03-16-2018, 07:21 PM
(03-16-2018, 06:49 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: On any given play Burfict could make a positive contribution. And on any given play he could make a negative contribution negating his previous positive plays. Historically, usually when the team can least afford it. Marvin let's him get away with his crap and makes excuses enabling more crap. The hit on Brown in the playoff game is a prime example of his stupidity which goes back to his college play.
I can understand where you're coming from with the first part.
I agree with you on his ability to swing from highs to lows. I know I'm watching games from my own filter, but I come down on the side that he makes more plays on the plus side than the minus column.
I too find the Brown hit incredibly frustrating, but not from the perspective that Vontaze was vastly outside the realm of what should be expected on a play like that, and my opinion is the game-sealing flags for that play and the incidents that ensued immediately after should have been gift enough, but the league found a way to further advantage the Steelers into the next season too. (And then did it again for an incredibly bogus ruling from a pre-season game this past year.)
I don't include those in the negative plays he makes against the team. But even if somebody does, I would contend that at the bare minimum they balance out with his positive production to leave it at neutral. My take is that we have dealt with a lot worse than neutral for a long time at that position.
I also strongly believe that his positive contributions include helping others perform better with his calls, alignments, shifts, audibles, and general communication on the field, and I'm guessing in practice and the film room too.
Totally agree that he is definitely not above reproach, and even though I enjoy his play very much, I can imagine a time will come when I will find his contributions to the team to not add up to at least a neutral. Though I'm not there yet, I can appreciate others are well there already.
