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Safe Pick isn't all that Safe

Ricky Spanish

By Ricky Spanish,
in Carolina Panthers

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Ricky Spanish Grand Master

Ricky Spanish

Posted
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2011/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=6343941

John Clayton article. Talking about how parcells wishes he would have taken matt ryan first overall, and how taking a guy that isn't a QB is just as big of a risk as taking a guy that is.

interesting stuff to say the least, at least it's different than what's been going on around here.

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Ricky Spanish Grand Master

Ricky Spanish

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it just shows that you will be scrutinized for not picking a franchise QB even though the guy you picked is a Pro Bowler.

yup. like it or not, QB is THE most important player on the field. he touches the ball every snap and runs the offense. sure you can have a beast at LT guarding him, but if he can't do poo, your offense can't do poo.

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mav1234 Grand Master

mav1234

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it's funny because Parcells' comments seemed to me to be more directed at how taking Pat White, despite the huge question marks about the offense he came from, was a big mistake.

He does say that maybe they should have taken him but this just came out today that really kinda debunks part of Clayton's article:

"Parcells: Dolphins should have taken Ryan, not Long, in '08."

The NFL.com headline was 150 percent longer than the actual quote. The former Miami Dolphins personnel executive, a bit stunned, also insisted it was inaccurate.

Parcells said he doesn't lament drafting Michigan left tackle Jake Long first overall in 2008 and claimed if he had to do it all over again -- even knowing what we know three years later -- he would still select Long ahead of quarterback Matt Ryan.

"Absolutely," Parcells told me Wednesday morning. "I do not regret taking Jake Long."

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/27893/parcells-does-not-regret-drafting-jake-long

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panthers55 Grand Master

panthers55

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I would really doubt that the Tuna would regret picking a three time pro-bowler with the first pick. But when you look at whether Long or Ryan make more of an impact on his team, it is very clear that Ryan wins hands down. And that is the point. Without a franchise quarterback, you can't win year in and out.

Just like we wouldn't ever say we regretted drafting Peppers where we did. But if we had not found Jake and been stuck with Peete and Weinke and Carr had gone on to star in the league, the same issue could have been said about us.

If we pass on Newton and Gabbert and instead pick Green or Peterson, the only way you regret that decision is when either of those quarterbacks go on to be a star in the league and Moore and Clausen continue to struggle. If Gabbert and Newton struggle then passing on them will look like genius instead of folly particularly if we find our Qb of the future in another venue.

Hindsight is always 20-20.

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