Balkke must be the greatest front office knife-fighter this side of Howie Roseman. And when all else fails, Howie at least has a résumé he can fall back on.
Howie outlasted Chip Kelly and had a proven track record. Balke chased out jim harbough, hired Jim tomsula which should have ended his career a long time ago. He's a professional royal courtier, or more like a palace eunuch who gains power without any proven competence. Gets competent officials and generals executed.
His actual skills are passing blame while flattering kings.
Shad Khan isn't even a typical clueless prince born with a team crown yet Balke overpaying for lateral moves, overdrafting, years of putrid rosters, still there??
I would have thought that the Jim Tomsula hiring would have been such a black mark on Balkkes resume that he would never work again. That and continually drafting players with torn ACLs in the third round
Eli as a finalist in Year 1 is very telling. I almost think just put him in now, and save us all years of takes on this issue (for what it's worth, he is not a HOF in my opinion).
I think the "Fame" label gets him in. He's a Manning, he's on TV frequently and he won two super bowls vs the great Patriot dynasty. So he'll get in based on that. That said I don't think he was an all time great either, but he'll be in this year based on his fame.
I've made my peace with the fact he's going to make it. In addition to the name recognition and rings, he holds every major passing record for one of the NFL's legacy teams. Though considering his lifetime record against Philadelphia he really should go in as an Eagle. ;)
Riker took command to protect the Enterprise from the Klingon commander's bad choice... do Johnson could only go to an NFC North team to protect the Jean-luc Campbell Lions.
Presuming they have zero chance of getting a Hotshot Head Coaching Candidate, shouldn't the Jets be deciding upon a GM first? How much cred would such a GM give (absolute squat, I figure) to any Head Coach interviews he was no part of?
I can't watch games with Louis Riddick providing the colour commentary. Every other sentence is a name drop of some random coach/staffer, followed by some nugget of totally generic wisdom the name-droppee gave to Louis. Someone needs to tell him to save the bad interview performance for actual interviews.
Anybody have any insights on why the Titans fired Ran Carthon as GM? I don't get to see many Titans games. Outside of Will Levis not working out, has his roster construction been that bad over the past 2 years? They kept Callahan, who I believe Carthon hired last year, so its not a complete slate reset.
Balkke must be the greatest front office knife-fighter this side of Howie Roseman. And when all else fails, Howie at least has a résumé he can fall back on.
Baalke is to Howie what all those wannabe bands with vaguely menacing names like Bulletboys were to Guns N Roses.
It's like comparing a drunken bar brawler to Stick from the Daredevil comics
Howie outlasted Chip Kelly and had a proven track record. Balke chased out jim harbough, hired Jim tomsula which should have ended his career a long time ago. He's a professional royal courtier, or more like a palace eunuch who gains power without any proven competence. Gets competent officials and generals executed.
His actual skills are passing blame while flattering kings.
Shad Khan isn't even a typical clueless prince born with a team crown yet Balke overpaying for lateral moves, overdrafting, years of putrid rosters, still there??
He's retaken the Managing Upward MVP award from Matt Patricia, who will need to step up his game in 2025
Howie consistently builds a roster.
I would have thought that the Jim Tomsula hiring would have been such a black mark on Balkkes resume that he would never work again. That and continually drafting players with torn ACLs in the third round
Baalke is great at getting and keeping jobs. Those are separate skills from doing jobs.
100%. Well said, sir.
Jets hire Rex Ryan as head coach and bring back Aaron Rodgers. The post-loss sniping would be incredible entertainment.
Eli as a finalist in Year 1 is very telling. I almost think just put him in now, and save us all years of takes on this issue (for what it's worth, he is not a HOF in my opinion).
We should save all this for that feature.
I think the "Fame" label gets him in. He's a Manning, he's on TV frequently and he won two super bowls vs the great Patriot dynasty. So he'll get in based on that. That said I don't think he was an all time great either, but he'll be in this year based on his fame.
I've made my peace with the fact he's going to make it. In addition to the name recognition and rings, he holds every major passing record for one of the NFL's legacy teams. Though considering his lifetime record against Philadelphia he really should go in as an Eagle. ;)
Put him in with Jim McMahon, then.
I concur on all points. We're about to get a reminder of how much rings matter. I hope Mike delves into this aspect of the voting.
"Belichick’s system rewarded men who were openly contemptuous of other people."
Society has been run by this type of person since the mid 90's.
I heard the word, I couldn’t stay, oh
I couldn’t stand it another day, another day
Another day, another day.
If Ben Johnson is Commander Riker, the Jets are the Ferengi.
Sauce Gardner is Nog.
There was that episode Riker was seconded to a Klingon warship and took command -- does that mean Ben Johnson goes to the Raiders?
Riker took command to protect the Enterprise from the Klingon commander's bad choice... do Johnson could only go to an NFC North team to protect the Jean-luc Campbell Lions.
Presuming they have zero chance of getting a Hotshot Head Coaching Candidate, shouldn't the Jets be deciding upon a GM first? How much cred would such a GM give (absolute squat, I figure) to any Head Coach interviews he was no part of?
Does Madden 2025 include GM ratings? If not, how's Woody Johnson's son gonna pick the right GM?
I would probably get a GM first, knowing I am stuck with a third-tier coaching candidate. Can sell the GM as the person with VISION.
New York NFL football. My gosh my golly.
Shout out to Thom Yorke’s drum machine.
«Now imagine Thom Yorke singing that over some minor-key synthesizer and 13/8th time drum-machine noodling. It can be the new Giants fight song.»
I'm happy that I'm reading this in my smoke break, not my bathroom break, because I'm laughing out real loud.
SaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAaaaaaaaQuon
Saaaa-Quon
Oh-oh Sa-QUAN is goo oooo ooone
Down the turnpike
Down the tur-hurh piiiiIIIIIYIIIIIYIIIIKe.
This played in my head to the tune of Lotus Flower. Well done.
Always love a reference to A Confederacy of Dunces.
Off-topic, Mike, check your Twitter DMs.
-Kyle
I can't believe Ron Rivera is even still in this game. Riding the coattails of one Super Bowl appearance how many years ago now?
"Man in the hot dog suit" is brilliant shorthand and a hilarious description of any failed NFL GM. This is great stuff.
I can't watch games with Louis Riddick providing the colour commentary. Every other sentence is a name drop of some random coach/staffer, followed by some nugget of totally generic wisdom the name-droppee gave to Louis. Someone needs to tell him to save the bad interview performance for actual interviews.
head coach Mike Whatshisface 🤣
Anybody have any insights on why the Titans fired Ran Carthon as GM? I don't get to see many Titans games. Outside of Will Levis not working out, has his roster construction been that bad over the past 2 years? They kept Callahan, who I believe Carthon hired last year, so its not a complete slate reset.
It hasn't been good. Owing the Chiefs the 66th pick in the draft for the right to pay Lajarius Sneed $51 million guaranteed is emblematic.
Carthon inherited a huge mess and made it slightly worse. A lot like Joe Schoen in many ways.
Follow the NFL closely enough and you notice a trend about who does and does not get second chances.