Not to go all "fire joe morgan" but...

This article at si.com really drew my ire.


http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/stewart_mandel/01/29/tebow-tiller/index.html?eref=sircrc

First off, the headline. "Need proof Tebow can play QB in the NFL? Look at Drew Brees." That's like saying, "need proof my 1925 Ford Model-T can run? Just look at my 2009 Ford Mustang." The only thing they have in common is that they're cars, and the only thing Tebow and Brees have in common is that they're QBs. Nobody ever questioned whether Brees could throw a football accurately, but there are huge questions about whether Tebow can.

"Joe Tiller never coached a day in the NFL, but he knows a little something about NFL quarterbacks. Next Sunday, two of his former Purdue quarterbacks -- Saints star Drew Brees and Colts backup Curtis Painter -- will participate in Super Bowl XLIV. A third, Kyle Orton, has started three seasons for the Bears and Broncos."

This theme is revisited a few times in this article. "Joe Tiller groomed a couple NFL QBs so he knows what he's talking about." I liked Joe Tiller just fine, but he doesn't know anything about NFL football. And quite frankly, that's a weak list of NFL QBs. Brees is really good, but Painter is waiver-wire trash and Orton is league-average. You're not exactly gaining my trust here by bragging about a guy developing Curtis Painter.

EDIT: I just noticed how he said Painter will be "participating" in Super Bowl XLIV. I'll go ahead and let you laugh at that one.

"Brees, a two-time Heisman finalist, led the Boilermakers to their first Rose Bowl appearance in 34 years and broke the Big Ten's career passing records. A three-year starter, Brees threw for 11,792 yards, 90 touchdowns and 45 interceptions. Initially projected as a mid-first round pick, Brees slipped to the first pick of the second round in the 2001 draft. We all know how that's turned out."

The biggest problem NFL teams had with Brees was his height; NFL teams just hate short QBs. And I always love the argument, "so-and-so was devalued because of X. He overcame X and became a good player, therefore X shouldn't be devalued." There are exceptions to every rule, and while NFL scouts do miss on players from time to time, and for various odd reasons, most of the time they know what they're doing.

"Painter, a rookie this season, posted similar numbers to Brees' at Purdue (11,163 yards, 67 TDs, 46 INTs) but with far less acclaim. While Mel Kiper Jr. at one time listed him as his top senior quarterback prospect, a miserable final season sent Painter spiraling to the sixth round, where Colts President Bill Polian happily snapped him up, citing his "intelligence to come in here and handle this offense [straight] out of the collegiate level."

Following veteran Jim Sorgi's season-ending shoulder injury in December, Painter will serve as Peyton Manning's top backup in Miami.

It's a wonder Brees and Painter ever got here, what with all that wasted time in the shotgun, no?"

I am going to go ahead and pretend he didn't waste three paragraphs proclaiming the merits of CURTIS FREAKING PAINTER. If you want to gain my trust on how NFL scouts miss on QBs, harping on Painter ain't gonna cut it. I think they got it right with Painter, and frankly the Colts reached by even drafting him.

"Florida coach Meyer has not yet enjoyed the same track record with his spread-groomed QBs. His acclaimed Utah protégé, Alex Smith, has largely been a disappointment for the 49ers after going No. 1 overall in the 2006 draft. Tebow's Gator predecessor, Chris Leak, went undrafted and now plays in the CFL. Under considerable scrutiny following his star-studded Florida career, Tebow has garnered harsh reviews for his practice performances this week leading into Saturday's Senior Bowl, none more so than from ESPN's draft analyst Todd McShay."

See, Stewart, this is a point that should be swept under the nearest rug. If you want me to believe in Tebow and believe that all the scouts are wrong, mentioning Urban Meyer's terrible track record of QBs in the NFL is not something to be mentioned. I may not be that impressed with Tiller's line of Brees, Orton and Painter, but it's a helluva lot better than Alex Smith and Chris Leak.

"Brees, unlike Tebow, drew no such criticisms about his mechanics coming out of college; his main issue was his height (6-foot)."

Translation: this headline was a complete farce to get you to read my stupid article. The monkeys that Mr. Burns got to write Shakespeare ("it was the best of times, it was the blurst of times? You stupid monkey.") could have told you that Brees and Tebow have nothing in common. Thanks for wasting my time, anyways.

"He ultimately went 32nd. He's since become a four-time All-Pro."

And Peyton Manning was drafted first overall and has since become of the best QBs to ever play. What's the point again?

Tim Tebow may or may not make it in the NFL (my guess is no; that release is god-awful), but Drew Brees' success will have nothing to do with it. On the bright side, we do have an early contender for worst headline of the year.