Hypocrites Abound in NFL

Matt Millen played a lot of seasons in the NFL, and he is pragmatic. As the league works to try and make the game as safe as possible, former players pile on to put their name on the concussion lawsuits filed against the league, while at the same time criticizing the league for passing rules like the recent one that will prohibit running backs and defenders from forcibly initiating contact with an opponent and hitting them with the crown of the helmet.

Millen wonders sometimes if the rule makers go too far, as he acknowledges that “we all know what we are signing up for. We know the nature of the game.”

It is why Millen scoffs when he’s asked if his name is on any of the lawsuits. “I would be a hypocrite if I put my name on that,” he says.

A hypocrite like Hall-of-Fame running back Eric Dickerson, who decried the league for the new helmet rule by saying, “I think it’s a bad rule, mostly because it’s a natural reaction. You’ll never be able to police it. Running backs have to be able to protect themselves and doing that is protecting yourself.

“The league is trying to take the violence out of the NFL. That will never happen. What’s next, take the stiff arm away?”

First off, it seems Dickerson can’t figure out that the reason running backs have had to protect themselves is because defenders were able to come in and blast them with their helmet. But that now is also against the rule.

And, yes, the real hypocrisy comes because Dickerson’s name is on one of the lawsuits. Talk about wanting it both ways.

The real travesty is with players like quarterback Pat White, who is back in the league after signing with the Redskins.

White’s name was on one of the lawsuits, but he is taking his name off it now that he’s back in the NFL. The Washington Times reported that in White’s lawsuit, he claimed that he “continues to suffer from permanent injuries (including) severe headaches, speech issues, memory loss.”

Must be a miracle that White can potentially play again with those “permanent” issues.

Free-Agent Madness

It happens every March, so we shouldn’t be surprised, but the insanity of the early days of free agency is almost laughable. And then many fall for it, extolling teams that “won March,” while realizing most players will never live up the expectations and at the same time reporting contract figures that are usually misleading and inaccurate.

Former NFL general manager Bill Polian is one doing the laughing in his role now as a broadcast analyst. He notes there are various reasons why some teams feel compelled to dive into the market without brakes.

Polian said, “The marketing people say, ‘We have to do something. We can’t be perceived as not trying to win.’ Different GMs try different philosophies. Let’s load up on mid-priced free agents, we’ll play money ball and hope we hit on a few. Others say, ‘We need that big, marquee signing. We’re one or two players away.’ None of it really adds out.

“Building a team is a long-term process. It requires difference-makers at various positions. And you only get those through the draft.”

Quarterback Hell

Recent drafts have brought Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan, Sam Bradford, Colin Kaepernick, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III to the NFL. Of course, Kaepernick was a second-round pick like Andy Dalton.

And that’s where savvy teams should look for their new quarterbacks later this month. Don’t force a quarterback into the first round, much less the early part of the round if they’re not worthy.

The reality is that several quarterbacks in this draft will become very good players if they are in the right place at the right time, and they won’t be selected until the second or third round. Expectations are lower, and teams aren’t pressured as much to play them as what happens with high No. 1 pick.

New Bills coach Doug Marrone believes in this group of quarterbacks, and he has often been linked to Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib, who Marrone coached in college.

Asked about Nassib and why he will be a good pro, Marrone said, “I can say this without letting out too much information. You are absolutely right. For me to sit here and say, ‘Well I do not know him as well.’ I know him very well being together for four years. I have gotten to know the players that we have met with very well. I think that all of the quarterbacks that I have seen personally have the ability to win in this league. I think each one of them has pluses and minuses of what they have from the standpoint of all the intangibles that people look at when they define what they are looking for in a quarterback.

“There are pluses and minuses with everyone. I do not think anyone is so much better. We have seen in years past where there is this big separation. I think there are a lot of quarterbacks out there who are all good in what they do. Ryan, like many of the other ones I have spoken to, the reason why I think they will be successful is because of their work ethic and what they do.”

Meanwhile, Arizona coach Bruce Arians also isn’t impressed with the quarterback class at least as it pertains to being picked early in the first round, like where the Cardinals are at seventh overall.

He said, “Right now I don’t see a quarterback in this class coming up that would have been in that spot for us. Now, it might be for somebody else, but not for us. Especially with the elite offensive linemen that are out there this year, and defensive linemen.”

Losing Culture

Since the Raiders went to the Super Bowl during the 2002 season, their head coaching carousel has stopped and started way too many times. Allen is the seventh coach since the start of the 2003 season. That is a recipe for disaster.

So it was that after former Raiders wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey was released and then signed by the Colts, he was asked by Indianapolis reporters why things didn’t work in Oakland.

Heyward-Bey’s answer was eye-opening. He said, “Well, I was there for four years and I had three coaches, four OC’s (offensive coordinators), seven starting quarterbacks.”

Ouch! Talk about some turnover.