02-08-2018, 02:25 PM
(02-07-2018, 11:12 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Wow, it really kills you that Dalton played so well in 2015.
But a player who has played at an elite level before is much more likely to play at an elite level again than a player who has never been elite. The fact that you can not admit that is sad.
- It doesn't kill me at all! I want Andy Dalton to play great and am happy for him when he does! I have every interest in him playing at a high level. Rooting against Andy Dalton would put me in the same category of people who are wanting Trump to fail. If Andy does well, it suits my interests as a Bengals fan. Not only that, but especially because he's a great person. An A+ person, in fact. There isn't a finer human being who's ever been associated with the Bengals organization, IMO. I have an Andy Dalton shirt that I wear to games or on game days sometimes. I WANT him to succeed!!!
But that doesn't mean I'm going to ignore reality, which is that so far in his career Andy Dalton has under-performed to his potential with the exception of 2015. I think a case can be made for Bodine as well - who has had a sketchy coach his entire career where as Dalton has had strong ones. They have under-performed in incredibly similar fashion.
- I also disagree in your steps of logic in coming up with "a player who has played... elite level... more likely..." etc. That's not true. I think that throughout the history of sports we can find more guys who were flashes in the pan and petered out more than we do guys who flashed and then flashed again after a few seasons. Athletes careers are not like weather patterns and I see very little correlation between he did it once, so he can do it again actually happening vs not.
^ The above might be a really fun thread idea, BTW. Athletes who had spikes in performance, fell down and then got up... or never got up.
- I also hold fast to my original point...
If people wanted Jeremy Hill gone after a really strong rookie year followed by 2 bad ones, why is Andy Dalton immune from that criticism?
Why is Tyler Eifert hated on after an outstanding season? Because he was hurt for two years? He isn't hurting himself on purpose. Yet, people want him removed from the team. At least Eifert isn't on the field sucking and causing them to lose.
Michael Johnson had some outstanding years as a Bengal... Yet, people want him cut two years after?
Bradon LaFell has also had very strong seasons. But, he gets crapped on after a rough one. His position is one where he is depending on the QB to not be so erratic, BTW. And people KNOW this and instead of looking at the crappy QB play, they blame the WR and excuse the QB.
Russel Bodine has had one of the worst O-Line coaches in the league his entire career in Cincy. His coach CLEARLY was to blame for scheme and protection plan issues. Yet, people think Bodine has no potential to get better? Andy Dalton had a 2015 that was basically 25% better than his other 6 seasons average. Russell Bodine can't be 25% better and play outstanding?
Want me to keep going with the hypocrisy?
My point is simple: The QB is a great person, had 1 great year, and 6 average to below average ones, while blowing big time in prime time, playoff, or meaningful games. He can beat the tar out of San Diego in the regular season, but fills his pants in the playoffs two weeks later against them and people don't get on him the way they do others =... even though his position determines the outcome of the game more than any other on the team. He gets creamed by the Steelers or Patriots, but destroys crappy Browns and Rams teams? Yet fans seem to want him to stay while other players have similar seasons/performances and people are up in arms as to why they are still in Cincinnati. It makes no sense to me.
