NFL Open Thread
By 
Some random notes:
- A good post about coaching hire mistakes, including one we’ve talked about all season — hiring someone because they were the bathroom attendant for a QB having his 13th outstanding NFL season.
- Speaking of which, the only thing more dubious than hiring Adam Gase is hiring from the Adam Gase coaching tree. In related news, the Broncos are a pick ’em at home…against the Jets. I remember when my Highly Controversial judgment that a QB who was mediocre in the Big 10 was unlikely to be a viable NFL starter was derided because after all would libertarian SUPERGENIUS John Elway ever misfire on a judgment on offensive talent like it was two months ago.
- Good discussion of the decision of the Browns’s decision to fire Sahsi Brown on this week’s Barnwell/Kimes colloquy. One key point is that for the most part the failure of this regime doesn’t really prove anything about “analytics;” nothing about good analytics suggests that talent judgment isn’t important. And while I thought he was a good hire at the time it’s hard to see what Hue Jackson has done to merit another season.
- Speaking of which, there’s finally a hack to find Barnwell’s columns, which Ponce de Leon couldn’t find through the ESPN site. I still hope someone will hire him to write more broadly like his old Grantland columns once his contract expires.
- Good to see scrappy, likeable Roger Goodell catch a break and get the compensation he deserves. After all, who else could allow NFL owners to make lots of money? CEO compensation is totally market-driven and not at all a cartel.
- I’m not saying the Ravens are the best shot of taking out the Patriots before the Super Bowl, but sadly given how badly the Pats own the Steelers I can’t not say it either. Hey, Team Trump was beaten by a team with a great defense and no passing attack as recently as two years ago…
- In non-NFL news, a great rant about how the Jeter-led Marlins are a disgrace.