I've been a member of the Fielder debate for years. I've seen a few posts in this thread that are VERY slanted. Fiedler not showing up for the big game? Fielder not being able to win a game by himself?
Oakland Raiders touchdown dive, Denver Broncos last drive with a broken thumb... Washington Redskins comeback win after sitting on bench whole game..... just to mention a few.
As I have said... I hope the best QB wins. I love JF. He has gutsy intangibles that define a leader. He may not have all the tools... but what he does have very few possess. He is a field "general" in a sense. Not statistically... but with courage. His troops (teammates) follow him into battle with great enthusiasm (Redskins comeback). You can't just replace a guy like that. Marino had the same swagger about him. Guys listened to him. Guys listen to Jay.
If you recall, in the Denver game, he TOLD Dedric Ward to get open... he TOLD him he was getting the ball. With broken thumb and a guy in his face... he threw a tipped pass IN WARD'S DIRECTION. Ward went after the ball to make the play. He did it because he followed his leader. PHANS, that kind of battlefield respect is not found in every leader.
No one can debate the fact the Denver game was one of the best PHINZ games in the past 10 years. Even as PHANS, we KNEW we were going to win. Every time they scored, we KNEW we were going to answer. That was probably JF's greatest moment to date.
No poster on this board can deny the feeling that game gave us. The pride after winning a (at the time) clash of titans.
I admit JF has his shortcomings and faults. But, at least admit he has given us some great games. And stop reviewing his career like he has NEVER done anything amazing for this team and it's fans.
Previous posts in this thread and others refer to the HORRIBLE OL Fiedler has had in his tenure. And, until RW came along, he had a mediocre back field. And, he's not always had CC and RM. Fiedler did a lot on his own. At best, he has been surrounded by mediocre talent at times.
As far as the Peyton comparison... it's not a fair one... Fielder never had Harrison and James. He's had RW and CC, but not nearly as long. Not too mention, PM has the luxury of the SAME coordinator for how long? A team that has ALWAYS focused on O. His stats reflect his team's commitment to O. Just NOW have they started to play D.
Look at any great QB's career. It starts up front with a SOLID line and AT LEAST a great RB or great WR. CC is not quite Owens or Rice or Harrison. He MIGHT get there, but not yet. JF just not got DB to go with CC and you want to NOT give him a chance with such talent. ANY QB will have better #s this year (compared to JF last year) with our NEW commitment to O. The coaches changes and FO shakeup will clean out some of the problems around JF. Give him the use of DB, RW, CC, RM AND a solid line for 1 year, then make your remarks.
Don't hand over all of those toys (that JF never had) to a new QB and say "SEE, I told ya so". That's an unfair comparison. It's like the parent's who make the oldest son EARN everything and GIVE everything to the youngest son. The youngest is the favorite and is given every chance to succeed. He had help to succeed. Meanwhile, the oldest does mediocre with the cards stacked against him and he is considered a failure. Give JF help to succeed. Don't stack the cards.
And, as I have said.. if JF gets hurt again and AJF comes in and succeeds, GREAT! But, at least give JF 1 chance to Bill Cosby his team and succeed. Oh, and one other note... this great D we have is so great it allows other teams to score winning drives late in games to help us LOSE. JF maybe the martar, but he's not the whole reason.
Get it right and understand that TEAMS win and TEAMS lose.
Just because you hate JF doesn't mean you still can't be fair in your criticism.
And, if you still want to bash JF.... then bash Madison as well.... as I've said before...
Sam Madison is still sitting on the field, in a lawn chair, watching Troy Brown score the winning TD and run straight to the SB. JF had nothing to do with that.
