Week 4 Faceoff: Prisco vs. Judge

  •  

SportsLine.com's Pete Prisco and Clark Judge provide analysis on three weekly topics.

Start a club and pick any QB. Who do you choose?
Pete Prisco Clark Judge
Pete Prisco This might be an easier answer than who's my favorite NFL writer. Peyton Manning is not only the best quarterback in the league, but he's also the best player. Tom Brady fans will claim his rings should make him the choice, but Manning is a better player. Here's how we know: Ask the scouts. Manning or Brady? Most would say Manning. He's an accurate passer who understands the passing game. I still think Dan Marino is the greatest passer of all time, but Manning is someday going to be right up there with him. Clark Judge Tom Brady. My priority is not someone who leads the league in passer rating, touchdowns, yardage or pretty spirals. I want someone who wins, and no one wins as often as Brady. In three years as the starter in New England the Patriots won the Super Bowl twice -- with Brady the game's MVP both times. I like that. I like this even more: He wins when it counts. He's 7-0 in overtimes, 28-4 in games played after Nov. 1 and 6-0 in the playoffs. Oh yeah, he's also indestructible, working on a string of 48 consecutive starts.
 
Is it too soon to push the panic button in Tennessee?
Pete Prisco Clark Judge
Pete Prisco Jeff Fisher is too good of a coach for this to be a panic situation. The Titans have been hit hard by attrition over the past few years, which would test any coach and any organization. The cap can be a cruel reality, and the Titans are living that now. That said, there are still too many good football players on this roster, starting with quarterback Steve McNair. As long as he's on the field, this is a playoff-caliber team. It might take a few more weeks until the young players adapt, but the Titans will push for a playoff spot in December. Clark Judge Way too soon. People wanted to send them to the corner two years ago when they lost four of their first five, but then they wound up in the AFC Championship Game. I never count out Jeff Fisher. He knows how to win and will turn this around. It won't be easy, especially with injuries handicapping the club, but Fisher has been here before. Yeah, I know about Steve McNair's bruised sternum, but that's not new. The club devotes a page of its media guide to his injuries. The Titans need to shore up their passing attack, and the return this week of Tyrone Calico helps. So does the appearance of San Diego on the schedule.
 
How long do the Chargers keep Philip Rivers on the bench?
Pete Prisco Clark Judge
Pete Prisco Today isn't soon enough for Rivers to go into the lineup. Drew Brees isn't the long-term answer and, please, don't even talk about Doug Flutie. His time was up years ago. The Chargers loved Rivers coming out of North Carolina State in large part because he understood the passing game. A son of a coach, he should be ready to step in now, even though he missed much of training camp as a holdout. Rivers is going to be a very good quarterback, but it takes time. The longer he sits on the bench, the longer it will take for him to grow. The Chargers can't wait. Marty Schottenheimer has to prepare the next coach's quarterback now. Clark Judge A month, tops, or only until he feels confident running the offense. Drew Brees is doing nothing more than keeping the position warm for Rivers, who this week moved up to the backup position. Brees is not in there because he wins. Heck, he has lost all but five of his past 23 starts. No, he's in there because the Chargers don't want to sacrifice their franchise quarterback before he's ready. The Chargers are smart here. Winning this season takes a back seat to Rivers' future. Let Brees go another month, then introduce Rivers -- much as Philadelphia did with then-rookie Donovan McNabb in 1999. That way the club gets a read on its quarterback, and its quarterback gains experience for the following year.
  •  
You May Also Like
 

Biggest Stories

CBSSports Facebook Twitter
COMMENTS
Conversation powered by Livefyre
 

Latest

Most Popular

CBSSports.com Shop

NFL Schedule

NFL Draft