The Indianapolis Colts will become the second team to finish
the season 0-16, baring a We-Refuse-To-Be-That-Team
win in the final game against Jacksonville, which is their only remaining game
against a sub-.500 team. They have
been equally likely to lose by seven or less points (Weeks three-five) as they have
been to be defeated by 24 or more (Weeks one, seven, nine). Indianapolis’ starting quarterbacks
(take your choice between the dregs of the NFL) have eclipsed 250 yards passing
only twice. No running back has
surpassed 90 yards on the ground in a single game. As a team, the Colts are second worst in total yards, third
worst in total points, and dead last in head coach emotions. Any way you look at it, the obvious
fact is that the Colts suck. The
0-16 Lions would dominate this bunch of losers and Manning-leaches.
While The Office
has thrived without their former “quarterback,” Steve Carell, Indianapolis has
become the absolute worst paper company in all of Pennsylvania without their regional
manager. The struggles in
Indianapolis have been one of the talking points of the season, and rightfully
so. Has a professional team – uh,
we could even forget the “professional” qualification. Has a team ever experienced such fallout from the loss of a single player?
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| Hey, Indi, where'd you get your backup quarterbacks? The toilet store? |
When Detroit put up a bagel in the win column, there really
wasn’t anything interesting; they were just plain, boring, and bad. Indianapolis is more than that; they’re
historically pathetic.
Unfortunately, the annual Colts vs. Pats game was taken off the
primetime slot as a 21 point spread is apparently too large (I’m still taking
the Pats). I say leave it
there! As a New York City region
football fan, there has been only one Colts game on my television this year.
The 62 to 7 Here-Is-Your-Head-On-A-Stick-Now-Would-You-Like-Your-Dignity-Back
“showdown” against New Orleans may have very well been the most amusing game of
the season. Any other fan can look
at the Colts right now and say, “Well, at least we aren’t that bad.” Aside from
this reason, seemingly everyone can find something to love, or at least in
which to be interested, with regards to the Indianapolis Don’ts.
There are three different categories your average NFL fan
can fall into. Here is why each said
category thinks the Indianapolis train wreck is fantastic.
The Peyton Lovers
Typical members: (A)
Jets, Bills, and Dolphin fans, (B) the Manning side of the Manning-Leaf draft
debate, (C) Sprint/DirecTV owners, (D) underachievers, (E) Stat Geeks, (F)
Archie Manning
Why So Happy?
-Groups A and B will point to this season as evidence that
Peyton Manning is the greatest quarterback, not just now, but ever. Everyone knows now that Peyton carried the team for his
entire career, and basically did it singlehandedly for the last three years. He is clearly better than Tom Brady,
whose team won 11 games in his absence in 2008.
-Group C sees their Manning-endorsed products as the last
vestige of his greatness, pride-fully racking up phone and TV bills in order to
keep his namesake going.
-Group D sympathizes with Manning’s lack-luster playoff
career and say, “See, it’s everyone else that’s bringing him down! Without him, they’d never win! If Manning had any help at all he’d have
won at least three Super Bowls!
That’s exactly why I’ve worked as the cashier at Bed Bath and Beyond for
27 years! Why am I such a loser? I’m such a loser because it’s everyone else’s
fault!”
-Group E loves Manning because he is one of the greatest
regular season performers of all time.
The failure without him puts these numbers into perspective and cements
him among the greatest American athletes ever.
Group F sees this season as a golden one for it’s three
children. Peyton is getting more
praise now than he did in some of his MVP campaigns, Eli can finally emerge
from his brother’s shadow, and his failure child, Cooper, is no longer the most
boring Manning brother. I mean, have you ever tried talking to Peyton about
non-football information for an extended period of time? Awkwarrrrrrrrd.
The Peyton Haters
Typical Members:
(A) Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville, New England, and Pittsburg fans, (B) the
Leaf side of the Manning-Leaf draft debate, (C) Ugg Owners, (D) overachievers,
(E) Eli Manning, (F) Dan Marino and Brett Favre.
Why So Happy?
-Group A does not need to deal with never-ending yearly
competition with Indianapolis.
With regards to the latter two of the group, they look at each other and
say, “Rings are what matters, lolz! Sucks to suck, Peyton. Talk to our quarterback when you have
more championships than Trent Dilfer!”
-Group B says, “Well… whatever, you’re still dumb” and are
thrilled that for the first time since draft day they are equally wrong as the
Manning side.
-Group C watch Tom Brady on Sunday, cozy by the fire and in
their warm, feminine boots. This
is so much better than truly unlimited data usage. Oh, and the eleven football games that they don’t get to watch,
well, those just aren’t important.
Can a cell phone or satellite dish keep my toes warm, no! Dumb, dumb Peyton.
Group D hates Peyton Manning because they are better than
him. The members of this group are
probably no smarter than you or I but have the connections/drive/clutch
factor/experience that allow them to make millions more than us. They are officially better than
pathetic, second-rate Peyton Manning.
Group E has been buried underneath Peyton until now and is
finally playing like Peyton, now if only this group could win like Brady.
Group F are poppin’ bottles because their career passing
records will remain untouched as Manning’s injury not only takes away another
prime season, but will forever halt his historic accumulation of yardage and
touchdowns.
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| Sometimes a picture says a thousand words. |
Colts Fans
Typical Members: A spoiled bunch of people who are now wondering
more than ever before how they won only one Super Bowl with Peyton.
Why So Happy?
Andrew Luck is yours!
Luck is the perfect choice for them at number one. After four years of a Stanford
education, Luck should be intelligent enough to recognize that there is no
better place for him than in Indianapolis, where he would sit for two or three
years and then step into the starting quarterback role with incredible success,
à la Aaron
Rodgers and Brett Favre. He will
accept slightly less money as Indianapolis will be less willing to pay a guy on
the bench over ten million a season, but for this sacrifice he will learn from
one of the greatest ever in the NFL’s most offensively complex and effective
system. An 0-16 or one loss season
could not have come at a better time.
The eventual transition into an Andrew Luck offense will be
seamless. Lucky for them they
still won’t really need to know the meaning of terrible football.
This injury-ridden season has redefined the value of the
backup quarterback. Defensive
players are more athletically freakish than ever before and even though mere
dirty looks at the quarterback can result in personal fouls, they all get hit
eventually. A trip to the IR can
happen on any play and teams must be prepared to handle this situation. Losing the starting quarterback for a
season can come with season-ending results, but, for some teams, would such a
loss be as devastating as it has been for Indianapolis?
We’ve all heard of the bubonic plague, but have you ever
heard of the quarterbackonic plague?
Well, it’s a disease that’s has been known to spread rapidly and
immobilize starting NFL quarterbacks for 17 weeks (some common symptoms include
boils, blue colored vomit and urine, slurred speech, and, at it’s earliest,
often innocuous stage, secretive hotdog consumption). A quarterbackonic plague can come with apocalyptic results,
and, unfortunately, it has hit with full force.
The NFL is a new place now and after each team has lost it’s
starting quarterback, here is the new NFL rankings for all thirty-two
teams. The rank reflects the
ability of the backup as well as factors of the team that are not affected by
losing the starting QB such as the running game, coaching, defense, and history
with this type of situation.
After Quarterbackonic Plague...
32. Indianapolis Colts
See above.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jag’s are currently the worst passing team in the
league. If Luke McCown was the
solution, he’d be playing already.
30. Arizona Cardinals
Arizona hasn’t had a legitimate quarterback on their roster
since Kurt Warner retired. Third
stringer, Richard Bartel will be next in a long line of quarterbacks who can’t
stay in the pocket and/or throw long enough to have a connection with perhaps
the best wide receiver in the NFL.
29. Washington Redskins
Backup QB John Beck was given a brief starting role and
quickly replaced with Rex Grossman – ‘Nuff said.
28. Cleveland Browns
Even in an apocalypse, Cleveland teams will still destined
for failure, sorry, Seneca Wallace.
27. Buffalo Bills
Tyler Thigpen once played 14 games for Kansas City. That did not go especially well and
we’re talking about the Bills here.
26. New Orleans Saints
Without Drew Brees this team wins four games at best. The city of New Orleans prays every
night that they never see Chase Daniel under center.
25. St. Louis Rams
Eleven-year veteran, A.J. Feeley, is cursed with the same
dearth of offensive playmakers as is Bradford.
24. San Diego
It’s hard to say a team that is currently 4-7 can
“collapse”, but without Rivers this team is going to have a seriously difficult
time producing any points. Even in
this off season Rivers is one of the most essential offensive players on any
team. Volek will struggle
mightily.
23. Philadelphia Eagles
Vick is essential to the team’s success. Poor Philadelphia quarterback play
almost always results in a loss, dating back to the McNabb days. Do not expect Kafka to play too many
gems.
22. Minnesota Vikings
Technically, Donovan McNabb is second on the quarterback
depth chart. Of course, they could
always go with Joe Webb. The
Vikings are bad in any type of universe.
21. Miami Dolphins
J.P. Losman still has a job. See, some people are still employed in this recession.
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| Few people have been as fortunate to make it through the recession. If someone from China could do it for cheeper he'd be finished. |
20. Dallas Cowboys
As much as they’ve been using DeMarco Murray (the reason for
their recent success is finally utilizing a running game), the success of
Dallas ultimately comes down to quarterback play. Stephen McGee, who has never thrown a NFL pass, would be a difficult
obstacle to overcome.
19. Chicago Bears
Jay Cutler is among the most criticized quarterbacks in the
league, but with the introduction of Caleb Hanie, people have finally realized
Cutler carries the offense. Forte
becomes less dynamic and the defense is on the field for over 40 minutes. Hanie’s backup? – Nathan Enderle.
18. Cincinnati Bengals
Journeyman Bruce Gradkowski has played on four different
teams over six years for a reason.
17. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers is having possibly the greatest offensive
season ever. He is still yet to
record a QB rating of fewer than 110.0.
His brilliance has masked some of Green Bay’s flaws (susceptible
defense, inconsistent running game).
The Packers will go undefeated this season because there is just nobody
in the NFL that can compete with Rodgers.
If someone throws for five touchdowns against the Pack, he’ll go for
six. Matt Flynn would not be able
to do this. A quarterback injury
would harm Green Bay more than any other team.
16. Detroit Lions
Shaun Hill had an 81.3 rating last season over the course of
11 games.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh Johnson knows how the hand the ball to Blount. He doesn’t know how to toss it.
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| Who is this man? |
14. Carolina Panthers
In my preseason predictions, I asked if any team has ever
had such a strange group of quarterbacks as the Carolina Panthers. Backups Derek Anderson and Jimmy
Clausen were possible starters at some point. Newton’s put together a rookie season like few before him,
but Carolina still has just 3 wins.
Nothing against Newton, but Anderson could do that.
13. Seattle Seahawks
Charlie Whitehurst has outperformed Tavaris Jackson in his
limited play. He should be the starter!
12. Houston Texans
Quarterbackonic plague has actually hit Houston this
season. They seem to be doing
okay.
11. New York Giants
Former number one overall quarterback, David Carr, would be
able to move an offensive with a very good receiving corp.
10. Atlanta Falcons
Chris Redman has the benefit of Michael Turner, one of the
few remaining backs in the NFL who can have 30+ carries a week.
9. Kansas City
Kyle Orton was kicked out of Denver by popular opinion. He’d have a great deep connection with
Dwayne Bowe and short game with McCluster.
8. Tennessee Titans
Any team that has produced winning seasons with Kerry
Collins and Vince Young are built to withstand a quarterback loss. Jake Locker was at one point a top pick
in this year’s past draft.
7. New York Jets
They have a complete team and it seems that Sanchez is
usually the only reason they aren’t among the AFC’s best. Mark Brunell would be sufficient, that
is, unless he moves into the nursing home before season’s end.
6. San Francisco 49ers
Quick, who is Alex Smith’s
backup?.......................................................................................................
COLIN KAEPERNICK!!!!!! He sounds like a great “clock
manager” to me.
5. Baltimore Ravens
The defense and running game are excellent. Maybe with Tyrod Taylor in at QB
Baltimore will be less inclined to abandon their run game as they have so often
done to disastrous results. This
could actually be a good thing.
4. Oakland Raiders
Kyle Boller will be able to hand the ball off the Michael
Bush and Darren McFadden.
3. Denver Broncos
They are 5-1 without a quarterback this season.
2. Pittsburg Steelers
The Steelers went 3-1 at the start of last season using a
combination of Charlie Batch and Dennis Dixon. With previous experience and a defense that is always one of
the two or three best, the Steelers remain among the elite.
1. New England Patriots:
Brady, Cassel, Hoyer(?) – New England’s backups have a
history of productivity, for whatever reason. Belichick is arguably the NFL’s top head coach. They have no running game and no
defense, but it’s hard to imagine a universe where they are not among the NFL’s
best.
So there you have it.
Anyone who’s allegiances lies with a top 10 team in the above rankings
might want to start rooting for quarterbackonic plague. In fact, for top five teams, you may
want to think about just benching your starter right now. I’m looking at you New England.
-AW
