2018 NFL Draft

Do forgive me, when I read a post that had "now," "today" and a reference to what's "in" and "out" in three of the four sentences, I didn't understand we we're talking about sports coverage through all the decades.

If we're going through all that, then it's fair to say sports fans were on the forefront of all this. Sports fans have long questioned the moves made by those running their franchises, long questioned decisions or picks. I somehow don't think after big losses or shitty drafts at any point, fans simply said "Well, they know more, so it's fine." At times trust exists, usually in the initial benefit of the doubt period or after a track record of success is established, but for the most part, fans question and have always questioned, because there's a zero-sum game played out in front of them in an atmosphere of non-zero sum expectations.

As for questioning the NFL and Jackson, I'm not sure what makes it that ludicrous. Many Coaches are known for not being flexible. Upon receipt of a non-traditional talent, it wouldn't be surprising to see said coaches try to use him in a way that doesn't maximize him or their offense because it's the way it's always been done. It's a league that's often been slow to innovate or take advantage of the players it gets and has a whole boatload of randomness to it. The idea that if someone is good, the sport will simply reflect that seems far more ludicrous.

(Chris B. Brown had some interesting pieces that highlight some of that intransigence. Things like West Coast offense coaches not seeing the potential of the "mills" concept that Steve Spurrier and Brett Favre torched folks with, or pointing out that something like logging the edge player on counter probably only happened after a coach tried to demand a player simply block it better)

 

To be fair, though, Starr didn't exactly light up the league in his first few seasons pre-Lombardi, and even in the first two years with him, he split time with Lamar McHan.

Another example from that era, though, was Frank Gifford, who spent time at halfback, quarterback, receiver (where he moved to permanently at the end his career after the Bednarik hit), and defensive back. Once Howell and Lombardi took over, they made him a full-time halfback.

 

We kind of glazed over this because some of us were focused more on the pick, but it really was great to see Ryan Shazier walking.

 

His hair was too long.
Hippie.

 

That moment felt weird to me. Highlighting what the game can do to you in that setting. A lot of people liked it though, so what do I know.

 

This is extremely inaccurate. Brady was not even the backup his rookie year. He just wasn't ready. There are Patriots fans who say Belichick would've benched Bledsoe for Brady at some point in 2001 if Drew hadn't gotten hurt, but that remains an unprovable theory. Nobody in or out of the organization doubted that Bledsoe would be the starter in 2001. Brady was ready when the opportunity came his way, but every Pats coach I talked to admitted that his performance that season was considered serendipity.
PS: I agree with you about the Shazier appearance.

 

This takes your thought a bit further.
https://deadspin.com/the-nfl-wants-you-to-forget-what-ryan-shaziers-inspirin-1825602414

I think it is a bit of a reach to think the NFL kept Shazier's condition quiet to preserve the moment. It is definitely a little unpleasant to see the NFL trying to use him to sell the game, but what matters most to me is that the guy is able to walk again.

 

I considered that part of it. But the theory presented was if someone was good, they'd be good.

As you say, the coaches didn't know they had someone that good.

 

Someone can be good but not ready, though.

Clayton Kershaw spent 2 1/2 seasons in the minor leagues.

 

They can. And it turned out he was ready.

(I feel weird wandering down this road, as what was meant to be a throwaway comment kind of became a thing. In any case, it's not a hill I particularly care to die on. Ignore invoking Brady's second year as an example of this. The takeaway point is this: Something like the NFL can simultaneously be far more expert than laypeople, and be deserving of ridicule for a certain ways it does things. Scouts are experts, and yet when they approach deeply uncertain things with certainty, which ends up being the lens through which they're viewed, it will end with a degree of second-guessing)

 

Holy shit. I was not ready to see Jim Brown like that.

 

Who wins a race between Jim Brown and Ryan Shazier?