Remembrance of Pigskin Things Recently Past

It's a little early in the season for introspection, isn't it?

Hey, it's the Patriots' bye week. That seems a bit early, too.

 

Is there better theater today than the NFL? Bill Shakespeare would've been a GM if he was born today. Well, not today. If he was born today he'd be a baby. Let's say, if he was born in 1965.

Anyway, we have storylines; some comic, some tragic and some historical. And it's just Week 4? Just week 4.

Remember when the Dolphins were going to challenge the Patriots for the AFC East. The Bills and Jets had gotten better over the offseason, too, but the 'Phins had made the biggest splash in signing Ndamukong Suh. Ryan Tannehill was clearly the second best QB in the division which sounds pretty good until you realize it was clearly a hawk among crows argument. Fast forward to this fine Sunday morning and I'm watching Miami playing for their head coach's job. Except they aren't. Which is hardly a surprise. When I heard the rumors earlier in the week that Joe Philbin and/or his coordinators could be fired if the Dolphins didn't author an impressive win across the pond I fully expected the players to lay down against the Jets. Like we know Miami has the 4th best HC in the AFC East and their players don't? Dolphins players watched in horror as Miami management held onto Philbin and missed the opportunities the Bills and Jets seized in hiring Rex Ryan and Todd Bowles. They won't let that happen again.

Remember when all fantasy football owners had to do was draft Steelers? Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell. Who's their kicker? Should I draft him, too?

Remember when the Colts were the trendy pick to win it all (or at least rep the AFC in the Super Bowl and lose to the Packers)? Aside from the defensive and offensive lines, Indianapolis had loaded up for a run at the Lombardi with second mortgages taken out on Frank Gore and Andre Johnson. The Colts have been underwhelming, to say the least. Andrew Luck, their franchise QB and the best player on the roster, has been turning the ball over at an apocalyptic rate, with 7 interceptions and 2 fumbles while completing just 56% of his passes. Today, Luck is going to miss the first start of his young NFL career. It's tempting to spin this as a positive, like skipping a start for a struggling pitcher to work out some inconsistency in his release point. Still, a week of rest for Luck's shoulder isn't going to fix the problems on the offensive line or plug the holes in the defensive line or change the reality that Andre Johnson is just the latest athlete who's playing one year longer than he should have. And if you're sitting Luck today, do you start him on what would've been a short week this coming Thursday against the Texans and J.J. Watt? Do you want to be 1-4-0 when the Patriots come to town?

Remember when Peyton Manning's noodly arm was cooked way, way past al dente?

Remember when Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles were going to revolutionize professional football? There's just something intractable about the pro game that resists innovation. The Run and Shoot. The Wildcat. The Read Option. Mobile quarterbacks with a tendency to pull the ball down and run at the first sign of trouble. Sure, there's a short term bump in productivity but it isn't a good long-term investment strategy.

Remember when Aaron Rodgers was the best QB on the planet and a mortal lock to win the regular season and Super Bowl MVP awards? Oh, right. He still is.

Remember when the New Orleans Saints owned the NFC South and Drew Brees was in that "Brady, Brees, Manning, Rivers and Rodgers" conversation?

Remember when the Seahawks were going to make it to three straight Super Bowls but close the deal this time for two out of three? That dream isn't dead so much as it's been placed in a medically induced coma. Kam Chancellor is back and that helps but the Jimmy Graham-infused offense has lacked froth and caffeine. Are they better than their 1-2-0 record? Probably, but something tells me they're going to be looking up at Arizona all season long. Yes, there's a long way to go/it's way too early/lot of football left to play but 0-1-0 in division and 1-2-0 in conference isn't a good look for tiebreakers.

Remember when Tom Brady was going to be suspended to start the 2015 season and the rest of the league was going to get a four-game head start? Yeah, that didn't happen.