MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Spoiler: Green Bay, Buffalo, the Rams... None of those teams are that good. Beating them is not a Herculean task. Buffalo is the best of the bunch right now, but they've gotten better as the season has progressed.

 

Better than the Bears

 

I thought we talked about this last time? Those stones you're throwing don't travel far when your team is shit, too, bud.

 

The fact that you can offer a realistic appraisal of your team makes me respect you all the more.

Yes, tbe Steelers aren't very good.

 

The Steelers are knockin on seven's door.

- gidion72 in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020........

 

The Bears don't even have a clue where the door is?

 

I'm not here to tell lies. The Bears haven't been good this year - they're not going to reliably beat winning teams. Neither are the Steelers. Bummer, all the same.

 

I couldn't have the podcast this week thanks to personal, then technical, then heath issues (I'm okay, headaches).
So here are my playoff seeding predictions:

 

At least we have a chance to make the playoffs and with this defense and a good kicker, (you should know) you can luck into some playoff wins.

 

Despite the continuing success of 42-year-old Tom Brady and 40-year-old Drew Brees, the NFL has seen a youth movement at quarterback this season. More quarterbacks age 27 or younger are starting, and winning, games this season than ever before.

According to the NFL, 271 starts have been made this season by quarterbacks age 27 or younger, by far the most in any season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. And that’s before this week’s games, when 18 quarterbacks age 27 or younger are expected to start.

Already this season, 136 games have been won by quarterbacks age 27 or younger, again by far the most in NFL history even before several more games will be won by young quarterbacks on Sunday.

The results don’t change if the cutoff age is changed to 26 or 25: However you define “young,” this has been the most productive season in NFL history for young quarterbacks.

From the NFL’s 22-year-old MVP Lamar Jackson, to impressive rookies like Kyler Murray, Daniel Jones and Gardner Minshew, to playoff quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes, the league has seen a very promising influx of young passers.

source; NBC

 

With the Giants embracing Daniel Jones, Eli Manning will have to move on, if he plans to play quarterback elsewhere. But will he?

Ralph Vacchiano of SNY says that it’s “most likely” that Manning will retire, which seems to be an accurate read on the situation.

It’s been long believed that Eli, unlike his brother Peyton, has no desire to play for a second team. Even if Eli were inclined to play for a second team, there’s no team out that that would make Eli the unquestioned starter in 2020.

At best, he’d be “the guy” from March until late April, when his new team drafts a first-rounder who would supplant Eli, sooner or later. (Or sooner than later.)

Manning could hang around for a year or two as a backup, but it’s not easy for a one-time franchise quarterback (and two-time Super Bowl MVP) to embrace an existence that consists of not playing, even if it pays better than anything else he’ll find.

While it’s unclear what Manning will be doing in 2020, playing football likely isn’t in the cards. Unless someone has an in-season injury that would allow Eli to walk through the door and become the unquestioned starter.

source; NBC

 

If Ben retires he could play for the Steelers. He's a proven winner.

 

Is Ben talking retirement? Last I read he was going to give 2020 a shot, hopes to be 100%.

 

I hope he retires as a NY GIANTS he would look very funny in another teams uniform

 

Reminds me of Brett Favre in a Vikings uniform.

 

From "Knockin' on 7's Door" to "at least we have a chance to make the playoffs"...?

Weak.

 

Admittedly he also looked funny in a Giants uniform...

Eli is kind of his own man. He's not at all like his brother who felt like he still had something to prove. I could see Eli loving the idea of being Jones backup for another year or two. I just don't see the value in it for any NFL franchise to sign him. The guy can still function if you give him time and keep him standing but he is at best a shadow of his former self. He got his one last win in front of the home crowd (thanks I guess...) and should just enjoy that and head off into the sunset.

 

I think he makes the HOF eventually

 

I do too. A lot of people make all these arguments good and bad about his candidacy and each one has merit. But to me the bottom line is this. Can you tell the story of the NFL without Eli Manning? He made one of the most memorable plays in the history of the game, in one of the biggest moments, to beat one of the best teams. More than anything I think that's why he gets in. He's a stat compiler and an iron man so he will have the numbers at the time of his retirement (though he won't stay in the top 10 of many QB stats for long...) but ultimately he beat Brady when the dynasty was at it's best. Not many guys have two superbowl MVP's on their resume and all the other QB's that have it are in the hall (or will be).

If someone wants to tell me they don't think he belongs it's fair and I won't dispute the validity of their arguments though.

 

He paved the way for the 19-0 T-Shirts to get shipped the Congo. That right there is HOF worthy