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Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles
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Actually, I am a rare fan that would not be singing his praises if Mahomes were the QB of my favorite team and he flopped ...... for everything else that Mahomes does I would be singing his praises, but not for flopping.
On a somewhat similar note, Bert Jones is my favorite player of all-time. When his career was altered in the final pre-season game of 1978, it was after a sack by Bubba Baker of the Lions which wound up separating Jones' right shoulder. This was a turning point in Colts franchise history because the Colts had just won 3 consecutive division titles from 1975 through 1977, and Jones' absence for the majority of the 1978 season was the biggest factor in their descent into a below-average team which tallied a 5-11 record by season's end. Jones' presence (and absence) was one of the earliest examples of the importance of an elite QB to a football team's overall success. I hold no ill-will toward Bubba Baker, because it was not a dirty play which injured Jones, it was just an unfortunate twist-of-fate that had Jones being tackled and laid upon by a 265-pound lineman which separated his shoulder ...... it was not a late-hit or a flagrant facemask, it was just a clean, hard tackle which resulted in a fateful injury to Jones.
I say somewhat similar note because I don't necessarily always side with my favorite team and/or against a rival team in terms of fairness ...... when I was a kid I hated the Oakland Raiders, because I thought that they were the dirtiest bunch of gangsters ever to take a football field ...... if the Baltimore Colts had collectively played as underhanded and dirty as the Oakland Raiders did, I would not have been proud of that aspect of their play, regardless of how successful they were.
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Agreed on Jones and Baker. No dirty play whatsoever. I didn't like some interviews with Baker long after the fact where the reporter almost seemed to praise Baker for hurting Jones, trying to turn Baker into some kind of anti-hero. Baker didn't bite though. It's rarely mentioned that Baker wasn't the only Lion involved. Jones was sacked not only by Baker but defensive lineman Ernie Price as well. Nearly 530 lbs combined!! Baker went on to become a star while Price faded into anonymity, hence the narrative around Baker. Now I will admit, when I hear Bakers name I still cringe but it's not personal. Unlike Baker, many of the Raiders were classless thugs who went far beyond the limits of aggressive play.