(For those of you who don't understand the term 'literary device", the title is merely an effort to see how much enmity I can provoke and still get buried by the Fox webmasters)
The NFLN just broke the story that the Jacksonville Jaguars have reversed course and chosne David Garrard over the offseason anointed starter, Byron Leftwich. Not only that, Byron will be leaving town at the behest of the JAX FO.
Leave it to Rich Eisen to practically sob over Leftwich's ultimate trade or release, only 9 days before the opener. If that wasn't enough, NFLN "insider" Adam Schefter, when asked if it was a money issue, said "no it wasn't a consideration, but it was a consideration". Okay, that's not an actual quote, just satire.
But here's the secret folks, it was about money. Money and progress. Leftwich was scheduled to make over $5mm this season, and aside from his string of injuries an 50% on the field ratio the last few years, Leftwich simply wasn't getting any better as a QB. Too much money for too little progress. Forget the strories of him playing on a broken leg at Marshall. He didn;t play with a borken toenail in Jacksonville. Five years later, his release was still "sundial fast", his weight was still an issue, his energy and leadership were questionable and he just didn't put points on the board. So goodbye Byron.
Before Rich Eisen soaks another crying towel, let's not sweat for the helfty Leftwich. He'll instantly wind up either in KC, Minnestota, Oakland, Atlanta, NY (either one) Cleveland, Dallas, or maybe even Tampa Bay. I hear Gruden plans to keep 10 QB's this year. I fully expect the NAACP to hang Arthur Blank in effigy though, if he doesn't immediately trade for Leftwich and sign him to a 10-year, $150mm extension. Anything less would be racism.
Let's not start crying about how unfair it is to Leftwich, shall we? The guy collected mint for being a part time QB and never raising his game a single inch. Now some desperate team will throw another load of cash at Byron for five more years of mediocre, part-time performance. The sad fact is though, the Falcons, Vikings, Chiefs, Browns, Bucs would be better off with Leftwich than what they have right now. Even if Vick wasn't rotting in jail where he belongs, Leftwich still is the better man in ATL. Quinn is not ready, and I won;t even mention the crumbums starting in Minnysoda, KC and the undersized retread in TB.
So big deal, the Jags cut Leftwich. They got tired of paying $5mm for an average QB who gets hurt a lot, and now they're gonna pay maybe a mil or two to a average QB who "can beat you with his arm and his legs". Translation: In a few years he'll be a backup punter or starting for an Arena league team.
They'll be a few surpirses before this weekend is over, but for me, this wasn't one of them. Players constantly hold teams hostage until the last minute with the cry "it's just business". So Wayne Weaver kept Leftwich until the 11th hour even though the FO and staff didn't have faith in him. Well, you reap what you sow guys. Loyalty is no longer a noun in NFL parlance for either side. It's a business, you know.
Riddler here...no way Byron ends up in Minnesota. They're jacked up with QBs this year.
Plenty of stud NCAA QBs bust out in the NFL, every year, just like this year's no-show bust, Russell.
Now chris I would like for you to explain to me how "another black.........." is relevant in this one. I'm taking a lot of heat on my blog for my comments on Vick disgracing the black community. But I'm lost here as to how you can lead with that statement and then say it's a matter of money and no production?
As far as I can see, Leftwich simply wasn't getting it done to the satisfaction of his organization, so they made a business move. Now he'll have to land on his feet elsewhere.
Heheh sure is. that is what #### do but you're wrong on this one chris and you should have just said "another overpriced qb bites the dust" and it's football season and it would have gotten just as many hits.
Mostly because I thought the Jags were playing Leftwich and leaving Gerrard on the sidline?
Personally, I believe Leftwich hasn't played to potential and, if motivated, he could still be a solid QB. Atlanta is, obviously, a likely destination.
How about Chicago? Seriously, I don't trust Rex Grossman. Or maybe Washington? As a backup.
I don't think he'll show up in Big D, bet we only carry 2 QB's.
I knew this one was happening all along though. delRio named him the starter in the hopes he'd come to camp ready to be a leader. Instead he came to camp continuing to be a lardass.
Still bitter over the fact that I expose your inane jackjobs, or is it the fact that every time you take an actaul stance on sports, I obliterate you with actual knowledge of sports.
So tell me how Doug Williams was a scab or Mike Vick is going to walk away from the Feds unscathed again. Being stupid is getting old. That makes you about 206 years and counting.
You and your illiterate, talent-less, koffee-klatch, butt-kissing loser brigade make me want to vomit. But why waste good vomit on you.
So now please run away like the pathetic puke you are, or start accusing me of giving some hal####ead woman cancer. That's all you have to offer. And that, is getting old.
Why you have to sour a fantastci word play with some stupid accusation about me deleting your responses, I don't know. But that's your choice, it only tarnishes great content.
Yes, I did call the Vick story straight down the line. It was easy though, I had two options:
1. Use my own knowledge of the Federal legal system.
2. Take Erma4USC's opinion of anything sports related and simply post the obverse.
Here's the truth, people. When a black guy is behind center, society EXPECTS them to run. Reason? Randall Cunningham was one of the first black quarterbacks to start in the NFL for an extended period of time. He ran. Blacks are stereotyped as being fast runners. Asians are stereotyped as being good at math. It is what it is.
Warren Moon - He did well. Why? Because he stayed in the pocket.
Cunningham - He did alright. He had his best years when he couldn't run so much anymore. Why? Because he stayed in the pocket.
Akili Smith - What a dud.
Kordell Stewart - Slash lasted a few years but in my opinion he was a gimmick to fill seats for the Steelers when they were lacking identity at QB.
Other names like Jeff Blake, Aaron Brooks, Michael Vick, Daunte Culpepper, Donovan McNabb, and Byron Leftwich come to mind. Black quarterbacks are EXPECTED to run. Quarterbacks SHOULD NOT run. It works in college, but when they move up and the NFL linebackers are as fast as the college safeties are, they get beaten down, and eventually just become injury-prone.
Black quarterbacks sadly get sucked into the hype of being running quarterbacks. They all have their moments of greatness (except Akili Smith of course), but as long as they put themselves out to get injured, they will. It's nothing to do with their mental make-up or physical gifts. They get sucked into hype, and they end up having short, injury-plagued careers. McNabb will play a full career, but we all know he isn't done getting hurt.
BTW, Chris Ross: Byron's 40 wasn't timed with a sundial. It was a calendar.
Last edited by LuckyMike3 on September 1st at 9:50 AM.
Chris' Ross
At best Leftiwich is only a moderate if not at best an average quarterback. He looks clumsy when running. And a man of his size shouldn't necessarily look that way.
I've always felt that were Garrard given the chance he'd prove fruitful for a franchise because of his abilities. He's not a flashy sort of qb and he just gets the job done. No doubt Leftwich will get picked up by a team in need of a seasoned qb as a backup no less. But it remains to be seen if he's willing to accept that sort of a role within an organization.
tophatal
Last edited by tophatal on September 5th at 4:21 PM.
