MidValleySports.Com

By Joe Torosian

“So I wanna know…what’s the name of the game?”
—ABBA
Kick it!

Right off the Top: I figured it was time…I wanted to wait until January, but since I’m going to the Holiday Bowl tonight, the NFL playoffs are getting set to start, and the Rams are about to finish the season 8-8, it was time to let it rip.

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What do Matt Cassel, Ryan Mallett, Brandon Weeden, Jimmy Clausen, Matt Schaub, Kellen Moore, Austin Davis, Dan Orlovsky, and Charlie Whitehurst have in common?

Wait…Throw in Nick Foles and Colin Kaepernick as well…

What do they all have in common?

They’ve all thrown a pass in the NFL this season.

My question is, are all of these guys better than Tim Tebow?

I mean, Tebow is so far down on the quarterback-possibility list that the Indianapolis Colts have chosen to go to war (with a playoff birth still possible) with newly signed Josh Freeman and Ryan Lindley (the Rick Dockery of the NFL).

Probably thirty percent of the reason Tebow is not in the NFL is because of the media generated circus around him…And I agree he is not pretty to watch…but I think it’s because coaches are too afraid to adapt to his style of play.

Remember the Denver Broncos were dead in the water in 2011 before, then HC, John Fox flipped the switch and went with Tebow. That team ended up going to the second round of the playoffs.

Tebow wins. Why wouldn’t some other team (cough, Rams, cough) scrap what’s not working and go with something that might?

I believe if Chip Kelly had shortened sail, put a quarterback (Tebow?) under center and DeMarco Murray in the “I” the Philadelphia Eagles would have faired better and old Chip might still have a job.

Yes, a coach has to run his system, I agree, but how many bad spread offenses have we seen in high school football? How many teams would have been better if they had just gone to double-tights?

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Love the Quarterbacks:
Cam Newton has been awesome this season. He’s a gamer, he’s got super talent, and he looks absolutely horrible throwing the ball sometimes. But he gets away with it because he is so unbelievably gifted.

Can Carolina win a Super Bowl with Newton? Absolutely.

Should they be surprised if they get upset in the playoffs by a solid defensive team that will be able to exploit his weaknesses? Absolutely not.

The Panthers lost to Atlanta last week…It can happen.

Last Add Carolina: A quarterback that can move and pick up a first down is a weapon. A guy that can get out of the pocket on third down is great. But it is horribly stupid (if that phrase works) to continually call designed running plays for a player like Newton.

Does anyone remember how beaten up Newton was in the Panthers playoff game with Seattle last season?
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This will upset a lot of people…but I would love to see the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl with Stephen Jackson grinding out the title-clinching yards.

I can see the “America’s Game” feature already.
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The AFC teams I would like to see win the Super Bowl are Chiefs, Jets, and Patriots. The NFC teams: the Cardinals, Redskins, Packers, and, yeah, I’d even root for the Seahawks.

I must admit there is a part of me that would love to see the Minnesota Vikings go…and lose again.
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Of the 35 quarterbacks who qualify for rating…the worst in the NFL in 2015 was Peyton Manning.

With a 67.6 rating, Manning trails legends such as Nick Foles (69.0), Colin Kaepernick (78.5), and Johnny Manziel (79.4).

Who has thrown the most interceptions? Manning, with 17.

How worthless is completion percentage? The Redskins Kirk Cousins leads the NFL with a 69.5 percentage. Cam Newton ranks 31st with 58.0 completion percentage.

For good measure…Manning completed 59.9 percent of his tosses this season.

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Midbits (same as ‘Tidbits’):

Midbits: Is Margarito Beltran going to Bell Gardens supposed to be a bad thing? What a hire for BG!

Midbits: I think I’m getting back into college basketball. You know, I’ve always been a Benny Boatwright fan.

Midbits: I was asked if I was going to go see the movie “Concussion”…I said I’m not really into fantasy movies. Hate the NFL if you want, disagree with the NFL if you want, stop playing football, watching football, or supporting football if you want…but don’t do it because of this movie.

Midbits: “Tangent Dreams” is set to be re-released this week. There were hang-ups with the Kindle conversion, but it is all done. Just waiting for a green light. Thanks again, for your patience.

Midbits: No truth to the rumor Denver will change the name of the Broncos to “Team Edward.”

The Dude abides…

611

Psalms 104:33

Contact Joe at joe@midvalleysports.com

“Joe T.’s Scoreboard” is found at www.midvalleynews.com every Wednesday & in the hard copy of the Mid Valley News, published every Wednesday

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