September 21, 2009, at 1:02 pm
There are two quarterbacks in the NFL that I truly feel are so overrated that it makes me sick. One is Ben Roethlisberger. When I listen to people use his name in the same breath as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady it makes me want to kill anything within arms reach. He holds the ball too long and routinely puts up pedestrian efforts with one good play in it, and everyone loves him in the morning.
The other is Tony Romo. I’m a strong believer in TD-INT ratio as an incredibly important stat. I know that it’s flawed, but the truth is that it’s the best that we’ve got. The passer rating is far too dependent on yardage than can be gained after the catch. I am a fan of completion percentages, but how often have we seen a quarterback gave a high completion percentage but still lose because he couldn’t get in the end zone? A whole bunch.
What we get with TD-INT ratio is a measure of the best play that a QB can make against the worst play he can make. If anything, the INTs are far more important than the TDs. Interceptions kill drives and lose games, while a touchdown pass can be a screen that the receiver takes the distance. I’d rather have a quarterback who doesn’t throw many touchdowns, but doesn’t turn the ball over.
And we come full circle to Tony Romo. Last night, we watched him throw away a game that the Giants should have lost. The Cowboys defense took away a lot of what the Giants wanted to the do on the offense and gave their quarterback every chance to win the game. Instead, he threw four interceptions and cost his team a the football game that could have launched them to a successful season.
Romo’s downfall is the same one that has haunted Brett Favre and the one that will keep Jay Cutler from ever becoming one of the games elite. I’m not sure if it’s that they don’t read coverage well, of if it’s that they just have too much faith in their arm to magically teleport the ball into the receiver’s arm, but they all just make too many dumb decisions that lead to picks.
So, where does that put Romo in the NFL’s quarterback hierarchy? It doesn’t mean that he is a bad quarterback, it means that he is just not as good as a lot of people who look at his gaudy yardage totals would lead you to beleive. Instead of being in the top five, he is instead somewhere around ten-to-twelve. And for those you are curious, let’s put my little list up for all to view:
- Drew Brees, NO
- Peyton Manning, IND
- Tom Brady, NO
- Phillip Rivers, SD
- Aaron Rodgers, GB
- Matt Ryan, ATL
- Eli Manning, NYG
- Ben Roethlisberger, PIT
- Trent Edwards, BUF
- Tony Romo, DAL
- Jay Cutler, CHI
Be aware that this list changes almost day to day. I’m sure that you are probably screaming at your computer at this point because I just said that Trent Edwards is a better quarterback than Romo. Well, he is. Look at their stats and pay particular notice to the interception numbers. You tell me if you would rather have roughly six interceptions per season or 15? Yea, Edwards is better.
Last night, on a national stage that was supposed to Jerry Jones’ crowning moment, his quarterback cost him a victory that I’m sure he believed was birthright. That stadium that NBC insisted upon comparing to the Roman Colosseum (if anyone is visiting this Stadium in 3019, I’ll roll over in my grave) opened with a loss because of Tony Romo.
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Overall, I think Romo sucks. He has plenty of talent from his recievers to improve his stats. He just can’t utilize them to his advantage. He also chokes when it gets closer to playoff time.
Mcnabb is the greatest, Point Blank!!!!
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Reply to Marlon WicklesYou have sharon rodgers as number 5?!?!?!?!
LOL
Obviously, you either:
1. don’t know much about football
2. are another teddy thompson/mike mccarthy ball-licker
Either way – nothing your write is of any value.
Reply to joeJoe,
Well, since Jason already touched on you being an idiot, let’s bring up some numbers to prove it.
Rodgers: 63.6% completion, 4,308 yards, 28 TDs, 13 INTs.
Yep. You’re right. You guys should probably try to get Brett Favre back. Rodgers is an MVP candidate, and assuming that his 2 minute drill improves, he will continue to be one of the league’s best.
So, Suck it, Joe.
Reply to Anthony De FrancoJoe,
Very insightful comment. Good to see Ball-licker thrown in there. Impressive vernacular.
Regardless, obviously your comment was a shameless defense of Romo. Look I’ve been a Romo backer for years now and the crux of many arguments I’ve had with Anthony in the past was Romo V. Eli.
And I hate, hate, hate to admit it but he was right. It’s becoming hard to defend Romo in the same way it’s hard to defend Brett Farve. Romo always seems to make a stupid mistake in crunch time. And while Romo might have more physical tools then many of the QB’s on this list at some point you just have to face the facts.
Is Romo a great QB? He certainly needs to refine his game, but we’ve all been waiting for years for it to happen.
Reply to Jason ComackWho says Romo is elite?
I am surprised to not see McNabb. He always makes the most out of a bad (somewhat underrated) group. Except for Hank Baskett. There’s no saving that guy.
By the way, how about Jeff Garcia when he has a job?
Reply to Max CasterMax,
There are a lot of people who still defend Romo tooth and nail. As for McNabb, he’s never on the field. That’s the same reason that Carson Palmer isn’t on there either.
In 2002, I would have had Garcia in there no problem. Now, he’s a system QB that is a great backup, but a poor starter.
Reply to Anthony De FrancoInteresting read Defranco. However, I wouldn’t say I was screaming when I saw Trent Edwards but I was a bit surprised. I would take Carson Palmer, Joe Flacco, and Matt Schaub all before I touch Edwards or Romo. With that being said, Edwards > Romo.
Long live the Slice…
Reply to MattMatt,
I almost put Flacco in there. Schaub is also pretty interception prone and that’s why he’s not on the list. Palmer needs to play well again before he even comes close.
Reply to Anthony De Franco