Can we please stop defining QB's by their Super Bowl rings. More than any other individuals in team sports a QB is defined by winning. I may be incorrect with these numbers but I beleive a NFL roster is around 50 players and 40 or so are active each week. Though all players value isn't equal every individual plays a part in the teams overall success. I will be the first to admit that when attempting to rank a player I may throw out the "but he won more Super Bowl" arguement but for that to be a end all is foolish. Trent Dilfer was a fine QB as was Jim McMahon but neither were ever considered elite yet both one Super Bowls riding the coatails of perhaps the two greatest defenses of all time. How about Jeff Hostetler he spent the majority of his career as a backup but still found the time to win the Tuna his final championship. How about the likes of Earl Morral who also won as a backup. Often times a players greatness will be defined by Super Bowls. Jim Plunkett and Joe Namath come to mind. Though Plunkett isn't a Hall Of Famer many view him as a great NFL QB which statistically wasn't the case. The same can be said of Namath who famously guaranteed victory in Super Bowl III. That win along with the fact that Joe was a playa with the ladies earned Namath legendary status. And although his career aren't worthy that Super Bowl victory earned him enshrinement into the Hall.
The list of Hall of Fame signal callers to not have one the big one is extensive and full of some of the best ever at the position. Dan Marino held nearly every passing record when he retired but after a Super Bowl loss in I believe his rookie season never returned to the big game. Jim Kelly is another HofF who fell short. Unlike Marino, Kelly had plenty of chances but time and time again he came up short. Was Kelly to blame I doubt it. What about Montana. He was a multiple Super Bowl winner who many consider to be the greatest of all time. Did he have a special knack for winning all indications point to yes, however those 49ers squads go down in history as some of the best teams ever could Marino of Kelly have won a title at the helm? Who knows but I happen to beleive it would have been possible.
Don't get me wrong being a Super Bowl winner should help define ones career but it should not be the number one factor. Until this season most pundits considered Tom Brady to be the top guy in the league. I never bought stock in it I have always been a Manning fan regardless of the hardware advantage. I have always went with Montana over Marino but I have always felt that Marino could have done what Montana did but the reverse could not be said. However neither ranks as my all time best. That honor is currently held by none other than John Elway (Manning will soon hold the honor). My reasoning is his combination of stats and conveniently Super Bowls. It may be somewhat contradicting but I concede that the point has it's purpose.
* I had a nice weekend of Playoff Football action planned however most of the games failed to live up to the billing. The Colts vs. Ravens wasn't even as close as the score would indicate as the Colts dominated through the air in the first half and the D held firm all game. The Saints offense is fun to watch but anytime you have Johnna Johnson type seperation in a first round playoff game it leaves a bitter taste. The action didn't heat up Sunday morning either as the my most anticipated matchup was a dud as the Vikings smacked around the Cowboys. The Chargers Jets provided the only close game yet I find it hard to get into the defensive showdowns. That said the Jets defense seems very dominate and the commitment to the running game is working as long as the score remains close.
* Spreadology 2009: I'll end the suspense for everyone early this week. Jets vs. Colts -7. The Colts starters dominated the Jets in their week 16 matchup until the Colts threw in the towel. The Colts offense was executing on all cylinders during that first half and I expect much of the same this week. Colts in another playoff blowout. Vikings vs. Saints -4. The Saints and Vikings have the 1 and 2 offense in the NFL. The difference is on the defensive side as the Saints live off the big turnover while the Vikings defense can be dominate at times. I can't help but to reference the Cowboys game in Week 15 when the Saints couldn't protect Brees from the Cowboys pass rush. Much like the Cowboys the Vikings will get pressure from the front four which will keep 7 in coverage. The Saints will struggle on offense enough for the Vikings to get the road win despite their road struggles this season.
* College Football was the main story early last week as Lane Kiffin bolting Rocky Top for USC leaving the Vols searching for a replacement and you got to beleive settling for Vince Dooley. I may be the minority in this but I feel that this will ultimately work out in the Vols favor. Kiffin had done a great job recruiting finishing last season with a top 5 class according to many scouting services and this years class was also heading for a top 10 class. Recruiting isn't an issue at USC as long as you are winning the recruits will be lining up at your door. Kiffin was a good short term answer but he is going to have to win games which he hasn't done up to this point. The Raiders were the Raiders and the Volunteers only improved two games last year. Kiffin is well respected by most coaching insiders but at some point he must prove it. At USC 7-5 seasons will not be tolerated and given the returning players from last year anything under 9 wins will be a disappointment simply put 7-5 won't cut it. As for the Vols, Dooley isn't a sexy pick but he has prior SEC expereince which has been a formula for many succesful SEC coaches. He has also had NFL expereince and as AD at La Tech he is familiar with the entire aspect of the athletic program. The SEC is tough and Dooley will be given a fair amount of time to get this right. Besides in late January beggers can't be choosers.
Buffalo Bills hire Chan Gailey. The loyal fans of the Bills deserve better but the fact is no one who is a proven winner wants to come to Buffalo and work for a meddling owner who isn't a big player in Free Agency and play some home games in Canada. Gailey has done some good things as a Coordinator and had some playoff runs with the Dolphins with Jay Fiedler as the QB which is saying something. By no means is this a homerun but what do you expect.
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