The moist dream of each NFL franchise is a good quarterback on a rookie contract. It’s GM porn, and the slightest flash or jiggle of competency turns groups into ’90s studio execs. The newest object of their fascination is Sam Howell. The Washington Commander quarterback is stacking up the sorts of numbers that make entrance workplaces and media members wish to suggest.
So why haven’t they? What’s protecting Washington from going for broke the following two years? Howell will probably be enjoying for pennies by way of 2025, he’s second within the league in passing yards, and seventh in landing passes. SIGN HIM UP, RON!
This is the closest Washington has been to a long-term starter beneath heart since Kirk Cousins. I’m truthfully shocked they have been sellers on the deadline. The playoffs and extended mediocracy are palpable; simply do it, Martin Mayhew. What are you ready for?
Maybe it’s the workforce’s document in opposition to opponents above .500, the loss to the 2-7 Giants, the 20-point drubbing by the hands of the 3-7 Bears, or that minus-54 level differential. Howell has 9 interceptions, is getting sacked at a document tempo, and leads the league in makes an attempt and completions.
That final stat is essential, as a result of numbers are deceiving with out context. There are a lot of perennial backup QBs who may amass numbers given sufficient alternatives. Look, I like Gardner Minshew as a lot as the following red-blooded American, however Howell is a glitzy advertising marketing campaign and a Speedo away from being that man.
If you must speak your self into a quarterback, Daniel Jones-style, you don’t have a quarterback irrespective of how low-cost the contract. There’s a time to behave like a tabby in a discipline of catnip; a latest instance is Houston and C.J. Stroud. They ought to be scrambling to encompass him with infrastructure whereas ::NFL speaking head voice:: his cap hit is infinitesimal.
The Commanders’ strategy is barely cynical, as evidenced by the Chase Young and Montez Sweat departures, however that’s higher than making f*ck-me eyes at Howell since you’re disadvantaged. Ron Rivera is a modern-day Jeff Fisher, so this 4-5 begin shouldn’t be a shock, nor immediate an overreaction.
New proprietor Josh Harris isn’t a new proprietor in the identical means that Matt Ishbia is a new proprietor, and that’s a good factor. One of the few Bill Simmons-isms that I nonetheless prescribe to is new proprietor syndrome, which regularly results in unwarranted gambles, or short-sighted trades. This isn’t Harris’ first enterprise into skilled sports activities, and to this point there haven’t been any win-now strikes, as a result of Washington isn’t successful something proper now.
Let’s see the child beat a workforce with a successful document earlier than exalting him to franchise-cornerstone standing. Yes, Chocolate City has a lot to be enthusiastic about, together with perhaps Sam Howell, however my god present some persistence, and put away the ED tablets.
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