I think if I hear the words “make or break” one more time, I’m going to scream. It’s overused, trite, and actually, usually irrelevant.
But, it sounds dramatic, so the words get thrown around, especially when it comes to quarterbacks. As if quarterbacks can win on their own without any help.
We’ve heard it frequently throughout the offseason, often in the form of a question in a made-for-TV segment. Hey, time has to be filled, so let’s ask (fill in the blank with your favorite analyst) if this is a make-or-break year for St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford … or Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman … or Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.
You get the picture. The term was also tossed out in as discussion about Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. Here’s a second-round pick that has played a whopping total of two seasons and in those years the Bengals have made the playoffs. Yet, someone is trying to make the case that this is a “make-or-break” year for Dalton.
Really? So if he doesn’t morph into Tom Brady, the Bengals will toss him out and start over? Seriously? Talk about a lack of perspective.
As Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green said when actually asked the question about his quarterback, “I don’t feel like it’s a make-or-break year for him. He’s still the quarterback of the future because he has every intangible to be a great one. He works hard, he has great leadership. I think he’ll be fine.”
Sometimes it’s downright comical to read and hear some of the drivel that is passed off as supposedly legitimate analysis.
It’s certainly true that quarterbacks often get most of the credit for a team’s success and an inordinate amount of criticism when the team loses. Some say it goes with the territory. Why should it?
Isn’t everyone capable of actually assessing the real reason why games are won or lost? Apparently not, in many cases.
In Houston, it is said that Texans quarterback Matt Schaub has to play better in big-time games for the team to accomplish its goals. No problem with that.
But then you hear the tired old words of Rick Smith, the team’s general manager, who recently said, “Quarterbacks are judged by championships. That’s just a function of the position. That’s just the reality. And he understands that. He knows that. And he does have to play better in those situations for us to take our team to the next level.”
But doesn’t everyone else also have to play better? Think of it this way: If it was true that quarterbacks are judged by championships, guys like Dan Fouts, Jim Kelly, Dan Marino and Warren Moon would never have gotten a sniff of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Speaking of Quarterbacks …
Larry Fitzgerald is one excited receiver this year. The Arizona Cardinals have been searching for a quarterback since Kurt Warner retired after the 2009 season, and Fitzgerald thinks it has been accomplished with the addition of Carson Palmer.
Fitzgerald told NFL Network, “He’s demanding, he holds everybody accountable; he has great leadership ability, he has a really even-keeled disposition but he really cares. He’s passionate about it, he wants to be good and that attitude is infectious among our group. It’s great to have that leader in our huddle and all of the guys are champing at the bit to catch some passes from him this season.”
Even on the defensive side, it is noticeable. Said defensive end Calais Campbell to CBSSports.com, “I think it’s very likely we can win the division, yes. I respect every opponent in our division. Every one. But I think of it this way. We were able to hang in a bunch of our division games without a real quarterback.
“I don’t want to disrespect anyone but now we have a real quarterback to go with a good defense. When we play with a lead, we’re hard to beat. This is the first time in years that we have an offense that matches our defense.”
Campbell concluded, “I was talking to Carson and he said he’s never really played with a good defense before. I told him it’s been a while since I played with a good quarterback.”
Fitzgerald did want to emphasize just how special it was to play with Warner. He said, “I was fortunate to have Kurt for so many years. He taught me so much not only as a football player but as a man. I truly value the relationship that he’s allowed me to have with him. I miss him dearly but he’s got his nice cushy chair at NFL (Network) studios now and he’s having a good time. But I learned a lot. I’ve taken all the lessons I’ve learned from him throughout the years, and try to implement it in my game still to this day.”
Then There is Tiki
When he played for the Giants, running back Tiki Barber questioned the leadership of quarterback Eli Manning. Now, with a sinking broadcasting career, Barber is trying to make a name for himself on the CBS Sports Radio Network.
So it was that Barber recently said not only that Eli Manning is closing in on becoming one of the top five quarterbacks of all time, but that he is better than brother Peyton.
Prior to hopefully being tested for hallucinogenic drugs, Barber said, “The expectation was that he was never going to be Peyton. I remember having these conversations with people who watched Eli in college, saying, ‘He’s good, but he’s never going to be Peyton, he’s not Peyton.’ Guess what? I think he’s better than Peyton. Because of clutch. What matters in sports? It’s winning and losing. You get to the stage and what do you do? Eli’s gotten there and he’s won.”
Yes, the Giants have been to the Super Bowl twice in Eli’s tenure and won both (thank you David Tyree), while the Colts split their two Super Bowls with Peyton under center. However, the Giants have made the playoffs in just five of Eli’s nine seasons, while Peyton has been in the post-season in 12 of his 14 seasons.
That’s why Peyton’s regular-season won-loss record (154-70, 68.8 percent) dwarfs Eli’s (78-57, 57.8 percent).