Khyber53

Might have more to do with three touchdowns. Gimme 3 TDs and 84 yds passing and I'm going to be okay with that. Give me 1 TD, 422 yards passing and 3 INTs... well, nah. The number of yards matters much less than where those yards were on the field.

Right now, all that means is that an option is likely to be exercised. We were keeping him for year four no matter what and we will probably keep him around for year five. Both of those years would be at what could be considered reasonable fees for a QB. What kind of QB? Where on the depth chart? Doesn't say a thing. Not one damned thing about it. And that's because we don't know what we have yet from Bryce, still. But let's be honest about a few things since Canales came along. We are actually showing the kind of progress you want from a head coach. He inherited a run down, poorly assembled team that was more used to being doormats and losers than anything else. And he elevated the squad with limited resources last year, even at one point benching the starting #1 pick QB for poor performance and keeping him from starting until another injury forced his hand. And somehow, with a historically bad defense, we managed to win some games that we had no right doing and playing a couple of other championship level teams to a near deadlock. And we moved into this season with Bryce back under center and we've had some serious ups and downs for the third year QB. And the rest of the team. We're getting better but we are far from a finished product, especially at QB. But we are sitting here with a winning record and two wins against teams where the betting line had us at 10 point underdogs. We actually have a shot at the playoffs. Last year, that would have been completely unbelievable. So, here we are looking at giving Bryce that coveted 5th year option and the money and commitment that comes with it. What does that do? Well, it gives Canales and Bryce another season to fix what is broken and to grow, which he is (in fits and starts). Can Canales coax that record setting Bryce out a bit more? He did against LA last week. Maybe there's more growing to happen there. And well, as much as we might kick the walls at that thought, it would be good for everything to finally pay out on that gamble we made. But what it doesn't do... It doesn't lock us into not drafting a QB again, possibly one on Day 2 or 3 of the draft to keep Bryce's seat warm and to groom for the future. It also doesn't prevent us from snagging a FA QB out there if the right one comes along that Canales feels more confident. And if another team with a desperate need at QB or a good team in need of a quality back up comes sniffing around, there are two years on a decent contract available for trade. There's no lose in exercising the option. There are some opportunities.

This 100%. The "nobody saw this coming" game. Okay, Jake apparently believed it could happen.

Pay it now rather than later. Steady has a value all on its own and that means if you have a top 12 LT, they are probably going to need to be paid like a top 5 LT just to hang onto them. Give him top 5 salary today and it'll be a bargain compared to what it will be next season.

More than people, myself included, want to acknowledge. It's not just a coach that players need to want to run through a wall for.

Those three touchdown passes were pretty decent, though. Even the most cynical has to agree to that.

It's been many a year since we were in December talking about how games mattered for something other than draft order. This crazy, mixed up, unpredictable, maddening, uplifting and teeth gnashing season has certainly not been boring.

This is maddening because, well, it's so up and down. When the kid's on, he can be great. When he's mediocre, we can still win based on a strong running game and good defense. When he's bad, and over his history he's this more than not, then it's a sad show that no one could win with. How can anyone know what is going to happen right now? Really. It's like picking one flake in a snow globe and shaking it once a week... there is no telling where it will end up. Things I did see on Sunday from Bryce: his teammates love him; he can make the big throws with good protection and good effort from his receivers. He isn't afraid to run. He can rise up against the best in competition (but he can also sink to the level of bad competition). All I can say is if Canales goes with an aggressive game plan for Bryce that leans on a hot-hand running game, the team can beat anyone. If there's any wishy-washy play calling, then Bryce melts and couldn't beat anyone. Maybe the person Bryce needs to win over more than anyone is Canales.

Sunday threw another monkey wrench into the equation.

Evaluating Canales right now is like evaluating our WR corps. You can't take Bryce out of the equation, so you can't give it a fair judging. Bryce just throws the math off. And no, Andy Dalton games don't count. As good as a guy as he is, I think all the tread has worn off of his tires. Keep Canales and let him go into next season picking the QB he wants, either in the draft or free agency.

Here today it's ground lamb burritos for the feasting on the foes exercise. And changing it up a bit in hope of luck with Nacho cheese-flavored Bugles.

Oh, I agree on many things there. And Fields is mainly enjoyable because he plays on other teams. Yeah, this experiment has gone on far too long.

Sheeesh, he's a disappointment, but there are soooo many worse football players, judged by on or off field attributes.

Here's my deal. I hate the whole "Alpha" bullshit, because it has been turned into an act, a marketing ploy and a wonky set of qualifications. What I think you need as a QB for your team is the happy, smart leader that brings his teammates along rather than throwing them on his back. And they need to be a stone cold killer when they get to the field. As much as I dislike the guy, it's Brady over the Mannings. It's Montana over Marino. It's Bradshaw over Staubach. And here's the one that'll get me killed around here: It's Jake over Cam.