Why the Cutler Bashing?

I'm really getting tired of all these writers who talk about Jay Cutler's supposed immaturity.  Ok.  I'll grant the guy has a few issues to work out, but honestly?  He's NO worse than Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.

Peyton Manning yelled at Jeff Saturday (from another bench) so loudly that the fans behind the team could hear and then he walked over to Saturday, continued to yell, and then back to the original bench, yelled some more.  This is leadership?  Jay Cutler gives J'Marcus Webb a small (but noticeable shove) and quietly says something to his lineman.  This is immature?  Wow.  Seems the National Media apparently knows nothing about maturity.

Tom Brady nearly comes to fisticuffs with his Offensive Coordinator, but Jay Cutler calmly walks away to take a couple seconds to cool down, before returning to talk to his OC.  But, Cutler's the one with the attitude problem?

Seems to me there is a real bias against Jay Cutler that I don't understand.  Someone please enlighten me.

I get that he's mopey.  But, isn't that in the QB Contract?  I thought all QBs were mopey.  After all, Joe Montana moped on the sidelines when he was knocked out of a game.  Troy Aikman moped on the sidelines after he went 3 and out.  Tom Brady is the king of sideline mopers.  Peyton and Eli Manning mope. I've seen Captain America himself, Roger Staubach, mope on the sidelines after an INT.

It happens.  So, why constantly nail Cutler for it?

Okay.  He doesn't smile  I don't either.  It doesn't mean anything other than he doesn't smile.  It doesn't mean he's all mopey.  Maybe he doesn't smile on the sidelines because he's getting inside of his head to figure out how he can best contribute to the game.  Maybe he just doesn't want to smile on the sidelines.  I don't remember Joe Montana smiling a lot on the sidelines - except when he was winning.  But, then again isn't that when QBs are supposed to smile?

The thing of it is that a lot of the writers who are bashing Cutler are the ones who PRETEND they understand Chicago fans.  So, I ask them to quit unless they ARE from Chicago and understand Chicago fans.

Cutler = ELITE

I'm going to say it.  I'm going to bold it and I'm going to shout it:

JAY CUTLER IS NOT JUST AN ELITE QUARTERBACK, BUT HE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A HALL OF FAMER!

There.  I said it.  And, yes.  I DO feel better.

It seems that every time someone mentions Jay Cutler, a Hall of Fame QB's name isn't too far behind.  So, why are they so afraid to mention that Jay Cutler can possibly be a Hall of Fame QB as well?  After all, he's close to catching up several HoF QBs, Sid Luckman (Greatest Bears QB ever) is one of them.  Sooner or later, Cutler WILL surpass Jim Kelly on a couple stats.

Makes me feel as though Cutler is this generation's Ken Stabler.

I know this is short, but I had to say it.

Super Bowl Rings = Great QBs?

I understand a lot about football, but not everything.  One thing I will NEVER understand is how people say that, unless you win a Super Bowl ring, you are NOT a great quarterback.  Wait.  What?  I mean, how does that POSSIBLY define a great quarterback?

Let's look at this.  If that's how you define a "Great Quarterback", THINK about WHO you have to ADD and SUBTRACT from "The Great QuarterBack" list.

Here are the ADDITIONS:

Jim McMahon - Chicago Bears - Super Bowl XX
Doug Williams - Washington Redskins - Super Bowl XXII
Mark Rypien - Washington Redskins - Super Bowl XXVI
Kurt Warner - St. Louis Rams - Super Bowl XXXIV
Trent Dilfer - Baltimore Ravens - Super Bowl XXXV
Brad Johnson - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Super Bowl XXXVII

I'll be willing to make an exception for Kurt Warner, but he didn't put up the best numbers in the NFL.

And these are the HALL OF FAME QBs you have to TAKE OFF the list, since NONE of them have ANY Super Bowl rings:

Dan Marino - Miami Dolphins
Warren Moon - Houston Oilers
George Blanda - Chicago Bears/Los Angeles (Oakland) Raiders
Sonny Jurgensen - Philadelphia Eagles/Washington Redskins
Y.A. Tittle - New York Giants
Dan Fouts - San Diego Chargers
Fran Tarkenton - Minnesota Vikings
Norm Van Brocklin - Philadelphia Eagles

Are YOU really willing to tell those Hall of Famers that they're NOT great QBs because they have NO rings?  I don't think so.  Then think of Ernier Herber, Otto Graham, Sid Luckman, Paddy Hall, Sammy Baugh, Earl Clark, Jim Conzelman,  - these Hall of Famers don't have Super Bowl rings either.  Sure, the Super Bowl that we know came after they retired, but still...NO SUPER BOWL rings.  If that's the mark of a GREAT QB, than that list, plus Luckman, Graham, Herber, Hall, Clark, Baugh, and Conzelman aren't and McMahon, Williams, Johnson, Dilfer, Warner, and Rypien are.  There is something drastically wrong there.

So, think again: Is the true mark of a great QB REALLY a Super Bowl ring?  Because if so, there are some average at best QBs that MUST be added and some great QBs that MUST be removed.

Legend Status

We all wish we were legends in one fashion or another.  Like me.  I wish I was a legendary Blog writer, writing fantastic entries on football (or fashion, depending on which blog I'm writing on).  I wish my blog would be read by NFL players and become quite controversial (Please, let me dream!)

But, mention the word "LEGEND" in Chicago and three names come to the front of the Bears' fans minds: Walter Payton, Gayle Sayers and Dick Butkus.

Dick Butkus.  The name alone drives a stake of fear into people's hearts today.  Here was a guy who had Fried QuarterBack with a side of Mashed Running Back for lunch, followed by Flambayed (I know the spelling is possibly wrong here!) Wide Receiver for desert.

He is quite possibly Chicago's most revered player.  He is also quite possibly football's most feared Middle Linebacker to this day.  Most try to emulate him, but all fail.

Let's talk about Butkus for a moment.  The man.  The myth.  The Legend.  He was all three, wrapped into one package.

Off the field, fans knew Dick Butkus was a teddy bear.  No pun intended.  He may not have had the soft sweet personality of Gayle Sayers, but he was a rather charming and decent human.  Put on the Bears Blue and Orange and Dick Butkus, Offense Nightmare, came out.

Butkus was quoted as saying that he loved the movie "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte" and there is a scene in the movie where a head comes rolling down the stairs.  That's how he played the game.  Of course, it never happened to him or his teammates; just to the other guy.  He often said that when he hit a player, he wanted that guy to know who hit him and not ask who it was.

Here is a video of some of Butkus' highlights.  It's an NFL Films production and, as he had for many years, John Facenda is narrating.  It's rather quite fitting.

There is a great comment that someone left that states, quite simply, "i love how this guy gets so many haters almost 40 years after he stopped playing......that is TRUE LEGEND STATUS"  That is absolutely true.  How many players today will have that type of legend, 40 years after they retire?  Not many, that's for sure.

But, Dick Butkus?  The most revered MLB in Chicago.  Ever.  Always.  Even those born well after he retired and never got to witness the man playing, wear the number 51 in honor of him and speak of him as the legend he is.  They love and revere him.

I've a feeling that, the day Butkus dies, it will become a city holiday in Chicago, so that everyone can mourn.  Let's just hope that day is a long way away.

But, let us mourn that football no longer allows players like Butkus to play like this.  While I am all for player safety, I can not help but miss this time of football life.  The picture of him with taped knuckles and the blood and dirt on them is one of the most iconic pictures of him, but sadly, I can not locate it on google or bing.

But, this picture (below) is more well known by the players who faced him.  If only we can get Brian Urlacher (who is a mini Dick Butkus, so to speak) to make the growling noises that Butkus did.  Maybe our team could learn to once again intimidate other teams before stepping out on the field. (I'll write another blog entry on that in letter form, I think, later.)



The man.  The myth.  The legend.  The one and only Dick Butkus.

*No Real Title*

Maybe it was the era I grew up in.  Not just as a person, but as a football fan.  The 70s and 80s were full of tough guys playing the game.  If you were a back up, you didn't complain about it to the public.  You never talked about it in an interview.  You did your back up duties and learned so that when (and if) the time came for you to be the starter, you could easily pick up where the starter left off.

It wasn't easy being the back up to greats.  Ask Neal Anderson how easy it was to back up Walter Payton or LeRoy Kelly how easy it was to back up Jim Brown.  We all know the difficulty Steve Young had backing up Joe Montana.

But, they never complained.  They went on with the game.  They studied and they not only did it the way the starter did it, but they did it their own way as well.

I am writing this because I was thinking about a lot of things the other day as I watched the Bears play the Giants (I know.  I was a little late, but life got in the way) and once again, the whole Giants/Patriots rivalry (is there really one outside of the Super Bowl?) came up.

And, of course, my feelings about Tom Brady and how much of a wimp he is as compared to QBs of the past (and compared to some of today's QBs).  And, I'm sorry.  I don't think you should cry because you were lower on the draft chart than you think you should have been (Did Aaron Rodgers cry?  No.  He manned up.) and you shouldn't have to see a sports psychologist because you're the back up's back up's back up.  That's weakness.

This isn't a complete bash on Brady.  It's a complete bash on the game today.

Tom Brady would never have stood a chance against some of the toughest defenses in the history of the NFL.  Like I said: There is maybe one who could.

Today's rules have changed.  In watching NFL Network's "NFL's Top 10" of the top 10 defenses of all time.  (I still don't understand why "The Grits Blitz" was on the list, but not "Gang-Green" or "The No-Name" defense.)

I know that the rules have changed to protect the players, but in doing so, we have created a generation of wimpy players, both on offense and defense.

I will be honest in saying that I miss the days when it was "Anything goes" defenses and "Just try and stop us" offenses. 

While I want player safety, I want to see Chris Conte knock the living crap out of Calvin Johnson and to see Matt Forte stiff arm Clay Matthews and gain yardage.

But, those days, I fear, are far behind us.  *Please insert a sad face here*

Bygone Era V. Today's Era

Okay.  I am a day late and a dollar short on entries, but I haven't had much to say about the game since the whole Tim Tebow/Caleb Hanie debacle.

But, football is back and I got to thinking about quarterbacks and Hall of Famers and why Tom Brady is only fully capable of playing in the league as it is today.  Random thoughts, but we all know I have them.

At work today, I got to thinking of Y.A. Tittle and everything he accomplished.  Why?  I don't know.  Maybe it's because of all the rule that the NFL has now.  Would we have more images like this one nowadays?

 

 

 

Not sure.  But when that photo was taken in 1964, the rules were different.  Players were different.  They hurt and hated each other more.  You would not have ever heard of Dick Butkus texting Ray Nitschke about hanging out after the game (had texting been around in those days).  Jack Tatum would have NEVER called Mel Blount to go out for a drink after a game.

 

But, fear not, for there are still some NFL players today that remind me of some of the bygone players.

 

I'll start with Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford.  But, you are warned.  Commenting on Stafford will not only include my opinon of him as a player, but as a man.  I'll start with the football fan in me and end with the female in me.

 

It was, I believe, 2009.  Against who?  I don't remember and honestly, who the Lions beat that day isn't as important as what the young man from Georgia did.  If Stafford was bloody and kneeling, looking dazed, the comparasions would be better, but let's be serious for a moment: What Stafford did, Y.A. Tittle is thinking he would have done the same thing.

 

After a vicious hit, Stafford was apparently in a lot of pain, we later found out it was a broken clavicle.  After eluding every team doctor, Matthew went back on the field for the final play.  He took a snap (not really using his left side obviously) and with an almost one armed short armed throw for the TD.

 

That play alone solified me as a fan of his.  Even with his dishragging of Bears safety DJ Moore, I couldn't hate the kid.

 

Matthew Stafford has the resolve of Y.A. Tittle (who played the rest of the season, partially with a cracked sternum).  He has the calm coolness in the game as Dan Marino, and the same ability to lead that the Dolphins QB had.  He doesn't have the Joe Theismann or Joe Namath need to announce he's there.  Rather, he uses the Johnny Unitas approach: He lets his game announce his arrival.  He has the Ken Stabler mental toughness and the ability of Terry Bradshaw to confuse us on how smart he truly is.  He is under-rated the same way that Steve Young was when he first came up.

 

Matthew Stafford is a polarizing QB.  Will he be a Hall of Famer?  Not really sure, but a lot of the players in the Hall didn't know they'd be HoF'ers when they were only two or three years in the game.

 

And, the female in me, says that Matthew Stafford has the same sex appeal that Joe Montana has.  No lie.

 

He was the first player I thought of today as I thought of Y.A. Tittle and the comparasions...well, to some, they may be off in the stats department, but not in the toughness department.  Face it.  Of all the QBs in the league today, Matthew Stafford is the toughest.

 

But, in drawing out those comparasions, which QBs playing today could have played in times past?  I know people think that Tom Brady could have, but face it.  If he's afraid of Ed Reed (and gets a "Roughing the Passer" call on Reed's tripping, which missed Brady by a foot), how would he handle Butkus?

 

Come on.  You KNOW that, if that had been Butkus, he'd have gone back to the line, INTENTIONALLY took Brady's head off, then stand over him, telling him "Now, THAT'S roughing the passer, bitch."  Brady would never have survived Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones, or Jack Tatum.  So, I don't think Brady could have played in any era but the one he's in now.

 

Aaron Rodgers?  Sure, he's got the feet and the toughness, but how would he respond to Jack Lambert flying over the line to take his head off? 

 

Jay Cutler?  NO.  I love the guy and think he gets too much criticism, but I know that Cutler would not survive a hit from Dick "Night Train" Lane. 

 

Other than Stafford, I think that Ben Roethlisberger could.  He's got size and strength.  He's got decent speed.  Sure, there are others that are a lot faster, but there are those a lot slower.  I would love to see Big Ben go against the Purple People Eaters.

 

But, those are my random thoughts.  I had them more clearly defined earlier today, when I had no paper available for writing (of course!) and maybe one of these days, I'll try to explain some things a little more clearer on what I meant this entry to be. 

 

But, it is what it is. 

 

Thoughts?  Any player playing today that could have played in the bygone era of football?  Comment below with who and why! :)

Pay Forte

I very rarely talk about football cases I know very little, if anything, about.  But, while I'm not on the inside of what's going on in the Chicago Bears v. Matt Forte contract negotiations, I know enough to comment on it as a fan.

Chicago has a history of great running backs.  After all, we've had Jimmy Conzelman, Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Red Grange, and George McAfee...all of which are Hall of Famers.  We've gone thru some ups and downs.  Matt Suhey (a RB that Chicago fans absolutely ADORE, but he wasn't exactly on the same level as Payton) Adrian Peterson (NOT THE Adrian Peterson of Vikings fame), Marion Barber and others whose names are already forgotten.  


But, now?  We've got Matt Forte.  He's all the running back Chicago needs.  Let's be  honest.  Michael Bush is to Matt Forte what Matt Suhey was to Walter Payton.  


I personally don't know why 1) Forte won't sign the $7.7 million franchise tag (even though I don't like the tag.)  It does give Chicago the guy who is arguably the best running back in the league right now for another year and maybe able to work out the kinks that previous management wasn't able or willing to work out.  With Phil Emery now, he may see something that needs changing, and I'll admit that I don't exactly know how NFL contracts work or what the issues in what I have personally dubbed "ForteContract-gate" need to be worked out.  I'm unsure if they can be meet in the time everyone is wanting all to be met in.


And, 2) I don't know why the previous management was so unwilling to re-sign Forte to the contract that he deserves.


I would hope that Forte would swallow his pride enough to sign the franchise tag contract and that the Bears front office would swallow their pride and pay the man what he's worth.


And, in this fan's eyes, Forte is worth more than the $7.7 million franchise tag.  But, I'm willing to pay him that and work out what all needs to be worked out.  Because let's face it: This Bears team without Forte is like the 1985 Bears without Payton.


Forte is important to the Bears and the fans may never forgive the Bears if they let Forte go to another team.


But, that's just this fan's opinion.  


PAY FORTE!

Brady And Cutler

I don't know why every analyst, fan, sportscaster...hell, EVERYONE, makes it their duty to bash on Jay Cutler and love on Tom Brady.  Most everyone knows I HATE Tom Brady and I have since he was in college.

When Brady was drafted at 166th, I felt that was too high.  While there are still some lingering doubts in my mind about the legitimacy of his stats due to "SpyGate", there is no denying that he is a good QB.  I'm not here to say that Cutler is an "elite" QB on the level of Joe Montana or Johnny Unitas, but I'm here to say that if you compare where he was in his 5th season in the league and where Tom Brady was, you'd be surprised at how close they are.

For obvious reasons, I left INTs off the list because, even with as much as I hate Tom Brady, he can thread a needle in a hurricane.   Brady is one of the most accurate QBs to have played the game while Cutler has the strongest arm in the league.

But, everyone seems to have a boner for Brady but seem to cut Cutler down every shot they get.  I have often wondered why, but I suppose the power of the "Hoodie" is strong.

However, below you'll see some stats.  I'm not saying which one is which, but these are the stats for both QBs in their 5th year of being an NFL QB.  See if YOU can figure out which one is which.

QB:	G	GS	Comp	Att	Pct	Yds	Avg	TD	Att	Yds	Avg	TD
A:	16	16	334	530	63	4,110	7.8	26	27	89	3.3	1
B:	15	15	261	432	60.4	3,274	7.6	23	50	232	4.6	1

There may be some stats that give it away, but you have to admit they are close in numbers.  So, stop hating on Cutler because you don't think he's close to being "elite" but he's not as bad as you think.  I think people hate on Jay because he's not the whole "RAH RAH SHISH BOOM BAH!" QB on the sidelines, but neither is Brady.  Brady is more "showy" on the sidelines than Cutler, but having read stories about Cutler from his high school coaches, he's NEVER been that type of QB.  And, he's probably paying more attention than you give him credit for.

So, look at the stats and tell me that Jay Cutler doesn't belong in the same QB category as Tom Brady...minus the INTS because Brady throws so few of those.  But, remember: some of the "Elite" QBs that everyone loves on have thrown MORE INTs than Cutler, so you can't necessarily hold those against Cutler.

Receivers slip; routes get lost; defenses read the plays; the ground gets slippery and muddy; O-lines fail -- there are a million reasons other than the QB panicking or overthrowing.  So, we can't really blame the QB for INTs all the time.

Yet, no one blames Brady for anything.  It's always the receiver's fault; the defense was too good or the weather but if it's Cutler?  It's his fault, even if the receiver isn't where HE needs to be.

Why the double standard?  Because people have made up their mind about Cutler and are blinded by sheer hatred for him.  While I hate Brady, I am not so blinded by my hatred of him that I can't give him credit when it's due, even though I doubt the legitimacy of some of his stats.  I'll do an entry (though it will be short) on the things I DO give Brady credit for.

Give Cutler a chance and you'll see that you're mostly wrong.

What the WHAT, Denver?

I know that this entry is a little late and very short, but I have been a little busy and have been trying to gather my thoughts on the whole thing and they aren't a lot on this subject.

Here's the situation: The Denver Broncos trade Tim Tebow because he wasn't a good enough QB, but to only sign Caleb Hanie a couple days later.

What the WHAT?

Did they NOT see what Caleb Hanie DESTROYED in the three games he started?  Seriously.  You know that Peyton is going to get hurt and you're going to rely on Hanie to back him up? 

And here I thought the Broncos wanted to win.  Guess I was wrong.  Apparently losing suits them better.

I'm not going to hate on Hanie.  He's a good back up...unless you need him for more than one quarter.

Good luck, Denver.  Because let's face it: You're going to need it.

Dear John Elway...

So, I know it's been a while since I've updated. Not really much to talk about in the world of football until the season. Until earlier this month when Peyton Manning was released by the Colts. That was one of the biggest WTF? moments of the year.

Until today.

This is my open letter to Denver Broncos Executive Vice President of Football Operations, John Elway, who proved himself to have his head so far up his own ass and being a compete idiot.



Dear John Elway:

You, sir, are an ass and an idiot. Who are you looking to replace Peyton Manning when he gets hurt? As much as most people, I adore Peyton Manning. I think he made a good choice going to Denver, but you? You proved in this whole thing what an asshole you are.

Your stats do not stand alone enough for you to be in the Hall of Fame; Manning's do. You have fallen victim to your own hype. You said this past season that you were looking forward to working with Tim Tebow, to make him a 'traditional' NFL QB. Like you? Or, rather, like you weren't?

With each passing football generation, the tradition changes. There was a time when you, at 6'3", would have been considered a giant among QBs, and you pretty much were when you played. Now, it's typical. So, that's tradition? There hasn't been a true traditional QB since Sid Luckman retired from the game in 1950.

You, yourself, weren't even a 'traditional' NFL QB. While you were a good QB, you were far from 'traditional'.

I know that Tim Tebow has some issues to work out. You, of anyone, should understand that. You had issues to work out and you did. Working out those kinks allowed you to win back to back Super Bowls and led you to a Hall of Fame spot.

You acquired Peyton Manning, a guy we all know who has a future as a QB coach. Good move. But, bad move.

In acquiring the Hall of Famer, you let your future go.

Tim Tebow may be full of flaws, but why not allow him to learn under one of the greatest QBs of our time? Peyton has one, maybe two, good years left. Tebow has another 10. Manning could have been the 'Kurt Warner' to Timmy.

And, if you were unsure of Tebow as a QB, why not put in him as an H-Back, since that's how he plays? That way WHEN Peyton gets hurt, you have a young man that can fill in. It's the best of both worlds.

You're confident that Manning will bring you a championship. I love Manning and think that he's a very capable QB, but how many Super Bowl rings does he have? He only has one. If you wanted a proven QB that can win Super Bowls, why not ask Terry Bradshaw to come out of retirement? He's a proven winner, where Manning only has one championship.

Why not ask Joe Montana to come out of retirement? He's got 4 rings. Proven winner. If that's what you're looking for...But, Manning's not it. He's a great QB, to be sure, but he's not the proven Super Bowl winner you think he is.

You gave up Denver's future for a man that you can maybe get one good season out of.

I will laugh this season as everything you wanted falls apart. If things go as you hope, I will be the first to congratulate you, but honestly? I don't see that happening. Manning is only at 8o or 90% and that 10/2o% can make a difference.

John Elway - you proved yourself to be an ass, an idiot, and incapable of making such a decision.

And, there goes all respect I ever held for you.

Ramblings - of sort.

So, it's been a while since I posted. I really haven't had anything to post or talk about in regards to the end of the season.

Well, except for the Broncos beating the Steelers in overtime. That was cool.

But, there really hasn't been a whole lot.

Mike Martz has left the Bears and rumour is he's retiring. Good thing for ALL football teams.

Good thing for the Rams - AND Sam Bradford - that Josh McDaniels left. McCrappy is now with the Pats...and he'll destroy them the same way he ruined the Broncos and the Rams.

I'm still NOT on the whole "Tom Brady is a god" wagon. He's highly over-rated. I'll explain later. Time is running short tonight and that's a long subject.

So, we're getting a rematch of Giants/Patriots in the Super Bowl again. I predict the Giants will once again show the Patriots what a real team, who doesn't cheat, plays like.

So, I'm closing this one for now. I'll figure out how to explain why I hate Tom Brady the way I do since the last one wasn't very clear...