final catchup post with no mustard...
"Cocky" is just one of those things where you like it if it's your guy, and it's offputting if it's "the other guy." Personally, I don't like how Burrow wears it and I find it offputting. But I can see how others might not be bothered by it or might admire his brand of bravado. For me, it just rubs me the wrong way.
Did you like Sherman better once he was a Niner?
Absolutely. Good case in point. BUT he's also an interesting case study because I didn't initially like the acquisition and remained set in my ways about him at first. But what happened was, since he was a 49er, there was more local coverage of him, which allowed me to get to "know" him more, which in turn helped me warm up to him. It all kinda worked together in that regard. But you're right to point that out because it's a perfect example of what I described. "Hypocrisy" is probably too strong a word for it, but it's not too dissimilar.
Opponents: oh, how Steeler Hines Ward got under the skin of so many Ravens fans. Then ask them a simple question: ‘Would you want him on your team?’ The smart ones would say: ‘In a heartbeat!’
I felt the same as to Brady and Belichick. You know, ‘if you’d beat them a few more times, there wouldn't be so much hate' or ‘wish they were Ravens, and other fans hated US so much because of it’. (that, and the ten thousand needless close ups every game, unlike the TV telecasts from the good old days)
Plus, I still have a soft spot for ol’ #10 helping Michigan defeat Alabama in the Orange Bowl on my last New Year's Day in the Great Lake State.
Bosk….it wasn’t that long ago that the Ravens had a twelve game winning streak as they entered the playoffs. All it took was a couple of injuries, OC Greg Roman calling 71 passing plays, 59 thrown (you remember all those passes he called late in the SB against the Ravens, right?), an opponent playing a near perfect game, and…….
I continue to chuckle at the way the media talks up Jackson. During the Bengals/Ravens playoff game, Tirico actually said it was an uphill battle playing the game without their unanimous MVP QB. Uh, that was 2019, and Jackson hasn't been close to that level on a consistent basis since, but we can't let that get in the way of a good narrative.
Pointing out a few things in Lamar’s defense. First, the excitement of 2019 regular season. Like watching Barry Sanders at QB. And then came OC Greg Roman’s game plan play calling debacle against Tennessee.
2020: yes, he didn’t finish the playoff game in the 50 MPH gusts of Buffalo, and they only managed three points (hell…Tucker missed TWO FGs that night). He left after retrieving a snap ten feet over his head, simply trying to grab it then throw it OB, before getting his head slammed to the turf. We do still have the memorable MNF 'run to the john, and then throw a 4th down TD' and all that ensued win at Cleveland as one hell of a memory (In Tuck We Trust).
2021: sprained his ankle running OB and landed on the 1st down marker.
2022: injured on a run of the mill QB sack.
All of these came when he was NOT doing a designated running play, with the odds of getting hit increased (he was amazingly good at avoiding direct hits on those plays)
That said….he’s been an immature horse’s axe throughout the year. I can’t swing a dead cat without hearing about his contract or injury every ten minutes on our local sports radio (so I've basically tuned it out). And every night on the local TV sports, or the sports section of The Sun. Not sure what next year brings, but no one could do anything with the WRs or lack of decent passing schemes. Personally, after his juvenile Twitter post a few months ago along with the drama and childish actions, I’m fine with him being someone else’s problem next year.
And then that money can go towards the multiple holes this offense has, and the few new ones the defense will have during the offseason.