11-08-2015, 11:14 AM
(11-07-2015, 02:05 PM)fredtoast Wrote: One of the announcers made a great point Thursday night. If Dalton had gone 8-8 then 9-7 and missed the playoffs his first two season he would be getting a lot LESS criticism than he is now.
That doesn't seem to make any sense, but when you think about it it is true. He would be getting lots of credit for how he is developing into a top NFL QB. But since he won MORE than that he is getting ripped instead of complimented.
(11-08-2015, 03:31 AM)SB50Champs Wrote: It is sad that that is a very true and unfair statement.
Actually, it is not an unfair statement. Let's take a look at how the "talking head" conversation would have gone had Dalton had a "normal progression".
DISCLAIMER: EVERYTHING THAT FOLLOWS IS PURE SUPPOSITION ON MY PART.
1st year. Dalton struggles as a rookie QB and one would have thought much about it since virtually ALL rookie QBs struggle. The talking heads would have pointed out that he inherited a 4-12 roster and needed more talent to succeed. Case in point ... no one gave two shits about how bad Peyton Manning was his rookie year. Had Dalton gone 5-11, the talking heads would have thought it was a pretty decent showing.
Then, in year 2, the Bengals go from 5-11 (in Dalton's first year) to 7-8 and miss the playoffs. Again, the talking heads would have said he improved a lot but the team was still 3-5 players away from the playoffs.
In Dalton's 3rd year, the Bengals go 9-7 and miss the playoffs. Dalton's numers were good but, again, the talking heads would have said that the Bengals were 1 or 2 players away.
4th year, Dalton regresses in terms of numbers BUT the Bengals back into the playoffs. They are decimated by skill position injuries and get clobbered in the first round. And, yet again, Dalton ... and the Bengals ... would have gotten a pass by the talking heads because of all of the injuries.
So again, I don't thing the statement was unfair to Dalton and the Bengals ... had Dalton progressed (in terms of wins and numbers) the way most rookie QB's progress.
And remember, we (as an organization) have to also overcome a "built in bias" because of the 90s.
No one gives a crap (now) that the Squealers (from 1945 to 1971) were a horrible football team. If the Clowns ever get to be a winning football team (us unlikely as that sounds), no one will care that they stunk up the joint since 1997 ... because the Browns had a history of winning in the 40s, 50s and 60s". The Ravens could stink it up from now until 2030 ... but but if they go 0-10 in playoff 1-and-done after that, no one will care because they won 2 Super Bowls in the early 2000s.
