| 31 August 2010
At ESPN.com today, one of the 4 Letter's talking heads, John Clayton, ranks the NFL's 32 starting quarterbacks. Breaking the quarterbacks down even further, he places them in one of three divisions, "Elite", "Chad Pennington", and "Hit or miss." In the two lower divisions, Clayton also rates the chances those QBs have to reach "elite" status.
Though I do have second (and third) thoughts about the rankings when I see just how far Clayton is willing to stretch the term "elite". Tony Romo, Joe Flacco, Eli Manning and Matt Ryan are included in the same tier as Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Are they good? Sure. Elite? I don't think so. Not yet, anyway.
Regardless of what Clayton thinks, the NFL does NOT have 14 "elite" quarterbacks.
With the procedural crap out of the way, lets cut through the BS. I'm only concerned with one Matthew Stafford here at TWFE.
Stafford is listed in the "Hit or miss" division, ranked 27th overall. Here's what Clayton has to say about the face of the Lions' franchise.
27. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
Analysis: Stafford survived a painful rookie season in which he was pounded by defenses (24 sacks, 20 interceptions), but he showed flashes of greatness. Tight end Tony Scheffler and wide receiver Nate Burleson will pull coverage away from go-to receiver Calvin Johnson and give the Lions' offense -- and Stafford -- a chance.
Chance of being elite: 55 percent
Who's going to keep Stafford from becoming the best Lions QB in 50 years?
Not this coach...
OK, sounds fair enough. I agree with the flashes of greatness statement, and the fact new receiving options will help. Why Clayton doesn't mention Jahvid Best possibly giving Stafford something even more important, a running game (or even the threat of one), is beyond me.
But here's where it gets ridiculous. According to Clayton, at 55%, Stafford has the best odds of being an "elite" NFL quarterback out of either the "Pennington" or "hit or miss" categories...save for two other players.
Jay Cutler is rated 15th, and given a 95% shot at becoming elite. I'm sure Bears fans will have something to say about that after watching Cutler throw away game after game after game in 2009 thanks to Cutler's penchant for throwing backbreaking, life shortening, game losing, interceptions. But that ranking doesn't bother me nearly as much as the other quarterback given a better chance...
Sam Bradford.
Yes, Bradford. A rookie who has yet to play a regular season game. He of the three career NFL exhibition games, is pegged at 80%
Has Clayton even watched any of Stafford's performances? Like the Cleveland game last season, the best game ever (422 yards passing is an NFL rookie record, 5 passing TD's ties the rookie record) by a rookie quarterback? What about any of Stafford's impressive exhibitions in 2010? That has to count for something, as (obviously) Clayton considers Bradford damn near a can't miss player on the basis of three whole exhibition games.
At best, Bradford's odds at being an "elite" quarterback is a 50-50 coin-flip. Why Bradford gets the benefit of the doubt, while Stafford (and Mark Sanchez, Chad Henne, Kevin Kolb, Josh Freeman, and Matt Moore) don't is something only Clayton can explain.
After seeing every snap Stafford has taken as a pro (something I wonder a national NFL writer would bother to do, considering the Lions have won two games over the past two seasons), factoring in his monster game against the Browns, the willingness to lead and take punishment, the crazy strong arm, and his excellent performances so far in 2010, I'm fairly confident in saying I'd take Stafford over any of the quarterbacks mentioned from 15 on down by Clayton.
Stafford is going to take the next step this season. He won't yet be "elite", but will be on his way to joining the likes of...well, in the eyes of Clayton...Tony Romo.
I know I shouldn't let articles like Clayton's get my goat. I don't want to play the "no respect" card when it comes to the Lions. But this ridiculousness of ignoring and/or underrating Lions players has got to stop. This franchise is slowly, surely, and most importantly, FINALLY, developing players who have a great shot at becoming elite level players.
Players like Matthew Stafford.
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