania will be watching the Ravens and Steelers battle it out in the rubber match between the hated AFC North foes. For the second time in the last three seasons, the Ravens and Steelers will meet in the playoffs.

For all the successes of the Joe Flacco-John Harbaugh era, one glaring obstacle remains---knocking off Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though the teams have split the season series in each of the last two seasons, Roethlisberger did not play in either Raven victory. In other words, Joe Flacco and John Harbaugh are 0-5 against the Roethlisberger led Steelers.

In all of those five loses, the Steelers have always seemed to make the big play in the game's biggest moment (Big Ben's touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes in the final seconds of the Steelers win in Baltimore during the 2008 seasons, Polamalu's pick six to seal the win in the AFC Champ, Polamalu's strip sack that led to the winning touchdown this year in Baltimore.) It will be up to Flacco and the Raven's defense to ensure that they don't let the Steelers get the better of them again. Whether it be Anquan Boldin, Ray Rice, Ray Lewis, or Ed Reed, someone is going to have to step up in order to get this rivalry on more equal footing.

The Ravens have plenty of experience in winning playoff games on the road (seven road playoff wins since 2000, most in the NFL.) In last week's 30-7 win over Kansas City, Joe Flacco finally stepped up and played well (1 TD 6 Ints, 48% completion percentage, 132 ypg in his previous five playoff games.) If Flacco can keep that success going against arguably the league's best defense, the Ravens will have a great chance to win.

On defense, guys like Josh Wilson, Ladarius Webb, and Cory Redding have played well. Factor in that the Ravens still have the core four (Lewis, Ngata, Suggs, Reed) and the defense is as good as ever. The defense forced Matt Cassell into three interceptions last week after he threw only seven all season. Since John Harbaugh took over in 2008, the Ravens defense has allowed only 14 points per game in six playoff games.

The Ravens task of going into Pittsburgh is not nearly as daunting as the Jets going into New England. The Steelers are only 5-3 at home this season and one of those losses came to Baltimore in week four. Though the Ravens have failed to win the AFC North in each of the last three seasons, they can achieve a sense of ownership of the division with a win this Saturday.

Over the last decade the Patriots, Steelers, and Colts have dominated the AFC. The three teams have represented the AFC in the Super Bowl in eight of the last nine years. While their division foes were playing in championship games and winning Super Bowls, the Jets and Ravens were left largely unfulfilled, still waiting to knock off the bully. In week 13, both teams failed to win their respective prime time game that would of given them sole possession of first place in their division. However, this weekend offers another chance to win---another chance to take control.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Impending Departure Solidifies Vince Young As Another Quarterback Bust

Hes not exactly Tim Couch or Jamarcus Russell, but Vince Young has ultimately fallen way short of living up to his top flight draft status.

The number three overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, Young's career has been an adventure on and off the field. While he has had his positive moments (2006 Rookie of the Year), his failures as a quarterback and team leader solidify him as a bust. Rather then focus on his many off the field troubles, lets focus strictly on his performance on the gridiron.

Above all else, Vince Young supporters are quick to point out that he has a 30-17 record as a starting quarterback. While it is an impressive number, it is not the be all-end all way to judge a quarterback.

-Rex Grossman, Tarvaris Jackson, Shaun King...three players drafted in the 1st and 2nd rounds to be the franchise quarterback for their respective clubs. All three have records above .500 as starting quarterbacks yet all three are viewed as failures. Vince Young is a favorable comparison.

Through five seasons, Young's touchdown-interception ratio is dead even at 42 a piece. By year five, clubs expect quarterbacks chosen in the first five picks to be further developed. Young has never thrown more then 12 touchdowns in a season and that career high came in his rookie year. Since then, his maturation never continued. He has been the same quarterback with the same production year in and year out. Through 47 career starts, he has only one game in which he passed for 3 touchdowns. Considering the numbers that quarterbacks put up in today's NFL, that is a putrid statistic.

From 2006-2010, the Tennessee Titans have been a different story every year. Young started 15 games for the 2007 Titans, a team that won 10 games and made the playoffs. Young threw for only 9 touchdowns that season as compared to 17 interceptions. The Titans were fueled by a top 5 rushing offense and a top 5 defense. Young was always the weak link. In the team's 17-6 playoff loss at San Diego, Young managed a putrid 138 yards passing with no touchdowns and one interception.

In 2008, Young was injured and Kerry Collins stepped in. He led the team to a 13-3 regular season record and the #1 seed in the AFC. It was the most success the Titans have had in the last five years and it came with Vince Young on the bench.

After an 0-6 start to the 2009 season, Young returned to the starting job and the team nearly made the playoffs. However in 10 starts Young only managed to throw 10 touchdown as compared to 7 interceptions. Make no mistake, the Titans turnaround was led by Chris Johnson and his 2,509 total yards (an NFL record for yards in a season.) During his 10 starts, Young managed to complete more then 15 passes in a game only four times. In other words, Young was the caretaker. When the team was battling for an unlikely wild card spot down the stretch, they had a chance to lock it up with a week 16 win at home against San Diego. In that game, with the playoffs on the line, Young managed to complete 8 of 21 attempts (38%) for only 89 yards with 2 interceptions.

2010 started off well for the Titans as they jumped out to a 5-2 start before collapsing to a 6-10 finish. The Titans had a 5-4 record in games in which Young started at quarterback. Again, the record is above .500 but Young is not the reason. In those nine games, he completed more then 12 passes in a game only once.

Now let it be known, Vince Young is not a total dud as an NFL quarterback. He has shown flashes but has never come close to living up to his draft status. His production is not the only thing that will keep him from ever being a franchise quarterback, his piss-poor attitude alienates teammates, coaches, and even fans. The best person to compare Vince Young to? Jeff George.

George, the number one overall pick in the 1990 draft, had an up and down career with far more lows then highs. At his best, George was leading the 1999 Vikings to a playoff victory over Troy Aikman and the Dallas Cowboys. In 1999, he threw for 23 touchdowns compared to only 12 interceptions. George had other success in his NFL career. In 1995, he threw for 24 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions. It gets better, in 1997 he threw for a whopping 29 touchdowns with only 9 interceptions. When you look at these numbers you may ask why Jeff George was ever considered one of the biggest busts in NFL history. Well, when you look closer, you see that his 95, 97, and 99 seasons were exceptions to his otherwise lackluster career. Vince Young is very similar. A few highlight plays here and there with a few good games, but for the most part he leaves you largely disappointed.

It remains to be seen how much interest Young will receive on the open market. His best bet would be to sign on as a backup with a team with an established coach. At age 27, he has time to grow as a player and a person but until he does he will go down in the NFL history books as a bust.