Sez Me …
Quarterbacks, NFL quarterbacks specifically, are overrated.
I know you think I’ve forgotten to get my anti-stupid vaccination, but if you lay the facts out on the table, QBs are less than more.
There’s no question they play the most important position in sports. You are nothing unless you have at least a good QB. And teams that don’t have them become desperate when drafting — taking a QB high on draft day is the ultimate gamble — and pay the best ones CEO salaries, which also presents a problem.
They may win games, but they don’t win when it matters to the jewelers who design the rings.
Quarterbacks are the matinee idols. They make the most money. But forget about all that, the commercials and podcasts and everything else that somehow mean something in 2025. If they don’t win championships, what does it mean? They’re overrated.
All right. Here goes.
Patrick Mahomes was fortuitously drafted by the Chiefs in 2017. One quarterback drafted after him has won a Super Bowl: Jalen Hurts.
Since 2000, 69 QBs have been taken in the first round, and only five — Mahomes, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers — have won Super Bowls. Meanwhile, owners have spent literal billions trying to find the right ones.
They find good ones who make their teams better, contenders. But all too many aren’t good enough. In most cases, there are flaws in areas around them that haven’t been addressed because QBs take up so much of the salary cap (Dodgers math doesn’t work here). Most don’t have quality offensive lines for protection. They have overrated receivers making ridiculous money who have the drops. Or defenses aren’t good enough.
There are all sorts of reasons why, but after Mahomes won his first MVP in 2018 (again in 2022), all of the MVPs have been quarterbacks, and no others have won a title.
Which brings us to the NFL Draft Combine, which has been going on in Indianapolis. The three highest-rated college QBs — Miami’s Cam Ward, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart — all chose to skip the Combine’s worthless physical drills.
Those three will be first-round picks, probably along with a few others who can throw to uncovered receivers in Indy and excel in the standing long jump. I don’t like this QB class, and I’d guess many teams that need one are wary. But gambles will be taken.
Needy franchises, such as the Raiders and Giants, were trying to pry veteran QB Mathew Stafford from the Rams. But he’s staying in L.A., which wisely chose to pay one of the aging QBs who actually has won a Super Bowl.
I heard Dan Marino say that, if his hometown Steelers had drafted him in 1983, he would have Super Bowl rings he never won in Miami. Maybe. The Steelers weren’t very good during the 1980s.
The first thing football men have to ask before drafting a QB is: “Can we win a title with him?” If you look at 2024’s No. 1, Caleb Williams, he was unfairly criticized. He had a promising season on a terrible team.
And these rookies are nothing close to Caleb Williams, a brilliant talent. Odds are he’ll never win a title. …
The NFL is moving away from chain gangs to an electronic system to spot the football. About time. One less thing for officials to screw up. Question: Will it be used in Chiefs games?” …
Once again, rules are being bumped around because of playoff mistakes by the zebras. This one is for the Bills, too late. …
The annual NFLPA grades from players have raised Fredo Spanos from 24th in ownership to fifth. Leasing a monstrous new practice facility, hiring a head coach who can lead, adjust and chew gum at the same time — and a GM the coach ires and put in his cart — makes for good ownership. …
Robert Kraft ranked 29th among owners. Every owner is one great quarterback or ill-advised massage away. …
Guess. There was one team that failed to reach midfield during its first nine drives in a 2024 game. K.C. in the Super Bowl. …
The NFL is going to tinker with kickoffs again. Damn. Just when I was three years away from understanding the latest one. Kickoffs should return to what they were. …
Is there anything more devastating in sports than a team that worked so hard to score allowing an immediate kickoff return for a touchdown? Balloon burster. …
Travis Kelce, for now, is not retiring. Damn, doesn’t Taylor Swift have somewhere else to go? …
If Kelce was indeed battling a “serious illness” prior to the Super Bowl, then what’s the NFL going to do about withholding it on K.C.’s injury report, a definite breach of protocol? And if it were serious, what was he doing on the field? …
Jags youthful GM James Gladstone says he doesn’t believe we’ve seen the best of Trevor Lawrence. I believe we have. At Clemson. …
I just can’t see how this Tom Brady/Raiders part owner/Fox broadcaster can last. There is no rabbi overseeing this. It ain’t kosher. …
I know one thing: If Pete Rozelle were commissioner, Brady would be either-or. Or neither. …
Micah Parsons wants to play for the Eagles? Don’t know if he’s good enough. I’d like to sit at the Algonquin Round Table, too. …
LeBron has found what he really needs at 40 — a great er. Luka isn’t Larry Bird, but he can flat-out the basketball. …
After a century in business, The Pantry in downtown L.A. could be closing March 2 due to a reported union dispute. Heartbreaking. It is one of the best places on earth to have food that actually can be seen without a magnifying glass and interpreter. …
Ed Zieralski and I once went to The Pantry for a late dinner following a Judases exhibition game in Anaheim. Just a bit out of the way. But traffic was light. …
Is Anders Dreyer on our Opening Day Mount Rushmore? In that nothing happened before 2025, he’s the only one on it. …
RIP, Roberta Flack. One of our finest voices. One of the great shames is that she didn’t get to spend more time with Donny Hathaway. …
And RIP to the incredible Gene Hackman, probably the greatest cinematic coach. …
Happy 95th, Joanne Woodward. America has produced no finer pure actress. …
I miss the ion. I miss the enthusiasm. I miss the intelligence. I miss the quirkiness. I miss the smile. I miss the caring. I miss the big chair. I miss Bill Walton. …
The Grizzlies beat the Suns 151-148 Tuesday night. What does this mean? Nobody cared or tried. It was an all-star game. …
How does pardoning Pete Rose help Pete Rose? …
Fearing offseason physical confrontation, the Eagles may not visit the White House. The New Jersey Generals already have sent their regrets. …
Sigh. It’s great to know the fine art of international diplomacy remains with us. …
With history soon removed from classroom curriculums, we eventually will learn that, on Sept. 1, 1939, Poland gathered up its horse soldiers and invaded .
