An opening lecture or two before some thoughts and notes from a great playoff weekend and assorted happenings around the NFL:It was good to hear New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick explain Sunday after his team beat the Chargers what many fans and media types fail to recognize -- a quarterback is not going to play a perfect game.
Tom Brady and Peyton Manning combined to throw five interceptions this weekend and each could have had at least one or two more picks.
What does that make them? Chokers? Losers? No, it makes them quarterbacks.
Playing quarterback isn't as easy as what you see on TV or in the stands or on the NFL game tapes that show a pristine high-angle view of what the quarterback sees or doesn't see.
In addition, the ever-growing difficulty of making pre-snap reads against clever defensive disguises makes it even harder. A quarterback has about three seconds (four seconds on a lucky play) to take a snap, retreat from center if he's not in the shotgun, process what he thinks he sees, then set and deliver the ball accurately to a receiver -- this, with 21 other bodies flying around in front of him. And that's if his linemen keep his pocket clean. He sees it from ground level, not from a bird's-eye view above the fray.
Brady threw three interceptions Sunday, including one to Chargers safety Marlon McCree with a little more than six minutes left to play that could have sunk the Patriots, much like his interception to the Broncos' Champ Bailey that eliminated New England in last season's playoffs. McCree's fumble gave Brady new life.
Brady once again showed the resilience that defines great quarterbacking.
Manning showed it Saturday against the Ravens. His job was the toughest this weekend, playing a Ravens defense that was the best in the NFL and arguably the best since the 2000 Ravens defense that delivered a Super Bowl championship. No quarterback faced a more talented secondary than Manning did with one of the greatest ball-hawking safeties in Ed Reed roaming the field.
Manning could have played better, yes. He was lucky Ray Lewis tipped two balls that might have been picked. Then again, his interception down the sideline to Reed was the right read, but the ball came out before the intended receiver, Marvin Harrison, was forced out of bounds.
Manning showed his resilience with an absolutely great throw to Dallas Clark to convert a late first down that essentially cinched the game for the Colts in a venue that has devoured a lot of quarterbacks.
Manning bashing is almost an art form in the sports forums across the country. Do you know how many big games he has won? You probably don't. What were the Colts before he arrived in Indianapolis? Dolts, for the most part. Now what are they? A perennial playoff team.
Brady and Manning oppose each other this weekend. The winner should be celebrated but the loser will not be a loser. There aren't many elite quarterbacks in this league so stop with the nitpicking. Appreciate these guys.
Playing quarterback is the toughest job in all of sports.
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