Redskins trade for Alex Smith

Cowherd says the Viks are "favorites" but just a month or so ago he said this

"If you have to pay Kirk Cousins $30 million a year, he won't help your team, he'll hurt it. Alex Smith comes in at $23 million, only $18 guaranteed. Forget the fact that Alex Smith has a better passer rating. In fact, Alex Smith led the NFL last year in passer rating."

Dude is another clown

while in sort of a jaded, ex sort of way, I hope he's right. But yeah, Cowherd is nothing but a talking head. He's right there with Bayless. Talks a bunch of junk but in the end, that's all it is, is junk.

Are we just now realizing Cowherd is a clown? Cowherd has been a clown for as long as the Mannings have been slinging footballs.

http://www.footballperspective.com/quarterback-age-curves/

Quarterback Age Curves (http://www.footballperspective.com/quarterback-age-curves/)


I'm in support of the Alex Smith deal and hopeful, since he was quasi-elite or at least top 10 last year, and the Brady's / Brees's have lasted until age 40 recently. Also we probably had no real chance to sign KC. But by history you can see above link over a LOT of QBs reviewed, that the performance declines dramatically every year age>33... Crossing my fingers this $40 million was worth it..

I'm in support of the Alex Smith deal and hopeful, since he was quasi-elite or at least top 10 last year, and the Brady's / Brees's have lasted until age 40 recently. Also we probably had no real chance to sign KC. But by history you can see above link over a LOT of QBs reviewed, that the performance declines dramatically every year age>33... Crossing my fingers this $40 million was worth it..

The only thing I would argue on his approach is the sampling for qbs.
The first step in trying to measure the aging patterns of quarterbacks is to figure out a sample to analyze. I decided to look at all quarterbacks who entered the league since 1970 and have since retired. I further limited my sample to quarterbacks who had at least three seasons of above-average play based on this system. That brought us to a group of 77 quarterbacks, from quarterbacks like Jon Kitna, Jay Fiedler, and Dan Pastorini to Hall of Famers like Joe Montana, Brett Favre, and Dan Marino.

The protection rules have changed dramatically for qb's from 1977 to present, and his sample doesn't really account for that. I think we are seeing more and more qb's play longer, and at higher skills, because they don't take the same beating week after week.

The only thing I would argue on his approach is the sampling for qbs.


The protection rules have changed dramatically for qb's from 1977 to present, and his sample doesn't really account for that. I think we are seeing more and more qb's play longer, and at higher skills, because they don't take the same beating week after week.

Agree. Not to mention advances in sport science and nutrition which can't be overlooked. The bigger factor is definitely the player protections though as you note.

I'm in support of the Alex Smith deal and hopeful, since he was quasi-elite or at least top 10 last year, and the Brady's / Brees's have lasted until age 40 recently. Also we probably had no real chance to sign KC. But by history you can see above link over a LOT of QBs reviewed, that the performance declines dramatically every year age>33... Crossing my fingers this $40 million was worth it..

The difference, I think, with Alex Smith is that he takes care of himself and he has steadily improved year after year. I would be concerned if he had a great 2015 season, but the last two seasons weren't as good. However, he's steadily been on a trajectory upward not down.

Now, having said that, the stress of playing in DC and the question of the health of our offensive line might factor in. I think by the time the season starts, Smith will have some weapons, so I'm not too concerned about that. Just want our OL to protect him.

This will be more interesting at next year's draft time, but we all know we basically "got back" the 3rd in this year's draft.

Right now, we should get a 3rd for KCousins leaving, and Minnesota also should get a 3rd for Case Keenum leaving plus a 6th for Teddy Bridgewater. I think that has a bit of irony wrapped up in it.