I'm not taking the bait from Kerry J. Byrne, closeted Patriots fan
by Brad Wells on Jun 30, 2010 10:37 AM EDT
in Colts Analysis
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PrintThanks to for posting a link to Kerry J. Bryrne's article declaring that Peyton Manning did not deserve the 2008 and 2009 AP NFL MVP awards.
In the NFL, they should just rename it the Peyton Manning Memorial Award since the voters now hand him MVP honors each year merely as a mindless reflex, even on seasons when he clearly did not deserve it, as was the case in both 2008 and 2009.
Kerry doesn't give us any names who clearly deserved the award over Peyton, but he does make a clearly vague suggestion that clearly Jared Allen might have clearly deserved the award clearly over the best quarterback in all of football, maybe ever.
For those of you who have read Stampede Blue for a long time, I have a obnoxiously annoying history for attacking "journalists" and other writers who pen sh*t so blatantly stupid it lowers one's IQ level a point each time their stuff is read. However, what only a few have caught onto is that the people I "attack" are actually people I have a measure of respect for. In many cases, they are accomplished, intelligent, thoughtful people who just happen to not know WTF? they are writing about. They've either gotten lazy and complacent in their cushy jobs, most of which do not have assh*le editors hovering over them anymore, demanding they "dig deeper" into the truth of the story, or they've forgotten that sports writing does indeed need to be held to a high standard. It doesn't matter if you're writing about a Toledo Mudhens home opener or the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl, readers expect sports writers to provide high level content with every single article they file. No exceptions.
In my rants against these complacent mainstream media personalities, I take the role of said assh*le editor, demanding accountability and higher standards from each of them.
I "attack" these people because I expect more from them. I simply refuse to accept their laziness, and calling them names while, at the same time, insulting their over-inflated salaries has gotten their attention over the years. When these people have met me face-to-face, more often than not they understand where I'm coming from when I call them "schmucks."
With Kerry J. Byrne, who has written only nineteen articles for SI since September of last year, I don't hold him to any standard. He's a real schmuck. A genuine schmuck. He's that asshat who sits at the end of the bar, a bowl of soggy peanuts in front of him, sipping cheap beer and constantly complaining about how Peyton Manning sucks. You know who I'm talking about, right? There's, at least, one of of these guys in every bar on the East Coast.
You also might remember Kerry as the founder and publisher of Cold Hard Football Facts, a site I've often ripped because (quite frankly) it's sort of dishonest. It's always been a place that has viciously attacked Peyton Manning for no reason whatsoever. I also do not think it's a coincidence that their writers do a lot of work for Boston-area media outlets (like WEEI).
Basically, it's a closeted Patriots fan website that does not want to call itself that because they want to appear "objective." They were this way four years ago, and they haven't changed much in all that time.
Also, in more than a few cases, I'm reasonably certain Kerry and his ilk have written articles specifically to piss off people like me. When they do so, their desire is that I get angry, write a bunch of blabbit-blab-blab, link to them, and storm off fuming. Meanwhile, they sit back in their likely Patriots-themed office, complete with signed Bill Belichick hoodie hanging on the wall, enjoying the modest traffic boost from the angry Colts fans on a slow news day.
Today, I'm not going to do that.
I'm happy to link to Kerry's article and tell everyone here, "Hey, read it if you want to." But, that's it. With Kerry, I have no expectations and no desire to hold him accountable to anything. He's kind of a useless writer who brings nothing to the table but mindless hate and (in some cases) silly paranoia. This mindset not only infiltrates his sports writing, but also his political writing, which he occasionally dabbles in. I'm not going to link to the political stuff because I work hard to avoid political discussions in a sports forum. Unlike most topics, sports has the unique power to unite people who would, otherwise, detest one another. Kerry doesn't seem to grasp that, as (in my opinion) his political writing is just a hate-filled and spiteful as his sports writing is.
Perhaps that's why SI only has him occasionally write articles for them once every lunar eclipse.
So, when you look at the source, and the source's rather underwhelming body of work (in terms of quality), it's no surprise that Kerry J. Byrne is shoving another "Peyton sucks" article down the throats of readers. Unlike people like Peter King, Tom Curran, Mike Florio, and even Bob Kravitz (all of which I bashed and insulted more than a few times), there is no point in holding Kerry accountable. He's far too wrapped up in his own douchebaggery to warrant anything other than apathy from folks like me.
This is why I pretty much ignore CHFF and anything written by Kerry unless someone brings them both to my attention. So, thanks for another stirring article, Kerry. Pretty much what I got out of it is you think Jared Allen should have won the MVP awards in 2008 and 2009.
I think even most Patriots fans would find that train of logic pretty spotty, and that's saying something.
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2008, I disagree, 2009, I somewhat agree
In 2008, given what Manning had to go through to get going after a 3-4 record and pulling off 9 straight wins once his rehab efforts kicked in, the Colts team overachieved that year and it was primarily because of Manning. Heck, he was the only QB who threw 3 TD passes against the SB champ Steelers that year (Wayne, Clark, and Rhodes caught TD passes from him) in that road game at Pittsburgh we won 24-20, if I remember right. Manning was hands down MVP in 2008.
In 2009, both Favre and Brees had as much a legitimate claim to the MVP award as Manning. When you use the argument “take away Manning from the Colts and see how well they do with Sorgi/Painter”, then I would say “take away Brees from the Saints and see how well they do with Mark Brunell”. We saw Mark Brunell in that last game against the Panthers, awful would be a kind way to describe his level of performance.
Sean Payton did take a parting shot at Manning saying that the true MVP won the SB MVP. I did not like that but statistically, he had a point. Brees and Favre were better statistically than Manning last year, mainly due to the fact that Manning had to work with “rookie” WRs who spent their first NFL training camp with him (just to rehash, Garcon did not spend TC with Manning in his rookie year who was absent in 2008). For that reason, I wanted Brees to have it, to take some pressure off Manning and the “no regular season MVP has won the SB since Kurt Warner in 1999” history that came with it.
This year, Brees will be viewed in a different limelight, and could very well earn his first MVP, if he continues the way he did the last few years. Plus, the Saints have one cup cake schedule.
Don't know about that cupcake schedule
They drew the NFC North, with games in Ciny and Baltimore, two of the better defenses.
Anyway, I totally agree. Who, in Kerry Byrnes mind, was the 2008 MVP? Matt Cassel? Manning was the only legitimate selection. Some were clamoring for Michael Turner, who was probably the legitimate runner-up. Some were clamoring for Chad Pennington, which was silly, since the Wildcat was as big a part of their success as he was in 2008. In all reality Manning was the hands down MVP in 2008.
As you said, in 2009, Brees could have easily gotten it. I was actually surprised Peyton got so much of the vote. To me, Favre shouldn’t of been since he cooled off a lot at the end, and had Adrian Peterson in the backfield.
EVH+DLR=BFFs........ God I Hope So!!
NFC West
The NFC West, whoever draws it, their schedule gets a little more cushier. We drew it last year, that definitely helped our win total, I thought. The Chargers, with probably drawing the NFC West, and playing in the AFC West, if they don’t get the #1 seed in the AFC, they would have underachieved. But then, Philip Rivers better grow a pair of eyes in the back of his head if McNeil is not signing his tender, sits out the season, and is not there to protect his blindside.
The NFC East has however had a hand in determining the SB champs since 2006, here take a look:
2006 – Colts played the entire NFC East, beat Bears to become SB champs
2007 – Giants, an NFC East team, beat the Pats who played the entire NFC East, to become SB champs
2008 – Steelers who played the entire NFC East, beat the Cardinals who played the entire NFC East, to become SB champs
2009 – Saints who played the entire NFC East beat the Colts to become SB champs
2010 – Colts play the entire NFC East?? On the NFC side, the Packers, Vikings (basing on previous year’s playoff teams) play the entire NFC East?? Of course, an NFC East team that makes the SB could throw things off like the giant killing Giants in 2007
Just a few patterns to ponder about :-).
Interesting pattern
I’m sure if BSPN heard about this, they would flaunt some “The Beast NFC East prepares you for success” bull like they usually do. It is probably nothing that a selective coincidence, but a very interesting one, and maybe a lucky one in our case.
EVH+DLR=BFFs........ God I Hope So!!
IIRC...
they thought Kurt Warner was the obvious 2008 MVP.
Jared Allen wasn’t even that good last year outside of two games. He’s not the most valuable lineman on that team.
The logic they use in that article, as with all of their “facts”, is full of holes. That SI runs his content is an even bigger strike against them than Don Banks and Jon Heyman combined.
Cookie Cookie Cookie starts with C!
I hope Manning takes a shot at him, when he wins his second Coach of the year award
(While Tony Dungy was ignored every year and Caldwell will be ignored again)
Payton even was second last year.
While I like Brees..... still hoping he gets the Madden curse....
as our fellow Colts fan Jamkel has lucidly pointed out:
So long as they keep the “V” in MVP, and keep it standing for Valuable… Peyton will have deserved all his MVPs. If you are looking at just the criteria of a player who is the single most valuable member to a teams success, then there is no question its Manning. This past year Brees had a legitimate argument too, but he had his full corps of receivers, Manning didn’t. Thats why QBs are winning it more than any other position. ……., but in 2008, and 2009, it was obvious that there was no strong competitor against Manning for justifiably being the, "Most Valuable Player," on any team.
……by Jamkel on Jun 29, 2010 1:34 PM PDT reply actions
Brees was great in 2009 but he is NOT “the Most Valuable” to his team – he is valuable and very valuable but not the “MOST” valuable, meaning there can only be 1.
If you see my smilieys, think of E.M.H. - our COLTs King of Smileys!
by Manning4ever on Jun 30, 2010 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions
i agree with this.
Without Peyton, we are mediocre at best. Peyton elevate the whole teams level of play. Lets not forget, Peyton is a marked man, he has been since he was drafted. The irony is, he never gets touched, much like Dan Marino before him, Peyton has a quick delivery and is rarely if ever sacked. Peyton has made an ordinary O-line, average WR’s and average RB’s look better then they actually are. Im not talking about the RB’s and WR’s currently on our roster. So save it. All one needs to do too prove this point, is, look at the Indianapolis Colts before and after Peyton. Proof Positive.
If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, Do you think Greece would help?
This guy doesn't even try to conceal his homerism.
Look at the top stories that show up on his ‘bio’ page at WEEI…
http://www.weei.com/columnists/kerry-byrne
Four stories is a small sample size, but EACH ONE is either chock full of starry-eyed wonder at the gee-golly-greatness of the Pats’ dynasty, or is like some pouty little child complaining about how all the popular kids like that stinky old Peyton guy.
CHFF said...
Chad Pennington was the true 2008 MVP. Take it with a grain of salt.
Frankly, Brees did have every bit the argument to be MVP as Peyton did in 2009. We campaigned hard for Peyton in 2008 because what he did was super human. In 2009, however, anyone who voted for Brees would have been 100% justified. I’d still take Peyton, but I get the argument.
2008? That was his finest work.
18to88.com
by deshawn zombie on Jun 30, 2010 11:17 AM EDT reply actions
I still think 2006 was his finest work (regular season only)
but 2008 was a close second.
EVH+DLR=BFFs........ God I Hope So!!
I am in 100% agreement about Manning's 2008 season.
It may have been one of the three or four best seasons of pure quarterbacking (that is, performance irrespective of statistics, although he had those too) the NFL has ever seen.
I think the voters’ argument for Manning in 2009 (which I’m sure you remember) is that he was able to do, not necessarily more, but as much as Brees and Favre that year with less, and under less favourable circumstances (cf., o-line, running game, experience in the receiving corps).
Anonymity breeds inhumanity. In simpler terms, don't be a troll.
haha
Think you kinda took the bait BBS. But that’s a horrid article. Allen is a great player for sure, but I don’t think he’s the sole reason for the Vikings becoming a power. They were already on their way up.
Also, I’m not even sure that he’s non QB MVP as he claims. Chris and Andre Johnson, Revis or Ray Rice may have some beef with that.
Today I've learned a new word...
“Douchebaggery”
My goal today is to use it in a sentence at least once, preferably while at work. I love learning new things…
Yeah, that one's good,
but I coined one a few years back that I’d like to see gain traction in the vernacular:
Whoreduggery.
Learn it. Use it. Love it.
Anonymity breeds inhumanity. In simpler terms, don't be a troll.
Ok, you said, "I think even most Patriots fans would find that train of logic pretty spotty, and that's saying something."
So I feel, as a Patriots fan that I need to respond.
Living in Minnesota, I also get to watch far more Vikings games than I care to. Let’s start there. Jared Allen is a beast. He is definitely an elite at his position and deserves the accolades he gets. The Vikings back-end is pretty piss poor in my opinion. If it was better, Allen’s numbers would be better.
Now the question does he deserve the MVP? Absolutely not. Does he deserve the MV Non-QB P? Again no. He is not even the most valuable player on the team. In 2008, the Vikings MVP was Adrian Peterson – the guy that made their offense go. In 2009, as much as I hate to admit it, the Vikings MVP was Favre he brought entirely new dimensions to a one dimensional offense.
The only guy beyond fivehead that I would really consider for league wide honors in 2008 and 2009 was Brees – a QB. He carried his team on his shoulders, as many great QB’s have done. I suspect that if the voting had taken place after the Super Bowl, he might have earned it.
Still Peyton got the awards, and I feel he was deserving both times. Could others have been in consideration? Sure, but Jared Allen? No way.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jun 30, 2010 11:53 AM EDT reply actions
OUTRAGEOUS!
Also, in more than a few cases, I’m reasonably certain Kerry and his ilk have written articles specifically to piss off people like me.
What blogger writer in his right mind would ever consider such a horrendous action?!?
Keep the faith!
Like molassis in January, so goes the contract negotiations.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jun 30, 2010 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
A bit too uncertain for my liking
The two sides still have time to kiss and make nice (please, please, please) but the longer the situation continues, the less likely I think that will happen. It’s unfortunate, really.
Keep the faith!
Someone sounds a little butt-hurt...
So a closeted Patriots fan took a shot at Peyton. Big whoop. He spends a single paragraph talking about Manning, and you write an entire article about it. Wouldn’t your time be better spent looking at Allen’s stats and sacks and comparing them to a guy like our very own Dwight Freeney? IIRC, Allen has more impressive numbers against worse opponents, and is a lot less consistent than Freeney.
Instead, we get an article moaning about a guy’s opinion. You had the opportunity to prove his analysis of Allen wrong, or at least cast some question on his man-crush, yet you just cried like a little girl because he’s attacking “THE GREATEST QB EVER.”
I feel it was totally warranted.
It was an unnecessary, inflammatory cheap shot in an article which didn’t even call necessarily for the mention in the first place.
Anonymity breeds inhumanity. In simpler terms, don't be a troll.
yea,
that’s what i was referring to. I’d like to see that explored in greater depth, or posted as a response to Byrne’s article.
No, you didn't take the bait.
The guy wrote one paragraph, that really says more about the voting process than any slight against Peyton, and you knee-jerk respond with a profanity laced rant filled with personal attacks. Way to take a stand on journalistic integrity.
by Cro-mags on Jun 30, 2010 12:36 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Damn, BBS, that's an awful lotta work going into telling everyone how apathetic you are about the article. ;)
That said, I can see why you feel that way. Byrne didn’t really apply a “dizzying array of Cold, Hard Football Facts”, but rather some isolated stats – most of them more unit than individual player oriented – that can indeed indicate that Allen is a beast, but doesn’t add up to being “pro football’s greatest impact player”. To be honest, I don’t even think you can list him as being the ‘08 and ’09 Vikings’ “greatest impact player”, not with Peterson and (in ‘09) Favre there. Byrne takes a manly shot at making his case, but ultimately I don’t see him as delivering.
------
"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."
The SI article is a bit silly.
I don’t know if Allen is an MVP, but it is a fair point to make about how the award is handed out: QBs are too often the recipients. Clearly they should win MVPs more often than other positions as they are the most important players in general, but on some teams RBs are the studs, or DEs and LBs. It depends on each team. In that regard, he has a point. It wasn’t really even anti-Manning as much as anti-QB, so there really wasn’t even any bait to take. But yeah, it’s true that he isn’t a great writer.
"I throw him four wide ones then try to pick him off first base." - Preacher Roe on Stan Musial
The basic argument of the article about a seperate award for Non-QBs is probably valid.
Looking around the league, it’s hard to get very far without a decent QB. That in itself tells you the QB position is pretty important. If you have an elite QB, then he is probably pretty critical to your team’s success. That tends to make him your team’s MVP. That tends to make the selection for league MVP a selection among QBs. Not always, but more often than not. If the QB sucks, then the team usually goes as far as its running back can carry it. Occasionally you see those guys pop up as well.
Still defensive POTY, and offensive POTY (maybe excluding QBs) pretty much covers it, with the league MVP most likely being either a QB, or a RB.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jun 30, 2010 1:16 PM EDT reply actions
TMQ already hands out an award similar to this
After each season, TMQ issues their Non-QB, Non-RB NFL MVP award, to recognize what it considers the league’s best player that doesn’t necessarily get all of the media attention. Recipients in the past have included offensive linemen (including Jeff Saturday in 2006), linebackers, and tight ends (including Dallas Clark last year).
Sure, it doesn’t hold nearly as much credibility of the AP NFL MVP, but people are still recognizing these players for their accomplishments. Since the mainstream media and most football fans will always pull for the Mannings, Bresses (what’s the plural of Brees?), and Petersons, that likely won’t change; this acts as a decent complimentary award for the forgotten contributors on teams.
Nice.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jun 30, 2010 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Let me get this straight.
This guy wants to sarcastically call the MVP the Peyton Memorial award(or some such), but then he went on to say,
“…And that player over the past six seasons, the NFL’s Most Valuable Non-Quarterback Player, is Jared Allen…”
So, it would be okay to give the award to Jared for the past SIX years straight? Huh.
Guess who my favorite team is...
by Indcolt18 on Jun 30, 2010 1:22 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
But
the sole reason the Chiefs got bad was because he left! And the sole reason for the Vikings getting better was his arrival!
His success has nothing to do with joining what was already a dominant D Line, of course. And the Chiefs weren’t falling apart in every imaginable way already. It’s just that he’s irreplaceable.
I like Jared Allen and I agree that MVP is too QB-centric to let other guys get their due. But the QB really is the most valuable position. Byrne’s argument should’ve just focused on naming a non-QB MVP without taking a pointless shot at Manning. We could disagree with it (I do), but at least it wouldn’t make him look immature and stupid.
Cookie Cookie Cookie starts with C!
He is ignoring the fact that Allen didn't leave, he was shipped out.
They were sucking and needed draft picks more than one dominant D lineman. He also ignores the fact that the Vikings were only a piece or two from being contender.
Aside from, you know, facts, the guy was right on.
My life has been a trivial pursuit. Trivia: where three roads meet.
The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
by SlotMachinePlayer on Jun 30, 2010 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions
15 paragraphs on the main page
way to not take the bait.
Cookie Cookie Cookie starts with C!
by willyduer on Jun 30, 2010 2:56 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yanno...
There is a reason why offensive players are virtual locks to win the MVP. They are the ones who typically touch the ball the most. This is why RB’s and QB’s typically win….
That is also the reason why the created Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards…..
Who won that Offensive award? Drew Brees…
Who won that Defensive award? Charles Woodson
You know where Jared Allen finished in that vote? 5th place….
In 2009, there were really only a few legit candidates….and 2 of them cancelled each other out (Favre, Peterson). Both of those guys were better because of the other one…. so that really only left Johnson, Brees, and Manning. Johnson’s team never got out the gate, and got spanked pretty good by 3 teams in their first 8 games…..so he was done…
So all that was left was Peyton and Drew….both guys won 13 games straight….both put up great numbers…..both had turnover creating defenses……but only 1 had a top 5 running attack most of the year and wasnt really missing any starters on offense.
Meanwhile, the Colts were replacing Marvin Harrison to start the year, and then lost their new starter (to replace Harrison) Gonzo for the year. Manning made two unknowns look like 3rd-4th yr pros…..and took his team to 14-0 with the worst rushing attack in years for the Colts…and in the league…
Had the Colts and Saints been more even statistically….Brees wins it….but the difference in players and running game really skewed the favor for Manning…
The thing is.....
you would think the logical presentation you are making here, which we may take for granted, is easy to see and understand for most people…. but nooo…… some of them just don’t want to see the “light”! :) So talking to them, analyzing the facts with them or even forcefeeding them the truth – will not work….. The more I read these blogs or analyses, and various fan/troll comments, the more I think it is really unncessary to even bother to react to sheer stupidity or advanced blindness….
If you see my smilieys, think of E.M.H. - our COLTs King of Smileys!
I agree that Brees
was the only other legitimate contender besides manning for the MVP those two years. It’s a regular-season award… The interesting thing to me is that Jared Allen’s #s don’t improve his own case: He’s overrated – by a lot. I like him. He’s really good. But he’s not as valuable to his team as Freeney or even Gary Brackett is to ours.
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