QUOTE: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – President John F. Kennedy
Thanks to all veterans who have served this country. Happy Veterans Day.
This morning, I thought I’d address some random topics around the NFL…
Who’s going to start at quarterback for the Browns?
APBrady Quinn must play in order to show the Browns exactly what they have.
As I have written many times before, the Browns do not have a legitimate starter at quarterback, so they need to settle on one player and let the team get accustomed to how he plays. They need to play Brady Quinn for an extended period and allow him to show his skill level, or lack of it. He has to play enough for the Browns as an organization to be 100-percent certain he can or can’t be the quarterback of the future. Also, the reality of the situation is that the Browns must use this time to get a sound evaluation of their talent level so they can move forward. They must use the second half of the season to give their young players experience so they can evaluate them.
Their ability to turn around this franchise lies in correctly evaluating the players currently on the roster. They must determine if these players have the skill level, the competitiveness, the work habits and the talent to help this team play at a championship level. The Browns can’t rely solely on a position coach to evaluate players; they need someone who can see the big picture and doesn’t have an agenda with each evaluation. The key to making a correct evaluation is to remove the agenda — and agendas are often based on who’s responsible for drafting the player, as we’ve seen in Kansas City this year. Talent alone does not always tilt the evaluation.
Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said, “On all draft decisions, I have the final say. But organizationally, we felt good about Vernon. Although his rate of improvement isn't where we want it to be, we're still happy he's here and we feel good about his future.”
APJets GM Mike Tannenbaum
Of course, Eric “The Secret” Mangini is going to get blamed for drafting Vernon Gholston since there’s no one in the Jets building who wants to have their name associated with this selection. Now, I’ve been hard on Mangini more than once in this column, but the decision to draft Gholston was not his alone. If you believe that, then I’m sure you also believe in Arlen Specter’s single-bullet theory in Dallas in November 1963.
It’s not plausible that Mangini alone could make this call. Tannenbaum and his staff had grades from Gholston’s tape at Ohio State that would have put Gholston in the conversation at the top of the draft. I’m not saying they had him as a top-10 player, but they did not grade him as a backup special teams player because no matter how much Mangini would have fought for the player, that’s too much to overcome. Since Tannenbaum claims he has the final say, which I’m sure he does, he would’ve had to really anger his scouting staff to jump a player that high in the drafting process.
The reality is that everyone who graded Gholston was dead wrong. The only right grade would have been free-agent size/speed player. He was not a top-10 pick and he is not an effective backup special teams player. Being a little wrong is still being wrong, which at times is difficult for scouts to comprehend. Gholston has been a bust from the minute he walked on the field. As I told Rich Eisen of NFL Network, if he ever becomes a good player, I will walk from Los Angeles to Jersey. Not going to happen.
When it comes to the draft, mistakes happen. We all share in them, but the key is to learn from your mistakes and become a better scout. I’ve learned so much from the mistakes that I’ve made in my evaluations that they’ve helped me become a better scout. Tannenbaum is in denial since he’s left holding the Gholston bag and played a big part in the selection. He needs to admit what we all know — Gholston was a mistake -- and just move on.
APMike McCarthy and the Packers are sitting at a disappointing 4-4.
Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that Packers president Mark Murphy said Monday he’s disappointed with the team’s 4-4 start, especially Sunday’s shocking loss at Tampa Bay, and wants to make sure “changes” are made. The former NFL player turned executive, who took over the Packers in January 2008, believes the season can be salvaged. He also may have put head coach Mike McCarthy on notice. “We’re 4-4 halfway through the season,” Murphy said, “and I think we can still have a successful year just making sure that we make the changes that are necessary to get us to that point.”
I thought the job of the Packers president was to be seen and not heard. I don’t remember former Packers president Bob Harlan ever speaking about the football team directly to the media. I might be wrong, and all loyal Packers readers are welcome to correct me, but from my vantage point, the team president doesn’t have to state the obvious. Mark Murphy appears that he wants to be more involved in the football part of the program as the new president. Anyone other than the head coach talking to the media can send the wrong message to the fan base as evidenced by Murphy’s comments.
What changes would Murph like the Packers to make? Does he really understand the problems? I highly doubt it, and the way to create bad blood in an organization is to say something that makes no sense when you have no idea what you’re saying. I’m fairly confident that the Packers coaches are cynical about these comments.
There was a reason Bob Harlan never addressed football issues during the season.
Follow me on Twitter: michaelombardi
Mike, can you talk about the intricacies of Brady Quinn's contract? I think he was benched for a few games so he couldn't reach certain incentives that the Browns just don't want to pay, especially when they're going to lose anyway.
If you read Clark Judge's interview with Mangini at CBS Sportsline, you'll learn that Mangini had a strong hand in the drafting of every good player that the Jets have. you will also learn that he had a big part in Tom Brady's evolution towards being the QB that he is today.
So to even hint that such a keen evaluator of talent could have played a part in making a bad draft choice is ridiculous.
mangini knows what he's doing.
He said so himself.
The reason Murphy probably felt compelled to say something is because Thompson never says anything, and McCarthy says the same crap every week. Packer nation is getting frustrated, and I was glad to hear someone in the organization let us know that they are displeased. McCarthy seriously comes off as complacent, as evidenced by the same mistakes happening week in and week out. Why is it that Jerry Jones can spout off constantly and Murphy can't say one paragraph in two years? Cut him some slack, man.
I don't remember Bob Harlan doing anything other than cutting the ribbon at shopping malls kinda' stuff.
If Mark Murphy's done anything right yet, I'm unaware of it.
Murphy and Harlan are hard to compare. Murphy is more qualified to make comments like this since he was a former player in the league. He played for years in the league as a safety with the Redskins ... he surely understands offensive and defensive schemes. Someone had to say something after a loss to the winless Bucs .. since Thompson didn't I'm glad to hear Murphy step up and put a little heat on these guys.
Mike...Youve made Gholston a topic of your columns at least 5 times...at least...its no secret..hes a bust...but..funny..youve yet to address Matt Cassels performance in KC...the QB u said was worth a first rounder..and the real deal .and they threw a boatload of money at him....are you ever going to address that bust? or just rehash Gholston every 4 weeks??
The Jets have a long history of bad draft choices, and Gholston certainly belongs on that list. But as Lombardi says, everyone makes mistakes. Look at the flip side of the Mangini/Tanenbaum ledger: Nick Mangold, Brick Ferguson, Leon Washington, Darrelle Revis, Dustin Keller. Some all-stars in there, some solid contributors. I think overall the picks stack up favorably against previous administrations.
or maybe address the adalius thomas situation in NE?....some are starting to say..thats looking like a bust....but..im sure everyone would rather u reahash gholston every couple weeks....and u wouldnt want to say anything abd towardds NE>....we know how u get
but seriously mike...keep rehashing gholston..im sure no one is interested on how two high priced free agents.. (adalius and cassel)..were grossly overpaid buy people (pioli and bellicheck) u claim are the best personel guys in the game..ignore those two stories that could possible interest an NFL fan.... ..we know u hate the jets..and have some problem with tannenbaum.....talk about obsessed..
Thanks Mike,
I'm fairly confident that the bulk of the fan base is cynical about the denial and excuses coming from the Packers coaches and management. That has been sending the wrong message to the fan base.
Generally Harlan's teams delivered results and the coaches could coherently discuss the team with the fans and the public. That would be a key difference here.
At this point it's not clear that the coaches and management understand what the problems are since they are in large part responsible for it. Timid play calling, terrible offensive line play, an aversion to plugging holes through free agency and a failure to build a winning team through the draft (five drafts producing one Pro Bowler in S Nick Collins and two potential Pro Bowlers in QB Rodgers and WR Jennings)
The current coaches and management are in denial about what is wrong with this team. The fact that the team president at least recognizes that something has caused this team to jump the shark is at least somewhat encouraging.
Lombardi, I like what you write but not this time. Somebody in that GB organization NEEDS to put McCarthy on notice that his coaching has sucked big time since 2007. If Ted Thompson wants to play deafmute and McCarthy wants to regurgitate the same empty platitudes after every game, then the boss needs to let the fans and coaches know that accountability still exists. As far as the coaches reacting cynically, I damn well hope so! This is a team that had inflated expectations going into the year and has fallen flat on its face the last two games. Yet McCarthy still says sh%t like "We have a good team" and "We have the number four defense".
With all the patriotic quotes about leadership you like to begin your columns with, how can you not see that this man is unfit to lead a team? He may have cutting-edge schemes and personnel groupings, but his team sucks and he won't admit it. His leadership is unacceptably deficient and it is reflected in his putrid offensive line and in Aaron Rodgers' inability to lead fourth-quarter comebacks.
And as for Murphy not understanding the problems, you're saying that a former player, the captain of a SuperBowl team no less, doesn't know that Green Bay's problems are in evaluating, drafting and developing OL and DL talent? You think it's more complex than that, other than the coach being inadequate?
@ yahoodave
Cassell is a bust? In a team (KC) with bad defense, terrible O-line, no offensive weapons (yes, that includes Bowe who should be no more than no2 WR) and yet he still manages to play ok. Are we watching the same person?
Yes, everyone now knows that Gholston is a bust.
But for Lombardi to say "The only right grade would have been free-agent size/speed player" is disingenuous. Writing for SI.Com before last year's draft, he wrote:
"Gholston might work out like a demon, but his physical play is very inconsistent. Once he arrives in the NFL, the pass protection schemes he will face won't have him dealing with smaller running backs; he will have to defeat big offensive lineman to get to the quarterback. That will cause some adjustments in his style of play."
Clearly, Lombardi had reservations about Gholston. But saying that a presumed blue-chipper will need to make "some adjustments" is a far cry from saying that he should not be drafted. Lombardi shouldn't act as if he knew that Gholston -- a potential "demon" -- would be a bust.
You're so right Mike, if only Belichick was running the Jets drafts. Then they would have all-pro players like Terrence Wheatley, Chad Jackson, Kevin O'Connell, and Laurence Maroney instead of the bums they have now like Darrelle Revis, David Harris, Nick Mangold, Leon Washington, etc.
Yes, everyone now knows that Gholston is a bust.
But for Lombardi to say "The only right grade would have been free-agent size/speed player" is disingenuous. Writing for SI.Com before last year's draft, he wrote:
"Gholston might work out like a demon, but his physical play is very inconsistent. Once he arrives in the NFL, the pass protection schemes he will face won't have him dealing with smaller running backs; he will have to defeat big offensive lineman to get to the quarterback. That will cause some adjustments in his style of play."
Clearly, Lombardi had reservations about Gholston. But saying that a presumed blue-chipper will need to make "some adjustments" is a far cry from saying that he should not be drafted. Lombardi shouldn't act as if he knew that Gholston -- a potential "demon" -- would be a bust.
aol dave....CAssels stats are in the bottom 5 in the league....and for the money they paid him...total bust....guy couldnt complete a long pass in NE with moss and welker onthe team..and couldnt make the playoffs with the pats....bad job by anyone that thought he was a quality starter... including lombardi
cassels #'s in bottom 5 of all QB's.....witht he money they paid him ?? total bust....he couldnt complete a pass over 7 yards with moss and welker..and couldnt make playoffs with the pats...was obvious guy was not a real starting QB.....but everyone..incuding lombardi...who drinks the belllicheck kool aid would dare say otherwise.....total bust
Everybody already knows Bob Harlan's claim to fame was being Kevin Harlan's brother and that's probably how it should be. Murphy, shut up and don't reveal anything to the media. He wouldn't know the intricacies of the Packers' problems if they hit him in the face. McCarthy has had success before and he knows how to utilize multi-faceted players, such as Spencer Havner and my former neighbor, Devin Frischknecht, whom I fully expect to make a big impact next season once he's healthy. I have heard from listening to Cleveland radio stations that because reportedly Quinn can't get his bonus money for this season, now he'll get to start for the remainder of the campaign. Whether or not that's true is anyone's guess, but it does stimulate interesting conversation. War the Broncos getting back on the winning track against the Skins and I'm out. Thanks again Lombardi.
Mike - actually, I welcome Murphy's comments and am very glad he said what he did. No, this was not the sort of thing that typically occurred with Bob Harlan - but he ISN'T Bob Harlan. Basically, every McCarthy press conference given since the season began listed the same problems and a statement that "We're going to get that fixed". What Murphy is getting at is that he's tired of hearing that same line of crap every week and then seeing the same mistakes on the field. Last year, it was pad level - this year, it's stupid penalties and a general lack of discipline, we hear it every darn press conference.
If the Packers' coaches are cynical about his comments, then every one of them should be canned. The product being put on the field is unacceptable, even when they win they look like crap doing it, and every week the coaches give the same line of crap. In GB, Murphy's position is equivalent to the owner for other teams. His comments were appropriate, vague enough to not be directly threatening while still making his point, and timely. If the coaches don't like it, they can shove it - 18 of 22 current starters went 13-3 two seasons ago, I don't want to hear about players that can't win games.
For all you Cassel haters, he did more in one half of one game last year than Ggholston has done in 2 years. Nobody is saying he is lighting it up this year but the guy was a proven enough commodity that he was worth what he was traded for as well as paid. How do you think he'd look behind Denver's line right now?
Yahoodave wrote:
but seriously mike...keep rehashing gholston..im sure no one is interested on how two high priced free agents.. (adalius and cassel)..were grossly overpaid buy people (pioli and bellicheck) u claim are the best personel guys in the game..ignore those two stories that could possible interest an NFL fan.... ..we know u hate the jets..and have some problem with tannenbaum.....talk about obsessed..
Thomas has not been a bust, a bit of a dissapointment since hes not really used as a pass rusher. But he was a strong part of the 2007 undefeated team-2 sacks im the superbowl. He was having a good year last year until he broke his forearm. This year he was quiet but has woken up since he was a healthy scratch. As for pioli, have you not read this column all week. Lombardi has been very critical of the chiefs.
Michael -
As always, enjoy your analysis and would love to get your thoughts on the below...
As a football fan with no vested interest in the Packers, I've straddled both sides of the fence on the Packers/Favre saga... Favre is selfish, Green Bay kicked aside a legend, etc., but had usually leaned toward the Green Bay side after watching Favre as a NYJ and his prima donna-type antics in stringing along the Vikings.
Having said that, I now feel like we missed the boat on the real question: What kind of job has Ted Thompson done as GM of the Packers and did he make the right decision in 2005 to draft Favre's future replacement versus a player that would have helped Green Bay immediately?
Just for giggles, i took a look at the Packers record from the 1992 trade that sent Favre to the Pack. From 1992 through 2004, the Packers never had a losing record and made the playoffs 10 times in 13 years. Since Thompson became GM in spring of 2005, the records are:
2005 - 4-12
2006 - 8-8
2007 - 13-3
2008 - 6-10
2009 - 4-4
Now, before getting to my final opinion, I freely admit that team record is not the full indicator of a GM's job (though, as the Big Tuna often reminds us "You are what your record says you are"), that the 1992-2004 period includes all of Favre's prime years, and that Favre was still with the Packers through 2007 including the 4-12 2005 season.
Having said all that, it would seem to me that Thompson's decision on Favre was wrong and that Favre's request to bring in more guns like Moss could/would have resulted in a different outcome for the Packers over the past 5 years. I can't speak to Thompson's success in drafting, but hoping someone else hear can to shed more light.
I guess my question for Lombardi is, why do Packers fans lay all their frustration on Favre? I know he's an easy target, and probably deserves much of what he gets, but the Packers fan's true beef is with Thompson, isn't it? Favre didn't draft Rodgers, didn't fail to sign Moss, and hasn't put together the team that is underwhelming with weaknesses on both the offensive and defensive lines.
Am I crazy?
sjgmoney...hed look just like orton behind denvers line...unable to throw anything longer than a 7 yard pass...
Just to be clear for the young, that single bullet theory line was a Kennedy assassination reference, right?
Cassel may be a bust this year. But he won't be next year in Denver where they've got weapons.
No, it was a Plaxico Burress/Joey Porter reference. Specter floated the theory of how someone could get shot in the ass with a single bullet and never find a bullet hole.
@yahoodave, is Orton unable or throw a deep ball or is it by design? (And for the record Orton has attempted more passes >30yards than the old Gunslinger himself)
Nobody had a problem with Orton until he went up against the Steelers tough dee this week. If it wasn't for that performance he would be ranked in the top 5 QBs Yet you're trying to tell us playing behind a good offensive line doesn't mean anything?
sjgmoeny...of course its designed....cuz any pass over 10 yards that orton throws...or cassel..is incomplete or int...
Nice Thom!!
1) I am usually on board or see the validity in your points/opinions. But in regards to Mark Murphy, I'm failing to see the basis of your analysis. A future article might be enlightening... Anyhow, I don't think the Packers president needs to be a mute. Sometimes a normally quiet person piping up is a sign of importance. This is the first time Murphy has been front and center with commentary on the team. An incident is not a pattern. And so what if the coaches are cynical? They have a job to do, and it doesn't look like they're executing it very well. It's possible Murphy has been doing certain things behind the scenes and the response has been inadequate.
2) In response to the person who posted re: Favre and Ted Thompson: One of the fallacies is judging Thompson completely based on Favre. I think the organization did the right thing for numerous reasons that don't belong here (um, he retired for one). The real failure has been in acquiring offensive line talent. You can also argue that the Harrell and, I hate to say it.....Hawk... picks may have been made more wisely. Now, Ron Wolf blew picks (John Michels! Jamal Reynolds!) but he signed White, hired Holmgren and traded for Favre. Thompson has missed in important places.
3) Ted Thompson doesn't talk. McCarthy doesn't command a lot of respect anymore. Who's a voice for this team?? Also, where's the leadership from inside the team? Why isn't a player putting himself out there more? Someone from the organization must be a communicator, as you have pointed out with The Secret. Perhaps Murphy knows that's a problem, and is doing something about it.
Quinn needs time to play his way off the Browns before regime change occurs? Otherwise it could really mess up a rebuild program.
Mike Murphy HAS to speak up for the team, because everyone else in the Packer Organization has lost credibility.
From the news that the Executive Committee hired Ari Fleischer to trash Favre's reputation, to Favre coming back and ripping holes through the 'new and improved' 3-4 defense while his 'mate Jared Allen ropes in Teddy's stat boy Rodgers, the once-proud organization has sunk to lows not seen in YEARS.
Or, as a TB fan was overheard saying to a GB fan after last Sunday's game, "You guys chased Favre out for this?"
Who knows or cares about Murphy"s protocol, if there is any? First, Murphy didn't say enough. This is a team is dire trouble, that with any foresight, shouldn't be. Second, the Packers ownership is the public, ergo more accountability. Lord know, TT never says anything. McCarthy is an inarticulate soundbyte. But every press conference, McCarthy steadfastly says "he'll fix it". He never has, and never can. The most meaningful disciplinary taken by MM this year was a maintence worker fired for an alledged crack. Maybe he's a nice guy. He knows the game, but he's no head coach. He especialy is no Packer head coach.
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Nov 11, 2009
10:40 AM
The one decision right now that Mark Murphy could make, that wouldn't set the team back too far, would be to gently tell (not force) Mike McCarthy to give up play-calling duties. McCarthy has been in over his head ever since he came to Green Bay, and that has shown very clearly in a lot of play-calling errors.
Offensive Coordinator Joe Philbin would be much better suited to run the offense (hence the title "Offensive Coordinator") while McCarthy can focus on the other things that desperately need attention, like penalties, etc.