FanPost

Denver's Harris Says "Wilson is Better Than Luck." Hints At How Other Players Feel On Subject

2 years ago I wrote an article on Andrew Luck vs RG3 as the two were set to make their pro debuts. In it I talked about the hype machines surrounding both players, and how it affected the draft status of each. When I suggested that their was an undertone racial element involved, many on this site had a problem with it because quite frankly, you just can't say anything remotely negative around here about Andrew Luck due the amount of fans who've "deitized" him. Back in that article I also suggested that there were players in the league who also felt that Luck was being over "pumped" and shoved down the throats of fans via the media as a clear favorite amongst NFL commentators and talking heads alike. Former NFL QB Warren Moon spoke on the subject of racism in the NFL as he was no stranger to the scrutiny that most African American QBs unjustifiably go through every year leading up to the NFL draft. Moon even went as far as saying he had to begin his pro football career in Canada because of the unfair criticism he received.

While Luck has been dubbed "the next Peyton Manning," black QBs with the slightest hint of "athletic ability" who come into the league are usually dubbed "the next Michael Vick." The stereotypes never fail. Luck isn't the 1st White QB who has received a free "pre-draft hype machine" courtesy of the so-called "NFL experts." The same things they were saying about Luck they also said about QBs like Ryan Leaf, David Carr, and Tim Couch. Although they may not have been called the next "John Elway," none of them received the kind of stereotypes that are usually reserved for there African American counterparts. When Leaf was being compared to Manning, I said to myself: "If the Colts don't draft Manning I will burn my Colts jersey and go root for the Bears." I knew coming out of college Leaf was going to be a bust because in spite of his physical tools, he just didn't have the pedigree of an NFL QB. Unlike most people, I don't put a lot of stock into "stats." For me, a player has to pass the "eye test." Manning did and Leaf didn't as far as I was concerned. That said, I never road the "hype train" behind Leaf and put all my chips on Manning from day one. Leaf's situation was no different than Luck's as far as media comparisons, except for the fact that Luck's hype train started from the moment he strapped on a Stanford helmet and has been going strong ever since.

Enter Denver CB Chris Harris. Harris, who's played against both Luck and Wilson already this season, made headlines when he said that "Wilson is a better QB than Luck."

"Keep talking up Andrew Luck," Broncos cornerback Chris Harris said Sunday per Vic Lombardi of KCNC-TV. "Russell Wilson is better than Luck. No question."

When you read his comments on the subject, it's not hard to sense the undertone of disgust Harris feels from not only the "slight" that QBs like Russell Wilson have taken upon entering the league, but also the over hype that Luck continues to get from analysts like Vic Lombardi. Now granted, none of this is Luck's fault as he has no control over the things the media says about him. Still, the "overboard" adulation from talking heads of Sports networks like ESPN and FOX don't help his cause, especially in the eyes of players who are tired of hearing about Luck ad nauseam. The hype surrounding Luck reminds me of the hype that surrounded Tim Tebow leading up to his rookie season. Remember when the abundance of former and present QBs were coming out of the wood works offering to "help him" be a better QB in the NFL? It was so bad that even former Ravens LB Ray Lewis, who was still playing at the time asked: "Why are so many people trying to help this guy out so much? "I don't recall seeing anyone trying to do this for any other QB who's come into the league so why does he get special treatment?"

In case you were wondering, Chris Harris isn't the only player or person for that matter who feels the way he does about Wilson vs Luck. Even as I write this how much do you want to bet that another story is on its way covering another NFL player who second's Harris' comments? The Luck supporters are already out in full force on ESPN Insider with this read. I know Harris' comments have ruffled some feathers of Colts fans and Luck supporters alike, but like them, the man is entitled to his opinion no-matter how much you choose to disagree. Look, I take nothing away from Luck and feel he has the potential to live up to the expectations that everyone, and I do mean "everyone" has placed on his shoulders. That said, I also have had to rethink the wine skins on my perception of Russell Wilson as well. I was like many of you who accredited Wilson's success to "being on a stacked Seattle team that doesn't need him to do anything other than be a game manager." After seeing Wilson use his ability to extend plays when nothing's there and use that element of his game to beat some of the best team's in the league on a consistent basis, I've had to (grudgingly) acknowledge that he is indeed a couple of notches above the "game manager" label. I thought his stellar performance against the Falcons in the playoffs his rookie year was a fluke due to him being on a stacked Seahawks squad. Yet after winning last year's SB and outplaying Peyton Manning you have to be impressed with his level of play going into his third year. After 3 weeks Wilson has picked up right where he's left off without skipping a beat. At some point you have to stop being a doubter and start being a believer, especially in players who keep proving their doubters wrong.

In spite of a stellar college career at Wisconsin, there was no pre-draft "hype train" for Wilson, which played a large role as to why he wasn't drafted until the 3rd round. How many teams do you think are kicking themselves in the butt for passing him up? That said, its a shame that a QB as talented as he has shown himself to be had to wait until the 3rd round to hear his name called on draft day. Wilson clearly has 1st round talent and you can't take that away from him because of his "lack of size" in your opinion. He's definitely not the next "Michael Vick" and to this point has crushed the "mobile QBs get injured" stigma. Wilson has also opened up the door for players like Johny Manziel to enter the NFL, proving that QBs coming out of college don't have to have prototypical size at the position to play at the game's next level. You might not like what Harris had to say about his comparison between Luck and Wilson, still the man has a valid and debatable point. The only way this argument will be put to rest in Luck's favor is for him to play at the level needed to prove his doubters wrong. The "Luck doesn't have enough talent around him yet" excuse is no longer valid. And please, enough with the "Pep Hamilton is holding him back" excuses too because Pep doesn't throw the ball or make the reads during plays, nor does he make the decision not to use his legs when the only clear option is to use his legs to extend the play. The only time you see Luck using his athletic ability is after the team is already down and it's desperation time. That's all on Luck. He has the talent now, and now it's time to produce.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Stampede Blue's writers or editors.