Stafford, a talent who was frustrated on a mediocre team; opposite, a second-year Burrow in the NFL with a great future
LOS ANGELES (AP) — It’s hard, if not impossible, to downplay the importance of having a top-tier quarterback in winning the Super Bowl. Or just get to one.
Sure, there are exceptions like Jared Goff, Nick Foles and Rex Grossman, though Foles played like a superstar in 2018. Typically, the big names are the most successful. From Tom Brady to Patrick Mahomesde Peyton Manning a Eli Manning, de Russell Wilson a Ben Roethlisberger.
Sunday’s duel faces Matthew Stafforda talented quarterback who spent most of his career with a mediocre team, against Joe Burrowa phenomenon in its second year and whose first season as a professional was cut short by a knee injury. Not exactly the expected script.
For 12 seasons in Detroit, Stafford did the best he could. Except for receiver Calvin Johnson, he just had no help. He was compared, perhaps unfairly, with Kirk CousinsAlex Smith y Tony Romo.
Remember that only one of them reached the Super Bowl. That was Smith, Colin Kaepernick’s backup in the 2012 season.
Stafford deserves another chance, especially after leading the Rams to their first championship since fellow Hall of Famer Kurt Warner he did it in 1999 when the team was in San Luis.
“We went out and looked for him because we knew we had a chance to get a great player of this magnitude,” said Rams coach Sean McVay, who has no regrets about trading Goff, the first pick in the 016 draft, and other picks. to the Lions. “What he has achieved, uplift everyone around him. He has made me a better coach. He has made his team better.”
It looks like it is. It’s a path little used in the NFL.
The way of Burrow has been familiar. Brady, Roethlisberger, Wilson and Mahomes paved the way for it this century. All very successful early in their careers.
This path has become more common with young quarterbacks for several reasons. LCollege games are more offensive than in the NFL, so they are more prepared for the professional game. They also enter the field earlier, unlike Aaron Rodgerswho spent three seasons as Brett Favre’s backup with Green Bay.
Burrow is authentic. Ask just about anyone on the NFL teams about him and you’ll get rave reviews.
The NFL could use “The Player.” Brady and Roethlisberger retired a year after Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, who said goodbye two years after Eli Manning. Other iconic quarterbacks — Rodgers, Wilson, Matt Ryan and Stafford — are at the end of their careers.
There is also much to learn from Burrow’s case, Justin Herbert, Josh Allen Y Kyler Murray. That is good.
