Can Mark Sanchez Be Jets QB Savior?

We can only imagine what the ’09–’10 NFL season will bring for the New York Jets. The Jets are improved in some areas and have declined in others.

The biggest question mark is at the quarterback position.

With the subtraction of the legendary Brett Favre, the Jets lost the guy who could complete an 80-yard pass, or take the team down the field in two minutes.

They also lost the same guy who threw for six touchdowns against Arizona one week, then followed it up with more interceptions than touchdowns the next game.

But a new tide is on its way in, and it’s coming in fast in the form of Mark Sanchez.

Jet fans across the globe want Sanchez to come in and start right away. However, let’s not forget about Kellen Clemens.

With only a few days of training camp down, reports are that Kellen Clemens has a better feel for the system than Sanchez. Sanchez has taken a more conservative approach and has thrown fewer interceptions than Clemens. He has aloso thrown for a better completion rate.

According to newyorkjets.com, head coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will choose their starting quarterback before the final pre-season game against the Giants.

Many think the Jets will make Sanchez hold a clipboard and learn the system for a while before putting him out on the field.

Can Kellen Clemens or Mark Sanchez be the next Kurt Warner? The great thing about football is you never know what the upcoming season may bring.

Leon Washington Now Feels Good About Getting A Deal Done

New York Jets running back Leon Washington told reporters he had no confidence in a deal getting done anytime soon with the team.

This was news that crushed Jets fans everywhere as they imagined holdouts and bad feelings detracting from what is supposed to be a stand out season for us.

Yesterday the Star Ledger reported that Leon, who staged a one-day holdout before reporting for camp, now feels confident a deal will be done before the start of the regular season.

This is just about the best news to come out of the Jets training camp yet.

A new deal for Leon is just one item on what is starting to feel like a very long list of things the Jets needed to address before the coming season.

With concerns about depth, finding a TE solution and figuring out which, if any, of our current wide receivers will make the cut as starters, this Washington deal going sour is just about the last thing most Jets fans want to hear about.

I think it is safe to say that fans and beat reporters have the same sentiment regarding this; “Just Pay The Man!”

Washington is scheduled to make $535,000 in the final year of his rookie contract and is seeking a new deal for roughly $6 million per season.

There have been some rumblings suggesting that his agent, Alvin Keels, was perhaps playing a bit too much hard ball with his negotiations, but Washington insisted that he’s been happy with his representation.

“He’s my agent, so he wants to get the best deal for me also. We talk back and forth. We got a good relationship. I trust that he’s going to put me in the right position. Then I review everything. I’m a smart guy and I know what’s best for me.”

Washington has averaged 190 touches per season in his first three years, had 195 touches, including a career-high 151 carries, as a rookie in 2006. He hasn’t missed a game in his career (49 games).

Despite the numbers there are those who doubt the 5-8, 195-pounder has the ability to be an every down back in this league.

Washington, as can be expected, does not agree with this assessment pointing to his rookie season when he carried the ball 150-plus times, started the last eight games of the season, and started the playoff game at running back.

Personally, I have some doubts as well, due to his size, but I can’t question this man’s drive and will. His ‘can do’ attitude is enough for me to say let’s give him the benefit of a doubt.

He may surprise us all.

All Eyes Are On Vernon Gholston

I have to admit that I am getting quite tired of it.

Every time I turn around someone is talking about how much Vernon Gholston is NOT going to win a starting spot for the New York Jets defense.

What is really sad is that most don’t question his skills or ability. No, it’s far, far worse than that.

It’s his heart and desire most often questioned by fans and even by team mates. This is truly starting to look sad to me.

Rex Ryan has done plenty already to give Gholston a measure of confidence by naming him the replacement starter for suspended linebacker Calvin Pace.

I believe this is more than just a move to show Gholston confidence from his coach, it is most likely also a bit of a trial by fire as well.

I see this move as a message from the coaching staff: “Do well in those first four games and there is a damned good chance you’ll see extended action this season. Do poorly and…well….just have a seat, son.”

Despite a long list of posts to the contrary, I am actually keeping my fingers crossed for the Ohio State product.

The potential in this young man for success is staggering; unfortunately the potential for failure is equally staggering and growing.

New York Jets’ Kerry Rhodes Poised for Big Season

What a difference a year can make.

New York Jets safety Kerry Rhodes was making serious waves back in 2006 and 2007 as a playmaker in the NFL.

Amassing 160 tackles, seven sacks, nine interceptions, 16 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and two recoveries—one for a touchdown in 2006 and 2007—Kerry was the toast of the town.

Then it all went away.

In 2008, thanks in large part to the Jets’ slipshod pass defense, which was ranked 29th and yielded 234.5 yards a game, Eric Mangini slapped handcuffs on Rhodes.

Apparently, Mangini preferred to see Rhodes sit back and prevent touchdowns when one of his teammates got burned by a pass.

Outside of Darrelle Revis, who had a Pro-Bowl caliber season, there was little help for Rhodes in the secondary. So little in fact that in Week 10 Mangini and crew recruited Ty Law off the street to replace a sinking Dwight Lowery.

With no one on the field with the talent to allow Rhodes the freedom to make plays, his numbers suffered significantly in the 2008 season. Rhodes led all Jets with 81 tackles, but he had only one sack, two interceptions, five passes defenses, zero forced fumbles and two recoveries.

A far cry from the level of play we had seen in the previous two seasons.

Now, with “Bragosaurus” Rex Ryan at the helm, expect to see more of the familiar flashes of greatness Jets fans have come to know and love from Rhodes. Under Ryan, we can expect to see more “Ed Reed”-like play from Kerry, who has more help on the field this season in the forms of former Baltimore Raven Jim Leonhard and former Philadelphia Eagle Lito Sheppard.

Leonhard and Sheppard represent significant upgrades over the likes of Dwight Lowery and Abram Elam, so the sky’s the limit for young Mr. Rhodes.

When asked about Rhodes’ role and his expectations, head coach Ryan had little to offer but did toss out this tidbit;

“The individual claims you guys will see. Playmakers make plays, and I’m sure Kerry will end up making a lot of plays.”

I’m certain he will too. Watch out because Kerry Rhodes is bound to be unleashed like a beast!

 

Clowney & Smith; The Future Of The NYJ Receiving Corps?

The Star-Ledger is reporting that the New York Jets will go into the 2009 season with WR’s David Clowney and Brad Smith. Apparently, the franchise decided against drafting a wideout based on the feeling that these two could and would be their guys.

According to the report, the Jets general manager, Mike Tannenbaum, and the organization feel either one, possibly even both, of these two young men have the potential to be big time contributors in the offense.

Really?

Didn’t we just learn that Tannenbaum made calls to Drew Rosenhaus in regards to Plaxico Burress and his legal ‘situation’? What about all the talk about seeking deals for the likes of an Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards?

Something about this screams smoke-screen to me. After all, Mike Tannenbaum and the Jets have basically been lying through their collective teeth, not only to the media, but to fans as well.

Time after time, we were told there would be a QB competition for the starting job. Rex Ryan painted a pretty rosy picture for us at this years NFL owners meeting:

“I feel good about our quarterback situation. Everyone seems to think we have major issues there. I don’t think the situation is what people think it is. I think we’re going to be just fine. As I look at our offense, if we don’t have the best offensive line in the league, I think we’re certainly in that mix. We have one of the best offensive line coaches in the league, if not the best, in Bill Callahan. That’s a great foundation right there.

We have two Pro Bowl running backs in Leon Washington and Thomas Jones. We have a former Pro Bowl fullback in Tony Richardson. We’ve got a great receiver in [Jerricho] Cotchery. We’ve got a tight end that scares the heck out of defenses in Keller. I think we’ve got plenty of weapons on offense. I’d like to be the quarterback for those guys.” – Rex Ryan

The reality was that the Jets were working the phones trying to land Jay Cutler, flying out to Manhattan, Kansas to work out Josh Freeman all while schmoozing Mark Sanchez. Later reports have them planning on making a play for Mark Sanchez as early as March.

Now the organization would have us believe that David Clowney and Brad Smith, two players who have had seriously limited playing time, will round out our experience challenged receiving corps?

Like many of you, I believe that Jericho Cotchery has earned the right to start but as far as Chansi Stuckey, David Clowney and Brad Smith are concerned, I am not entirely convinced they are quite ready for prime time. Out of the three, I am inclined to lean towards Stuckey.

While he has all of 2 starts under his belt, Chansi did show some excellence early on last year. Let’s not even mention Marcus Henry in this discussion…the Jets certainly aren’t saying much about him. All in all, this team needs to find a replacement for Lavernues Coles and don’t you believe for one second that the Jets don’t know it.

In light of the over-all game plan to run the ball down everyone’s throat, a defense stretching, play-maker is of the utmost importance. According to reports out of ESPN, head coach Rex Ryan wants to implement a ‘no more than 30’ passes per game scheme.

Basically, he wants to mimic the scheme that brought Ravens head coach John Harbaugh success with Joe Flacco in Baltimore. The Ravens and Joe Flacco were 11-2 in games where he threw the rock 30 times or less in the 2008 season.

I love the plan but no running game can be successful until you have an established air game. That’s just football 101.

Dave Hutchinson reports that his sources claim the Jets plan going into training camp will go something like this; if neither Clowney or Smith steps up during the offseason program and the mandatory June minicamp, the Jets will then seriously consider trading for a veteran wide receiver or signing a veteran off the street. I would look for the Jets to make a play for Braylon Edwards.

Edwards is certainly the kind of player who commands respect from opposing defenses. Don’t count out moves for Plaxico Burress, Anquan Boldin or even Marvin Harrison who is still floating around out there.

I’m not too sure how I feel about the possibility of having a Plaxico Burress on the team. He is certainly a dynamic player who would bolster our offense from day one.

An honest to God difference maker, he definitely has the on field experience I would love to have around my younger less experienced players. I wish that was all there was to consider when talking about Burress.

His well documented insubordination and recent legal woes make him a bitter pill to swallow. I find it hard to believe that he and a man like Rex Ryan could have a successful working relationship.

I mean seriously…does Ryan look like a man who jives well with prima donnas? Me thinks not.

Having said that, it will be hard to let him slip away if he is eligible and available to us. He’s that good.

No team in the league would pass on Boldin if they could afford him and I’m sure the team from NY will cast their lot in that lottery should Arizona not find a way to keep their man. One way or the other, I suspect the Jets will make at least one more major move for a wide receiver before the start of preseason play.

Xander Diaz is Editor-In-Chief for AFCBeast.com

Who Is New York Jets Quarterback Mark Sanchez?

In the days leading up to the NFL draft, I was as confused about the Jets draft possibilities as a new born in a topless bar. Do they take USC quarterback Mark Sanchez, gambling the farm to get him in the process?

Do we stick to Kellen Clemens, knowing full well he has not impressed in three seasons, and go after a blocking tight-end like Brendon Pettigrew or a wide out like Percy Harvin?

Just before the big day, I shot myself in the foot by announcing that any one who thought the Jets would or could draft Sanchez was “delusional.” I guess we’re all crazy now.

I hate to admit it but I wanted him drafted all along. I just couldn’t allow myself the luxury of even thinking of it as a possibility. As a long, suffering (emphasis on the “suffering”) Jets fan, I have had to develop many self-preservation skills to combat the ineptitude-ism that has been the New York Jets. We won’t re-hash the lineage of Jets draft blunders today.

No, today I want to enjoy the rush of knowing we have finally gone for the big kahuna status. We have finally grabbed a big time player for a team that hasn’t seen the big time in way too long. Clear the way for Broadway Joe version 2.0. Woo-Hoo!

Ok. Let me be honest here. Before all the draft hoopla, I had no idea who Mark Sanchez really was. I know, I know. I’m one of those non-college football guys. For me, once you go NFL, everything else just pales in comparison. It was high time to do a little checking on this young man and introduce him to his new home town fans.

Mark Travis John Sanchez was born in Long Beach, California on November 11th, 1986. The son of a fireman, he is of Mexican-American descent and will no doubt draw comparisons to previous and current, successful Mexican-American quarterbacks such as Jim Plunkett, Joe Kapp, Jeff Garcia, and Tony Romo.

Unlike those others, he is a full-blooded 3rd generation Mexican-American. His rise to fame within the L.A. Mexican-American community has been compared to that of boxer Oscar De La Hoya and baseball pitcher Fernando Valenzuela.

As a first generation Dominican-American, I would be lying if I said it doesn’t make me swell just a little with pride knowing he most likely will be the next Jets starting QB. Forget about it if this kid turns out to be any good.

VIDEO: Mark Sanchez First Interview As a New York Jet

 

Named “Player of the Year” by several major college recruiting services, he was considered the top quarterback in the nation coming out of high school in 2005. Joining the mighty USC that same year, he would not become the official Trojan’s starter until 2008.

Sanchez made 13 starts that year, amassing a 12-1 record and leading USC to a victory in the 2009 Rose Bowl and winning Offensive MVP of the game honors. This is a rather short resume, but at least it is all good news. You also have to figure sitting on the bench watching and learning has got to be counted as a plus here.

Sanchez found himself a in a bit of hot water when in April 2006, he was arrested after a female USC student accused him of sexual assault. Eventually, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office announced no charges would be filed against Sanchez citing a “lack of sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt,” noting the case was “essentially a ‘one-on-one’ allegation.”

Escaping legal retribution, Sanchez did not go completely unscathed as USC placed him on interim suspension that suspended him from the football team yet permitted him to take his semester finals, albeit separate from the general student body and under the supervision of campus security and was required to take a rape awareness class at USC.

Declining to stay at USC for his final year of eligibility, Sanchez announced on January 15th, 2009 his intentions to enter into the coming NFL draft.

USC head coach Pete Carroll, himself an ex-head coach for the NY Jets, wasted no time in denouncing the decision, publicly calling the move “not safe” in a televised press conference. Coach and player would eventually make nice-nice. I have to wonder if Carroll was just a bit miffed about what he was losing.

By all accounts, Mark Sanchez is a suave, charismatic young man who has all the “intangibles” of a future star in the NFL. I have yet to see any evidence to the contrary. I loved seeing the honest, almost boy-like reaction to his selection by the Jets. I am hoping to see that boyish enthusiasm translate to fun, i.e. winning, on the field.

It is also difficult to not see the confident, dare I say slightly cocky, attitude in this young man. That’s a good thing here. He very much comes off as a guy who knows he can do what he says he can do. Every time this young man is asked if he will be the starting QB, there is no questioning the strength of his convictions. Watch out Clemens.

Day two of the draft gave me my first true chance to see and hear Mark Sanchez, when he gave his first interview as a New York Jet from Radio City Music Hall.

Here, again, I immediately noticed both his boyish charm and the confidence that seemly oozed all over my TV screen. Relaxed and poised under the lights, Sanchez appeared every bit the kind of guy I want to see under center for my team.

ESPN TV Analyst Rich Eisen: “You expect to be under center, week one?”

Mark Sanchez: “Well, absolutely and I hope Kellen feels the same way. I talked to him yesterday he’s a stand up, first class guy…a total pro about it. He said ‘I’m excited about working with you, man.’ The whole point of this is I’m gonna learn from him and he is going to learn from me and we are going to make each other better and we are gonna make the team better.”

Highlight of the interview?  When asked who set up the call between himself and Kellen Clemens, Sanchez tried to explain that “…I called him to say…” when one of the on air analyst intoned “…happy trails?”

Ouch. Sorry Kellen.

---

Xander Diaz is Editor-In-Chief for AFCBeast.com.

Draft Mania: Are We There Yet?!

 

Finally, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is in sight. No more mock drafts. No more flip-flopping like a Democrat about who is picking whom and when. No more sweating what the Jets front office will do with their precious picks. One more day and this draft mania is finally over.

Being a life long Jets fan, I find the draft to be a troubling time personally. My friends tell me I’m more moody and not quite myself. I can’t help it. The Jets draft history forces me into a mode of self-preservation.

Ken O’Brien instead of Dan Marino, Kyle Brady instead of Warren Sapp, Blair Thomas instead of Emmitt Smith, Dave Kadigan instead of Michael Irvin…thinking about it makes me weepy every time. How many championships have we lost right on draft day? Thinking about what could have been “if only” might actually make the average Jets fan’s head explode.

Literally.

Here’s a look at some of the worst, “put a bullet in my own head” inducing draft moves in Jets history.

 

5. Roger Vick, 21th Pick, 1987 Draft

Roger Vick was a FB coming out of Texas A&M when the Jets drafted him. A fullback? In the first round? Roger Vick had a very short career with the Jets and in general, spending only three years with the Jets and four years total in the NFL.

Notable players passed on:

• Bruce Armstrong
  • 6x Pro Bowl selection (1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997)
  • 2x All-Pro selection (1989, 1996)

• Christian Okoye
  • 2x Pro Bowl selection (1989, 1991)
  • 1989 UPI AFC Offensive Player of the Year
  • Ed Block Courage Award (1988)
  • Led NFL in Rushing Yards in 1989

 

4. “Johnny Lam” Jones, Second Pick, 1980 Draft.

Johnny Wesly Jones was a world class sprinter, whom everybody thought could be a great wide receiver. To be a great receiver one must be able to do one very important thing: catching the ball. Much like Clifford Franklin, Jones couldn’t, and lasted only five seasons in the NFL.

Notable players passed on:

• Art Monk
  • 8th all-time in Receptions (940)
  • 13th all-time in Reception Yards (12,721)
  • 3rd all-time consecutive games with at least one reception (183)
  • First player to record a touchdown reception in 15 consecutive seasons.
  • Only player to have at least 35 receptions in 15 consecutive seasons.
  • First and only player to record over 100 receptions (106 in 1984) in a season before NFL rules changes prior to the 1990 season that ushered in the “pass happy era”. Still only three players in the next nine years collected 100 passes or more and only one (Sterling Sharpe in 1992) surpassed his total.
  • First NFL player to reach 820 receptions in a career.
  • First NFL player to surpass 900 career receptions, finishing career with 940 (all-time record at the time).
  • First player to collect at least one reception in 164 consecutive games.
  • First player to collect at least one reception in 183 consecutive games.
  • NFL 1980s All-Decade Team Member
  • 2008 – NFL Hall of Fame Inductee

• Anthony Munoz
  • 11x Pro Bowl selection (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991)
  • 10x All-Pro selection (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991)
  • 1998 – NFL Hall of Fame Inductee (the first ever Cincinnati Bengals player to be enshrined)

 

3. Kyle Brady, Ninth Pick, 1995 Draft

Warren Sapp was still hanging around the board with Jets Fans chanting, “We want Sapp! We want Sapp!” Too bad the Jets did not listen. Kyle only lasted four seasons with the Jets, racking up only 949 yards and 10 touchdowns before the Jaguars had a turn trying to figure out what to do with him.

Notable players passed on:

• Warren Sapp
  • Career Tackles: 569
  • Career Sacks: 96.5
  • Career Interceptions: 4
  • 7× Pro Bowl selection (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
  • 4× First-team All-Pro selection (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
  • 2× Second-team All-Pro selection (1997, 1998)
  • NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
  • 1999 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
  • Super Bowl champion (XXXVII)

• Ty Law
  • Career Tackles: 439 (through Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season)
  • Career Sacks: 5 (through Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season)
  • Career Interceptions: 52 (through Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season)
  • 2x First-Team All-Pro selection (1998, 2003)
  • 5x Pro Bowl selection (1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005)
  • 3x Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX)

• Derrick Brooks
  • Career Tackles: 1,698 (through Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season)
  • Career Sacks: 13.5 (through Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season)
  • Career Interceptions: 25 (through Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season)
  • 11x Pro Bowl selection (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)
  • 6x First-team All-Pro (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
  • 3x Second-team All-Pro (1997, 1998, 2001)
  • 9x First-team All-NFC (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
  • AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2002)
  • Super Bowl champion (XXXVII)

 

2. Blair Thomas, Second Pick, 1990 Draft

Thomas was a Heisman runner-up behind Andre Ware. Like Ware, success did not come easy or ever. Thomas ran, and I use the term loosely, for 2,000 yards and five touchdowns in four seasons with the Jets. He got released by the Jets after four seasons and ended his career with the Panthers in 1995.

Notable players passed on:

• Emmitt Smith
  • Career Rushing Yards: 18,355 (NFL Record)
  • Career Yards Per Carry Average: 4.2
  • Career Rushing TD: 164 (NFL Record)
  • Career 100+ yards rushing games: 78 (NFL Record)
  • 8× Pro Bowl selection (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999)
  • 4× First-Team All-Pro selection (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995)
  • Second-Team All-Pro selection (1991)
  • NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
  • 3× Super Bowl Champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
  • 1993 NFL MVP
  • 1990 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
  • Super Bowl XXVIII MVP
  • 2× NEA NFL MVP, (1991, 1992)
  • 1993 PFWA NFL MVP

• Junior Seau
  • Career Tackles: 1,826 (through Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season)
  • Career Sacks: 56.5 (through Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season)
  • Career Interceptions: 18 (through Week 17 of the 2008 NFL season)
  • 7x First-team All-Pro (1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000)
  • 2x Second-team All-Pro (1997, 1999)
  • 12x Pro Bowl selection (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
  • NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
  • 1992 NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year
  • 1992 UPI AFC Defensive Player of the Year
  • 1990s All-Decade Team

 

1. Ken O’Brien, 24th Pick, 1983 Draft

Ken O’Brien was an OK quarterback. Heck, I even liked the guy. He made two Pro Bowls and finished 50-55-1 with the Jets. So what makes this a blunder? Uh…HELLO!?! Passing on Dan Marino….DUH!! To be at that spot in the draft and not draft Marino was crazy at the time, and everyone knew it except, apparently, the Jets. Many people thought the Jets where going to get Marino. Too bad we picked a decent QB over one of the greatest QBs of all time. But hey that’s ok…I’m not bitter. Really.

Notable People Passed On:

• DAN MARINO!
  • Career TD: 420
  • Career Interceptions: 252
  • Career QB rating: 86.4
  • 9x Pro Bowl selection (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995)
  • 8x All-Pro selection (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1995)
  • 1984 NFL MVP
  • 1984 PFWA MVP
  • 1984 NEA MVP
  • 1984 NFL Offensive Player of the Year
  • 1994 UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year
  • 1984 UPI AFL-AFC Player of the Year
  • 1998 Walter Payton Man of the Year
  • 1994 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
  • Holds 31 Miami Dolphins records
  • Holds Numerous NFL records;
    • Most Attempts, Career: 8,358 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2007)
    • Most Completions, Career: 4,967 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2006)
    • Most Yards Passing, Career: 61,361 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2007)
    • Most Touchdown Passes, Career: 420 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2007)
    • Most Yards Passing, Season: 5,084 in 1984
    • Most Touchdown Passes, Season: 48 (surpassed by Peyton Manning (49) in 2004 and by Tom Brady (50) in 2007)
    • Most Games, 400 or more Yards Passing, Career: 13
    • Most Games, 400 or more Yards Passing, Season: 4 in 1984
    • Most Games, 300 or more Yards Passing, Career: 63
    • Most Seasons, 3,000 or more Yards Passing: 13 (1984-92, 1994-95, 1997-98) (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2005)
    • Most Consecutive Seasons, 3,000 or more Yards Passing: 9 (1984-92) (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2001)
    • Most Games, Four or more Touchdown Passes, Career: 21
    • Most Games, Four or more Touchdown Passes, Season: 6 in 1984
    • Most Games, Three or more Touchdown Passes, Career: 62 (surpassed by Brett Favre in 2007)
    • Lowest Percentage, Passes Intercepted, Rookie Season: 2.03 in 1983 (296-6) [surpassed by Charlie Batch, Detroit, 1.98 in 1998 (303-6)]
    • Most Seasons Leading League, Attempts: 5 (1984, 1986, 1988, 1992, 1997)
    • Most Seasons Leading League, Completions: 6 (1984-86, 1988, 1992, 1997)
    • Most Seasons, 40 or more Touchdown Passes: 2 (1984, 1986)
    • 100 TD Passes in Fewest Number of Games to Start Career: 44 (9/7/1986 at San Diego)
    • 200 TD passes in Fewest Number of Games to Start Career: 89 (9/17/1989 at New England)
    • 300 TD passes in Fewest Number of Games to Start Career: 157 (9/4/1994 vs. New England)
    • Highest TD-INT differential: +168
  • Has tied numerous NFL records;
    • Most Seasons Leading League, Yards Gained: 5 (1984-86, 1988, 1992) with Sonny Jurgensen (Philadelphia, 1961-62; Washington, 1966-67, 1969)
    • Most Consecutive Seasons Leading League, Completions: 3 (1984-86) with George Blanda (Houston, 1963-65)
    • Most Consecutive Games, 400 or more Yards Passing: 2 (1984) with Dan Fouts (San Diego, 1982), Phil Simms (N.Y. Giants, 1985), Billy Volek (Tennessee, 2004), Matt Cassel (New England, 2008)
    • Most Wins against one team: 24 against the Indianapolis Colts (surpassed by Brett Favre against the Detroit Lions in 2007)

Taking a look through that list makes me wonder who the next name to grace this list of disgrace. Vernon Ghoulston…I’m looking at you, buddy. I, like many a Jets fan, am still hopeful that Rex Ryan’s defensive genius helps keep you off this list. I’m not exactly holding my breath though.

 

I’ll get back to you guys later…I have a gun to clean before tomorrow.

 

Xander Diaz is Editor-In-Chief for AFCBeast.com

Mock Draft Experts: Guess Work at its Worst

With the NFL draft only days away, the fervor over who gets picked when and by whom is reaching a nauseating peak. In the last several weeks I have seen more mock drafts than I care to recall. It became readily apparent that none of these mock drafts are consistent. Sure, a handful of them show Stafford going first, but mostly it depends on what day you’re reading.

Last night, I had the pleasure of watching Mel Kiper Jr. blow a head gasket arguing his points about who will be picked. Mel Kiper Jr., an ESPN analyst, is generally regarded as the draft expert and has been presenting draft analysis since 1984. According to his Wikipedia entry, Mel is credited as playing a large part in making the NFL draft the big spectacle that it is today; “He has played a major role in transforming the draft from a quiet meeting few fans understood or cared about into a major public event over the course of the last 25 years.”

I’d say that makes this guy a pretty safe bet when hunting for draft predictions, right?

Hardly the case. A little internet research turns up this gem from coldhardfootballfacts.com; over the course of the last four drafts (2005-2008) our boy Mel has compiled an abysmal record of 32 correct picks out of 127 in the first round or about 25.2 percent correct. He hardly seems like the pillar of accuracy he is touted to be, and, moreover, serves to illustrate the futility of mock drafts.

Do other draft experts fare any better?

According to research by coldhardfootballfacts.com, OurLads, a relatively unknown draft authority, has maintained the best record over the last four draft years, amassing a record of 35 correct picks out of 127, or a 27.6 percent success rate.

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports comes in next with a success rate of 26 percent, followed by Kiper Jr. and Scouts Inc. It is very interesting to note that arguably the best and most widely regarded experts are last place finishers in the race to predict the draft.

So what does this prove? The only thing dumber than mock drafts are the people who make them, followed closely by the people who follow them. You could probably do as well picking names from a hat.

Here are some of Mel Kiper Jr.’s more notable draft day follies:

• 1990—Andre Ware: Kiper thought that the University of Houston quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner would be an excellent NFL quarterback and a great match for the Detroit Lions. Ware’s tenure in the NFL was brief and inconspicuous. Ware is considered to be among the biggest busts in draft history.

• 1995—J.J. Stokes: Kiper proclaimed the UCLA wide receiver a “sure-thing,” who was destined to be a future All-Pro. On draft day, Kiper lambasted several teams, including the New York Jets, for passing on Stokes until he was selected 10th overall by the San Francisco 49ers. Stokes spent an undistinguished eight years in San Francisco in the shadows of Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens, never making a single Pro Bowl or even surpassing 770 yards receiving.

• 1995—John Walsh: Kiper had rated the BYU quarterback a first round pick. Walsh declared for the draft after his Junior season and had an abysmal NFL combine where he ran a 5.3 forty yard dash and displayed a weak arm in workouts. Nonetheless, Kiper still rated Walsh as a late first-early second round pick on the day of the draft He said that he would be a perfect fit for a west coast offense team like the San Francisco 49ers because of his accuracy on short passes. Walsh slid all the way to the seventh round where he was finally taken by the Cincinnati Bengals. He never appeared in a single game for the quarterback-needy Bengals and was out of football less than a year later.

• 1998—Ryan Leaf: Kiper said that the Washington State Quarterback’s attitude (which had rubbed teammates and coaches the wrong way in college) would be an asset in the NFL and give him a mental advantage over Peyton Manning. Kiper also said that Leaf had the better natural physical tools and would be a great quarterback, though he still rated Manning as the more polished and better overall prospect. Leaf was chosen second overall by the San Diego Chargers immediately after Manning. Leaf’s career soon imploded, largely because of a confrontational attitude and poor practice habits that alienated teammates, coaches, and fans. He is now regarded as not only the worst bust in NFL draft history, but also possibly the biggest bust in all of professional sports.

• 1998—Matt Hasselbeck: The Green Bay Packers selected Matt Hasselbeck in the sixth round (187 overall). Hasselbeck had not been invited to the scouting combine, and Kiper referred to the selection as “a waste of a pick.” Hasselbeck went on to play for the Seattle Seahawks, and set over 30 franchise records. He led them to Superbowl XL.

• 1999—Akili Smith: Kiper said that the Oregon quarterback would be a great NFL player and would finally provide the Cincinnati Bengals with the passer they’d lacked since Boomer Esiason. Smith was selected ahead of Daunte Culpepper, Torry Holt, Edgerrin James, Champ Bailey, and Jevon Kearse, but he spent less than four abysmal seasons in Cincinnati, starting only 17 games. He has since struggled in several brief stops in the NFL, NFL Europe, and the CFL. It’s notable that Kiper rated Smith higher than Donovan McNabb and Culpepper, despite the facts that Smith only had 11 starts at the college level and had performed poorly on the Wonderlic aptitude tests administered at the NFL Combine, both of which are traditionally seen as important indicators of a quarterback’s readiness for the NFL. Smith’s career was marred by inconsistency and failure to grasp the complexities of the Bengals’ playbook.

• 2005—Mike Williams: In one of Kiper’s most well known mistakes, he stated that USC wide receiver Mike Williams would be the best player in his 2005 draft class, despite not having played football in over a year after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA. When ESPN analyst Merril Hoge disagreed, Kiper uttered the now infamous line, “I’ll see you at his Hall of Fame induction.” Williams has been a remarkable disappointment, battling weight problems, playing very little, and showing no signs of improvement with any of the three teams for which he’s played. Williams was unsigned after three years in the NFL as of 2008.

 

Xander Diaz is Editor-In-Chief for AFCBeast.com

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