More bad journalism (read at your own risk)

Well, I'm ashamed I'm doing this and normally I try to be the bigger man, but I have to rant about more bad journalism. I came in today and turned the TV on, which happened to be on ESPN2 as a 1st and 10 segment was airing. I generally don't watch, but it just happened to be on, and Rob Parker and Skip Bayless were debating whether or not Philip Rivers is a top 5 NFL QB. They also had their own lists. It was like a car wreck. You know it's going to be bad, but you have to watch.

Skips argument was for Rivers inclusion, and part of his basis was that he "outplayed" Peyton twice in the playoffs. That lit the fuse. Here are the stats from those two games:

2007:

Rivers: 14/19, 264 yds, 3 TDs, 1 pick, 128.6 rating. Manning: 33/48, 402 yds, 3 TDs, 2 picks, 122.5 rating. Statistic-wise, Rivers was slightly better, but the Colts D played very poor, and did not have Freeney or Mathis. Add that in with Harrison's fumble deep in SD territory, ending a likely TD drive, and Manning's pick that went through Wayne's hands, also in SD territory thwarting a likely scoring drive. It's debatable, but Rivers did not technically "outplay" Manning.

2008:

Rivers: 20/36, 217 yds, 0 TDs, 1 pick, 91 rating. Manning: 25/42, 310 yds, 1 TD, 0 picks, 131.7 rating. Here, it's not even debatable. Rivers sucked, Manning did not. And Manning did that despite their punter putting 5 punts inside the 15, and 4 inside the 10 (one went to 5, one went to 1). Our D and Special Teams got their ass kicked by Darren Sproles' 328 total yards and they won the coin toss. Manning did not touch the ball in OT. A bunch of crappy calls by the refs gave SD their winning drive.

So although SD outplayed us, or to be biased, we beat ourselves, but Rivers did not outplay Manning either game. Also in the segment, Bayless and Parker listed their top 5 QBs. Bayless picked Brady 1, Manning 2, and Parker picked Manning 1, Brees 2, and Brady 3. This annoyed me moderately, just b/c it was Skip, but didn't send me into a rage. Skip's next comment, however, did. He asked Parker why he put Manning 1 over Brady. He asked in the same tone one would use if asking, "Why would you eat a Big Mac right before running a marathon?" Then Parker acted like it was only because he didn't think Brady was healthy (basically indicating a healthy Brady is better). Skip then got fiery and started the "rings" and postseason BS. Parker moderately shot that down by saying it's been a long time since that Super Bowl win, but still was soft in Peyton's defense. I swear, I feel ESPN rigged that "debate" just to try and put down the factual Manning>Brady debate that was settled last Sunday.

So far this season, Skip has undermined the Colts by saying (1) they're facing too much change---a stupid argument that has long since been proven false; (2) Losing Sanders and Jackson for the season would torpedo us---He clearly did not know Sanders had been out all year and played limited in 2 games, or that Powers played in front of Jackson all year (EDIT from previously); and (3) saying the refs probably got the 4th down call wrong and Wayne should have been flagged for pass interference.

Sorry for yet another one of these annoying "ESPN is evil" posts. I have basically shrugged off the disrespect most of the season, but the lack of respect (as in none at all) we received for the come from behind win all this week has been frustrating to say the least, and the moronic Bayless comments was the final straw. Regardless of the game's outcome and the Hall of Fame QB poll, ESPN chooses to keep ignoring the Colts unless they are undermining them and Peyton. I am certain if the Colts and Pats had their roles reversed this season, the media would already have crowned NE champs for this season and next. Hopefully, we can shut all these clowns up once and for all in February.

EDIT:

I had attempts and completions in the opposite fields, so it screwed up. In 2007, Manning had 97.7 rating and Rivers had a 133.2, while in 2008, Manning had a 90.4 and Rivers had a 61.9. So rating wise, in 2007 the edge Rivers held over Manning was much larger, and vice versa in '08. Thanks to P0RSKIN2.

Okay.....Phew! Got that out of my system.