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QB conundrums
We normally do the NFL power poll on Tuesdays, but heading into the Divisional round playoffs, the power is pretty self-evident.
To that end, even more than home-field, did you notice that every team that prevailed in the six Wildcard games had the QB1 edge?
Matt Stafford > Sam Darnold so, Rams > Vikings.
Jalen Hurts > Jordan Love (barely, and the rest of Philly was >>> battered Green Bay) so Eagles > Packers.
Josh Allen > Bo Nix so Bills > Broncos.
Lamar Jackson > Russell Wilson (by a lot) so Ravens > Steelers (by a lot).
CJ Stroud > Justin Herbert so Texans > Chargers.
Jayden Daniels > Baker Mayfield so Commanders > Bucs.
It’s not that complicated.
And now we head to the next round, and we’ll see if this theory lasts another week, because it will be tested.
Daniels > Jared Goff, but can the Commanders win at Detroit?
Stafford > Hurts, but can the Rams win at Philly?
Jackson and Allen may be the two best QB1s talent-wise on the planet, and those questions and ripples will resonate in the sports media echo chamber.
Giddy up.
Coaching craziness
So let’s power poll anyway, and rank the NFL job openings now that Dallas is about to be open when Mike McCarthy’s contract expires today and New England introduced Mike Vrabel as their next HC.
As with the above success, the desirability of the current open gigs has a ton to do with QB1 situations and cap flexibility.
(Side note: Wanna hear a great stat? Of course, you do. I think all the chatter about Kevin O’Donnell or Dan Campbell or anyone else not named Sean Payton as coach of the year is background noise. Why? Payton became the first head coach in the salary cap era to make the playoffs — cue Jim Mora, “PLAYOFFS?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK3Jx2yvtVE — with a team that was dead last in the league dead cap money.)
Like a decathlete after the seventh event, let’s make our way to the poll.
1 Chicago. The Bears have a QB1 that is on a rookie deal and a slew of promising pieces around him. Plus, the Bears can be uber-aggressive in free agency with almost $74 million in cap space (fifth-most in the league), according to sportrac.com. Here’s more: The Bears will have four of the top 72 selections in this spring’s draft.
2 Jacksonville. This is higher than most may view this one, but I still believe in Trevor Lawrence’s ceiling. Plus, if he flounders again, then the next HC will have a scape goat, you know? Plus, the team has drafted well in recent seasons — Brian Thomas is the next great former LSU WR — and has a young and talented roster in a very wide-open division.
3 New York Jets. Job 1 after being introduced is handling the Aaron Rodgers situation and determining who the next QB1 will be. But again, this is another team that has drafted well in recent years — the 2022 class with Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson in round one and Pro Bowlers Jermaine Johnson and Breece Hall later was aces — and the market is starved for success.
4 New Orleans. The QB situation is a disaster, but the division is the easiest in football. And you get to get New Orleans cuisine, which is awesome.
5 Las Vegas. Another QB1 disaster, but I’d rather work for Lloyd Christmas (aka Mark Davis) than the alternative that is ….
Dallas. Deion’s a front runner? Jason Witten is being mentioned too. And considering how this entire contract escape with McCarthy played out, do the Cowboys even have a plan for the future? And not only are you working for the Clampetts (aka Jerry and Stephen Jones), but you are about to enter salary cap Hades.
Braves’ next world
Yes, the Braves are top-10 in payroll, but they feel like they operate on a shoestring, Kansas City Royals-kind of mandate, no?
The offseason has been library quiet.
Although, I loved Dave O’Brien’s — the Braves beat ace for The Athletic — suggestion that the Braves deal for Padres lefty Dylan Cease. It’s made even more of a possibility if the Padres push their half-a-billion-worth of chips into the middle for Roki Sasaki, the coveted Japanese righty with a half dozen pitches including a 99 mph heater.
San Diego is one of three finalists for the most prized free agent left this offseason.
Toronto made the cut, too.
The third team on Sasaki’s list should come as zero surprise.
The Los Angeles Dodgers complete the trio and man, are the Dodgers going for all-or-nothing every offseason.
And, the huge investment in Japanese players — if they land Sasaki and if Shohei Ohtani is healthy, 60% of their rotation could be from across the Pacific.
Think about it: The Dodgers could very well offer a lucrative TV deal to a Japanese station for broadcast rights, you know?
Never mind the tourist destination from Tokyo that Dodger Stadium now becomes.
It’s true you gotta spend money to make money. Someone please remind the Braves of this fact.
This and that
› Did anyone have a more expensive post-Christmas journey than Sam Darnold, who was in line for franchise money after the first 17 weeks of the NFL season then promptly reminded everyone in the last 10 days why Minnesota is his fourth team in seven NFL seasons?
› Speaking of QBs and money, Quinn Ewers has to factor in if he is not a first-round pick, he will be taking a massive pay cut to leave Texas.
› This Stephan Jaeger update from David Paschall offers an amazing stat that Jaeger has now made more than $10 million playing golf. Wow.
› So Village People and Carrie Underwood will be part of the lineup performing at Donald Trump’s inauguration next week. So there’s that. And anyone taking odds that the meme-tyastic Trump Dance will make an appearance for “Y.M.C.A.” during the event? It truly does take a Village.
› Someone mentioned it Monday, but Tom Brady is getting Jamarcus Russell-like reviews for his broadcasting skills. It’s worth noting that Fox is paying him $375 million over the next 10 years for this.
Today’s questions
It’s true or false Tuesday. Morning, Ernie.
True or false, Josh Allen is better than Patrick Mahomes.
True or false, Deion Sanders will be the next Dallas Cowboys head coach. (And yes, he’s still blocking me. Along with David Carroll.)
True or false, Roki Sasaki will be a Dodger this season.
True or false, Trevor Lawrence is a top-15 NFL QB.
True or false, AU struggles tonight against MSU without Johni Broome.
You know the drill. Answer some T or Fs; ask some T or Fs.
As for today, Jan. 14, let’s review:
“The Today Show” debuted on this day in 1952. Spy was among the first guests that week if memory serves.
Carl Weathers would have been 77 today.
Jason Bateman is 56. Dude is wicked talented.
LL Cool J is 57.
Humphrey Bogart died on this day in 1957.
Rushmore of old-school Hollywood royalty from the black and white era.