A LITTLE TEDDY ARTICLE ON YAHOO SPORTS...

[Patler]

What's funny about Flacco is that he has been awful in 5 of those 6 games. The Ravens have won despite him. This last game was the first one he played well in. I actually like Flacco, but check out these numbers.

W MIA 27-9 - 9 of 23 for 135 yards with 0 TDs and 0 ints
W TEN 13-10 - 11 of 22 for 161 yards with 1 TD and 0 ints
L PIT 14-23 - 13 of 30 for 141 yards with 0 TDs and 3 ints
W NE 14-33 - 4 of 10 for 34 yards with 0 TDs and 1 int
L IND 3-20 - 20 of 35 for 185 yards with 0 TDs and 2 ints

So, at that point Flacco was 3-2 in the playoffs but had 1 TD, 6 interceptions, 47.5 completion %, and averaged 131.2 passing yards/game.

In the meantime, ARod is only 1-1 in the playoffs but has 7 TDs, 1 interception, 66.7 completion %, and averaged 301.5 passing yards/game.

Flacco is a winner though and Rodgers is a choker.

What, you aren't impressed by Flacco's "sub 50" QB rating in leading his team to 3-2 in the playoffs?

Funny, isn't it? Some made a big deal about Rodgers "never winning a playoff game" and now "getting the playoff monkey off his back." He had played in exactly one playoff game, and had one of the best playoff performances in Packer history by a QB. He lead them to a ton of points and a great late game comeback. Yet somehow all of that was viewed negatively.

Flacco played like crap for 5 games, but is a "winner" and an asset in the playoffs.

[vince]

[QUOTE=HarveyWallbangers;565795]Pretty good article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune also.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/113462979.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiU9PmP:QiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUM2H_MDCiU

What a great article. Why does it take writers from the markets of all the other teams in the league to recognize the job Ted Thompson has done in Green Bay?

[vince]

What, you aren't impressed by Flacco's "sub 50" QB rating in leading his team to 3-2 in the playoffs?

Funny, isn't it? Some made a big deal about Rodgers "never winning a playoff game" and now "getting the playoff monkey off his back." He had played in exactly one playoff game, and had one of the best playoff performances in Packer history by a QB. He lead them to a ton of points and a great late game comeback. Yet somehow all of that was viewed negatively.

Flacco played like crap for 5 games, but is a "winner" and an asset in the playoffs.

Yep, it's dumb and the sad part is it isn't ever going to change.

[get louder at lambeau]

Why does it take writers from the markets of all the other teams in the league to recognize the job Ted Thompson has done in Green Bay?

Because Thompson didn't get Marshawn Lynch, traded away Faver, didn't get Randy Moss, and didn't follow any of the other short-sighted suggestions the GB reporters advocated either.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't blame the reporters. Quite honestly, I think most in the Wisconsin market have been relatively fair to Thompson. At least, the ones I've read. Of course, I don't listen to radio stations out there. It's the fans that have been short-sighted. Many of them anyways.

[Cheesehead Craig]

What, you aren't impressed by Flacco's "sub 50" QB rating in leading his team to 3-2 in the playoffs?

Funny, isn't it? Some made a big deal about Rodgers "never winning a playoff game" and now "getting the playoff monkey off his back." He had played in exactly one playoff game, and had one of the best playoff performances in Packer history by a QB. He lead them to a ton of points and a great late game comeback. Yet somehow all of that was viewed negatively.

Flacco played like crap for 5 games, but is a "winner" and an asset in the playoffs.

Flacco is so overrated it's sickening.

[MJZiggy]

I don't blame the reporters. Quite honestly, I think most in the Wisconsin market have been relatively fair to Thompson. At least, the ones I've read. Of course, I don't listen to radio stations out there. It's the fans that have been short-sighted. Many of them anyways.

Are you saying that the reporters have been pandering to the whims of the readership? That could hardly be called journalism.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Nope. I'm saying they've been relatively fair.

[pbmax]

Wait, I'm confused by your stance.

Yes, this was a good example of writing hash. I should have said that if I am relatively well informed about a subject, I can read anything with a critical eye and perhaps even learn something from it, even if it is mostly terrible. I, somewhat less than humbly, think pro football falls into this category for me.

However, for subjects that I follow less, I find that newspaper and magazine articles that try to give a quick overall picture or cover two or more opposing viewpoints tend to make for less understanding than for more. In my experience, anyway. Then I prefer a basic recitation of facts and factors, and then straight advocacy for one position or another. Because then I have some idea of the overall terrain and where the various interests lay.

[Pugger]

I have my opinions about journalism and journalists and I think I've made them pretty clear in the past, but the question on my mind is, Ben Roethlisberger has a fiancee? Someone agreed to marry that piece of shit?

No kidding.

[pbmax]

Sports Writing Narrative Mad Libs.

Player A is (highly drafted/never saw him profiled on ESPN) and therefore has (tremendous physical talent/humble-gritty-lunch pail-hardworker-smart) characteristics. So far in a young career, Player A has had (tremendous results/mixed results/terrible results) mostly due to (overwhelming physical ability/learning curve/factors beyond Player A control). Of course, one player (not even A) can carry a team by themselves so (playoff failure/poor play) might be influenced by (lack of clutch/in love with themselves-don't trust teammates/first round picks who aren't carrying their weight).

Coach B has a knack for (offense/defense/media schmoozing) so of course (success/high expectations/failure to develop) was expected. But recent events (playoff loss/losing streak/loss to rival) indicates that Player A still needs to (mature/find a clutch/get grittier teammates) to find ultimate success (cover of Madden/interview with Bradshaw-Costas-Cowher).