ESPN, Herm Edwards Diss Eli
By Joe Tufaro
This morning I put on the Colin Cowherd show on ESPN as I was getting dressed, and they bring in Herm Edwards as an expert analyst of the NFL . Herm played 9 seasons in the NFL and coached two different teams compiling a record of 54-74 in the regular season and 2-4 in the playoffs. Edwards was known as a motivator, a rah rah guy that was good for morale. This quote about Edwards as a head coach says a lot:
"Overall, Edward’s tenure as head coach of the Jets was marred by chronic clock management problems, an ultra-conservative “play not to lose” mentality, and a lack of any discernable defensive philosophy, despite Edwards’ supposed expertise in the Cover 2 defense."
My point here is that Herm was probably not the best talent evaluator as a Head Coach leading to his poor record and general lack of success…but put a coat and a tie on a guy and he’s an expert. The conversation this morning was the usual off season nonsense until it turned to QB’s in the NFL. Herm made the proclamation…and one that I agree with…that there can’t be 8 ELITE QB’s in the league…there can only be 4. Good point because you are supposed to be comparing them to each other, not some imaginary set of numbers. He prefaced his list with the “In the last FIVE or so years” these are my Elite QB’s….This is where Herm gets lost.
1. Aaron Rodgers: No Argument..
- 3× Pro Bowl (2009, 2011, 2012)
- First-team All-Pro (2011)[1]
- Second-team All-Pro (2012)
- AP NFL MVP (2011)
- Super Bowl champion (XLV)
- Super Bowl MVP (XLV)
- NFC champion (2010)
- Single season QB Passer Rating record (122.5)
Hard to argue this point when Rodgers has only been starting for the past 5 years.
2. Tom Brady: O.K. I’ll give him this one, but No Super Bowl Wins in two appearances hurts a little.
- 5× Pro Bowl ( 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
- 2× First-team All-Pro (2007, 2010)
- 2× AFC Champion (2007, 2011)
- 5x AFC East Champion ( 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
- 2× AP NFL MVP (2007, 2010)
- 2× AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2007, 2010)
- 3× AFC Offensive Player of the Year (2007, 2010, 2011)
- NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2009)
Drew Brees: To me the most overrated of the group:
- 5× Pro Bowl ( 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
- 3× All-Pro ( 2008, 2009, 2011)
- Super Bowl champion (XLIV)
- Super Bowl MVP (XLIV)
- 2× AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2008, 2011)
- 2× NFC MVP (2008, 2009)
Peyton Manning: Who missed one of the 5 years entirely
- 5× Pro Bowl ( 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012)
- 3× First-team All-Pro ( 2008, 2009, 2012)
- 2× AP NFL MVP (2008, 2009)
- AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2012)
- 2× AFC Player of the Year ( 2008, 2009)
- 1× AFC champion (2009)
When asked about ELI, he said “He can sit at the kids table, but he can’t order from the menu”. Really Herm?
- 3× Pro Bowl (2008, 2011, 2012)
- 2× Super Bowl champion (XLII, XLVI)
- 2× Super Bowl MVP (XLII, XLVI)
- NFL Record most 4th quarter touchdown passes in a season (15)
- Tied NFL Record most game-winning drives in a season (8) (2011)
- Most road wins in a single regular season and postseason by a starting quarterback (10)
Eli also beat your number one guy on the list TWICE in his building to get to the Super Bowl, and then beat the number two guy on your list TWICE in the Super Bowl.
Obviously Winning is not a priority with Herm as he evaluates QB’s. Super Bowl Champion QB’s the last 6 years include two of the guys on his list, and the guy who won TWO of the others can’t make the grade.
More proof that putting a coat and tie on a guy doesn’t make him an expert.