profusion

Another aspect of this is to look at the last 20 SB winning QBs: Super Bowl 37. Brad Johnson (Dexter Jackson), 2 TDs Super Bowl 38. Tom Brady (MVP), 3 TDs Super Bowl 39. Tom Brady (Deion Branch), 2 TDs Super Bowl 40. Ben Roethlisberger (Hines Ward), 0 TDs Super Bowl 41. Peyton Manning (MVP), 1 TD Super Bowl 42. Eli Manning (MVP), 2 TDs Super Bowl 43: Ben Roethlisberger (Santonio Holmes), 1 TD Super Bowl 44: Drew Brees (MVP), 2 TDs Super Bowl 45: Aaron Rogers (MVP), 3TDs Super Bowl 46: Eli Manning (MVP), 1 TD Super Bowl 47: Joe Flacco (MVP), 3TDs Super Bowl 48: Russell Wilson (Malcolm Smith), 2TDs Super Bowl 49: Tom Brady (MVP), 4TDs Super Bowl 50: Peyton Manning (Von Miller), 0TDs Super Bowl 51: Tom Brady (MVP), 2TDs Super Bowl 52: Nick Foles (MVP), 3 TDs Super Bowl 53: Tom Brady (Julian Edelman), 0TDs Super Bowl 54: Patrick Mahomes (MVP), 2 TDs Super Bowl 55: Tom Brady (MVP), 3 TDs Super Bowl 56: Matthew Stafford (Cooper Kupp), 3 TDs Super Bowl 57: Patrick Mahomes (MVP), 3 TDs The Manning brothers and Matthew Stafford are the only men in that list who were picked Top 5, and it took Stafford a lot of heartache (and a legendarily stacked team) before he got there. It's not just that it's a crapshoot, but that the teams typically picking at the top are usually there for more reasons than just lacking a QB. This is not to say that the Commanders should absolutely roll with Howell, but it should be a caution to anyone who thinks that just picking a top QB is a magic formula for success. A lot of other things have to go right, and the most consistently successful franchises have been able to find their franchise guys lower in the draft.

Rebuilds can be shockingly quick in the NFL. Doesn't have to be five years or whatever. This offseason is so critical--getting the right GM and HC out of the gate. The rest follows.

I've long seen the Cowboys as a slightly more competent version of what Snyder was doing during the Vinny Cerrato era. Great at collecting talent, but not great at building a coherent team out of it. I do wonder if maybe there are changes going on behind the scenes, because the Cowboys have started looking slightly more rational the last couple years.

Rams have been looking stronger lately and are still in the playoff hunt. They need this one and will get it. LAR 41 WAS 24

RIP. I remember his Redskins career well. He stood out in what was a pretty dismal era for the team.

Maybe the sales/business operation doesn't like working around bursting sewage pipes, either. Seriously, though, if they want to upgrade the business operation, a better, hipper location would help attract better candidates. There's no particular reason they have to have their offices at the stadium. Maybe if/when the stadium itself is in a better location. TBH, there's a LOT of vacant Class A office space downtown that's accessible to Metro. That might have my own first choice versus College Park, but that's just me.

That's a good point. We've heard for years that our scouting department might be understaffed but had good people who made good recommendations. And, of course, the GM will presumably have been working with another scouting staff this season and will have picked up some insights along the way. The key, for me, is that the leadership has to be on the same page about the team they're trying to build. If they get a top 3 pick, you get into possible QB range, and there needs to be agreement on what type of offense they want to run. Otherwise, you risk picking an incompatible set of players.

Harris wisely isn't doing a lot of talking, but I can't imagine he's seen much over the last few months to make him think this FO is anything but a teardown/rebuild situation. It might be that the GM and HC hirings come very close together, as something of a package deal. There won't be a lot of time to get everything together once January 8 hits. This draft is incredibly important for the franchise's future, and they can't be still trying to do the major hirings in February.

He seemed to bring more energy and enthusiasm before the diagnosis, at least as far as I could see. Robot Ron started to show up after that. It's entirely understandable. I'm not sure I could provide tangible evidence for that. It's also not mutually exclusive with him being a bad coach and/or getting worn out by all the Dan Dysfunction. Either way, he'll be gone soon.

I think it's been said here before, but it looks to me like Ron began checking out after his cancer diagnosis. At the time, I recall him saying he wanted to do the right thing and honor his contract. Perhaps the right and honorable thing would have been to step aside, focus on healing and family, and let someone with total focus run the team. He's pretty much been a nonentity since that first season.

They were actually worse than I thought they'd be. Guys have clearly checked out.

Well, folks, I've seen more than enough. Have a great evening.

In the predictions thread, I boldly predicted that the D would hold the Dolphins under 40. I'm starting to be very glad I didn't put any money on that. 😂

This is the thread for predictions, not wishes. I want the Commanders to run roughshod over everyone, but I've also been watching their games this year and know better.

The Commanders' D looks momentarily frisky in absence of JDR and manages to hold the Dolphins under 40. MIA 38 WAS 17

Winning Off the Field: The Next Generation

Perhaps evaluating the defensive players and position coaches was too difficult with Del Rio calling the shots. This is a way to get film on the players with some different playcalling. It'll be interesting to see how Ron coaches 'em up, whether it's any different.

I was dead-set against Ron being fired before Black Monday, but now I'm wavering. Not for emotional reasons, but because I'm wondering whether Josh and his advisors can properly evaluate a roster that's tuning out. It'd be interesting to see who steps it up under an interim HC...and who doesn't. The season's lost either way.

I was the real winner yesterday, because I spent a wonderful day with my family rather than watch this atrocity.

The Commanders will shock the world (and the gamblers) and only lose by 4, in an excruciating game where they have a chance to win but don't because Ron burned all his timeouts in the third quarter. I, however, will be eating dinner with my family, due to the inopportune late afternoon scheduling. DAL 27 WAS 23

My take: Get rid of matte finish on helmet. Change helmet logo to burgundy W with gold outline. Restore the three stripes from the Redskins helmet. Get rid of team name on jersey. White pants with burgundy jerseys, burgundy pants with white jerseys, unless it's one of those "color rush" games where both teams are monochrome. White jersey needs to be redone from scratch. Alternate unis should be throwback. This is a storied franchise. They can substitute a logo if needed.

I think it would if the perception was that Ron staying was likely to get a star player injured or if it would hinder evaluation of the younger players. If it looks vindictive or done on a whim, then it's a problem.

I continue to not see any point in firing Ron in-season. Black Monday works for me.

The Commanders will win ugly this week. WAS 20 NYG 13

I figured the Seahawks would win by more than they actually did. Their offense was mostly inept. Howell is almost singlehandedly keeping the Commanders in games, at this point. I don't have any reservations about having him as the starting QB next year. I have to think he's an attraction for potential HC/GM candidates. As for the hiring thing, I don't want Harris even thinking idly about HC candidates until he's hired a new GM. This is an excellent window for Harris to make a huge splash over the next few seasons, with a good QB on a rookie deal, a bunch of draft picks next March, and tons of cap room. Don't screw it up with a bad hiring process.