Bleacher Report's Unofficial Election Day NFL Endorsements
There's an old newspaper tradition of not publishing editorials on Election Day. Instead, papers printed their official political endorsements instead, for everything from president to dogcatcher, and let the people get to work voting instead of trying to persuade them one last time.
You probably have too much on your mind today to read some in-depth explanation of officiating errors or another Aaron Rodgers diatribe. So here's Bleacher Report's own list of NFL endorsements, supplemented with just the right amount of mainstream media spin.
(Note: Opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not reflect the opinions of B/R's editorial board or other writers. Please send angry comments directly to him. Thx.).
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.jpg?w=256 "Cowboys Commanders Football")
Dallas Cowboys
Endorsement: Dak Prescott for Permanent Starting Quarterback
Tony Romo may still give the Cowboys a slightly better chance of winning a Super Bowl this year than Prescott. (Imagine any rookie running, say, a Packers-Seahawks-Patriots gauntlet in the playoffs. Ain't gonna happen). But Prescott's chances of leading the Cowboys to a championship go way up in 2017 and beyond, while Romo's almost immediately drop to zero. Keeping Prescott in the lineup represents a minuscule risk for the present that could pay huge dividends in the future.
New York Giants
Endorsement: Stats for Non-Losers
Stats aren't for losers, Coach McAdoo. But denying statistical evidence is for coaches on fluky winning streaks who have talked themselves into believing they found some magical recipe for success that doesn't require a running game, pass rush or positive turnover differential.
Philadelphia Eagles
Endorsement: Dave Fipp for POTUS
Eagles special teams coordinator Dave Fipp deserves head coaching interviews, but why stop there? Special teams coordinators must accomplish great things with modest resources, build consensus among offensive and defensive players and execute complex operations with minimal margins for error. The best of them would make outstanding presidential material, so vote Fipp, and #MakeAmericaASpecialTeamAgain!
Washington Redskins
Endorsement: Kirk Cousins for Long-Term Contract
Washington and Cousins are like one of those young couples who live together but pretend they haven't made a "commitment" as long as she sleeps at her parents' home two Tuesdays per month. Washington has no Plan B at quarterback except drafting one and starting over. Cousins is not going to find a better supporting cast or situation on the open market. So just tie the knot, you crazy kids.
Chicago Bears
Endorsement: Vote "Yes" for Sweeping Changes
The time for halfhearted remodeling projects involving retread coaches and expensive incumbent quarterbacks is long gone. It's time for fresh faces, fresh ideas and a new foundation and direction for a franchise that has been marching slowly backwards for four years.
Detroit Lions
Endorsement: Lions for NFC North Champions
The Packers are trending downward. The Vikings were hit with too many October (September, late August) surprises. The Lions are playing efficient offense, tight defense and outstanding special teams. They aren't the flashiest team in the NFL, but flash never got the Lions anywhere, anyway.
Green Bay Packers
Endorsement: Ty Montgomery for Running Back
Make Montgomery's position switch permanent. Also, add another running back who can stay healthy and in shape, some wide receivers and tight ends, five or six new offensive concepts and packages and an apology note to Aaron Rodgers for forcing him to deal with this Davante Adams/Richard Rodgers skill position debacle for two years.
Minnesota Vikings
Endorsement: Vikings for 2017 NFC Champions
Injuries, coaching defections and short-term compromise solutions (Sam Bradford is looking a lot like he has the star power durability of Ken Bone these days) have reversed the Vikings' September momentum. The good news is that if they get healthy and regroup, they will be poised to dominate the midterm election cycle.
Atlanta Falcons
Endorsement: Kyle Shanahan for Head Coaching Candidate
Balance. Efficiency. Simplicity without predictability. Kyle brings the Shanahan family offense, without the Shanahan family baggage.
Carolina Panthers
Endorsement: Cam Newton for Role Model
He didn't insult or throw stuff at the officials who failed to call roughing the passer two weeks ago. He requested a meeting with the boss instead, just like the folks at human resources recommend. Thanks to Newton's semiformal request for clarity on roughing the passer rules, we learned the NFL has been tracking uncalled penalties for years and that senior vice president of officiating Dean Blandino is aware of several mistakes this year. Newton can be immature at times. But other times, he can be an inspiration … and a levelheaded voice of reason.
New Orleans Saints
Endorsement: Austerity Measures for the Future
The Saints already have more than $142 million allocated to next year's salary cap, according to Over The Cap. Much of that is tied up in the balloon payments of the Drew Brees mortgage, but lots of money is also sunk into bad contracts (Jairus Byrd), dead-money mistakes (C.J. Spiller and Brandon Browner will still cost the team next year) and unnecessary luxuries (punter Thomas Morstead will eat $4.7 million). The Saints have put off belt-tightening for too long. It's time to get real and get frugal before Brees gets old and these 8-8 seasons collapse into expensive 3-13 catastrophes.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Endorsement: Vote of "No Confidence" for Dirk Koetter
Thursday night's blowout at the hands of the Falcons featured 11 penalties, the inexplicable decision to allow Atlanta to kick a field goal instead of accepting a penalty to knock them out of range and some of the most defeatist offensive series you'll ever see. (Handoff on 1st-and-20, incomplete pass and penalty on second down, screen on 3rd-and 17). It was the continuation of a season of head-scratching strategic decisions. It's too early to pull the plug on the first-year coach, but not to put him on notice.
Arizona Cardinals
Endorsement: Fullbacks for the Cardinals Offense
Bruce Arians never uses them. But now his offensive line is crumbling, Carson Palmer is getting tenderized, and David Johnson, for all his greatness, needs five jukes to gain four yards. How about a pistol wrinkle or a little I-formation near the goal line, coach? As a bonus, fullbacks also make helpful special teamers, something else the Cardinals really need.
Los Angeles Rams
Endorsement: Jared Goff for Starting Quarterback, Immediately
We must do everything possible to stop the never-ending cycle of excuse-making and gratification-delaying of the Jeff Fisher regime.
San Francisco 49ers
Endorsement: Chip Kelly for Head Coach, LSU
The 49ers should skip the part where they fire GM Trent Baalke, give Kelly roster control and watch him go crazy trading for players who don't fit his system. Eagles fans can tell them how that ends. Kelly can spend a few years trying to outrun the SEC. The 49ers can stop playing franchise politics and start playing football again.
Seattle Seahawks
Endorsement: Super Fund Resources for the Offensive Line
It's a disaster site. And it may get worse before it gets better. We've seen little of this year's draft class despite desperate needs everywhere. The next offensive line draft class looks weak, and free agency could fetch…Matt Kalil? Luke Joeckel? The Seahawks might as well keep finding former tight ends and construction workers for Tom Cable to fail to develop. The team should immediately set aside whatever combination of money, draft picks and promises will be necessary to make some kind of Joe Thomas blockbuster trade in the offseason.
Buffalo Bills
Endorsements: Lorenzo Alexander for the Pro Bowl
Alexander made the Pro Bowl once as a special teams ace in 2012. He deserves another selection, this time as a 33-year old journeyman who suddenly became one of the league's sack leaders. Alexander would be a fine Comeback Player of the Year candidate, except that he was never really "away," just doing yeoman's work on the kick and punt units.
Miami Dolphins
Endorsement: Jay Ajayi for Breakout Player of the Year
If the Dolphins run the ball well, no one will be obsessing over every Ryan Tannehill dropback anymore.
New England Patriots
Endorsement: Josh McDaniels for Second Chance
Yes, McDaniels' tenure in Denver was a little like the reign of a teenage Roman emperor with lead-lined drinkware. That was long ago. McDaniels is older, presumably wiser and more creative than any other coordinator set to hit the coaching carousel.
New York Jets
Endorsement: Vote of "No Confidence" for GM Mike Maccagnan
Maccagnan surrogates claim that he had no choice but to bloat the roster with expensive 30-somethings to make the Jets competitive last year. Maccagnan surrogates will be forced to spend years watching Christian Hackenberg overthrow Jalin Marshall as a result. The Jets have a bad roster that will get worse before it gets better.
Baltimore Ravens
Endorsement: Steve Smith Sr. for Hall of Fame
The 37-year-old receiver has reinvented himself many times over the years: slippery little return man, go-to receiver, ultimate warrior, clubhouse firebrand. He's now the grizzled veteran possession receiver who can still get the job done in big games. He deserves a gold jacket for his diverse accomplishments.
Cincinnati Bengals
Endorsement: Vote "Yes" for One Last Stand
The Marvin Lewis era in Cincy appears to have run its course. The Bengals have suffered a brain drain among top coordinators and slow roster erosion caused by free agency and late draft picks. But the team should make one final, desperate Super Bowl bid in 2017 before starting over. A free-agent splash for another receiver? A massive draft-day trade for Jabrill Peppers as a two-way star? Jettisoning Lewis for Josh McDaniels? Whatever it is, it can't just be winding up Andy Dalton and the same old roster and reaping the diminishing returns.
Cleveland Browns
Endorsement: Vote "Yes" for Moneyball
This season has been brutal. So have most of the last 15. But 13 picks in next year's draft and $65 million in cap space provide a gold-plated silver lining. And many of this year's rookies (Carl Nassib, Emmanuel Ogbah, Corey Coleman) are flashing potential. Not convinced? Check out how the Raiders clawed back from the abyss by slashing costs and drafting well. This program can work.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Endorsement: First-Round Pick for Quarterback of the Future
Next time Ben Roethlisberger needs surgery, Steelers fans deserve a Dak Prescott-like narrative, not another edition of Zombie Roethlisberger Throws Knuckleballs.
AFC South
Endorsement: Vote "Yes" to Eliminating the AFC South
If approved, the winner of this division in 2016 is moved to the NFC South, the other teams are scattered among the CFL and SEC West, and London gets an AFC East expansion franchise to balance out the schedule. In three years, no one will remember the AFC South existed, and no one will miss it.
Denver Broncos
Endorsement: None
The Broncos built a powerhouse and won a championship and are now trudging through a limbo season as a result. They are good enough to reach the playoffs but not to come near the Super Bowl, and no quarterback change or adjustment is going to change that. Enjoy the rings and stay the course, guys.
Kansas City Chiefs
Endorsement: Chiefs for National Respect
C'mon, folks: The Chiefs are 6-2 despite major injuries and are coming off a playoff appearance last year. Can we talk about Andy Reid's careful roster management and the team's clever schemes? Can we hype breakout players like Marcus Peters, Dee Ford and Spencer Ware? Can we mention them among the league's top teams? Sure, the market is small, and Alex Smith is as exciting as test driving a riding mower. But let's give some credit where it's due.
Oakland Raiders
Endorsement: Reggie McKenzie for Executive of the Year
From Derek Carr, Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper to Michael Crabtree, Donald Penn and Bruce Irvin, the Raiders have been built by a judicious mix of great draft picks and shrewd free-agent moves. McKenzie drew a lot of criticism for gutting the roster a few years ago. He deserves praise for rebuilding it.
San Diego Chargers
Endorsement: 2016 Draft Class for Best of the Year
You have probably heard about Joey Bosa, runaway Defensive Rookie of the Year. But linebacker Jatavis Brown and tight end Hunter Henry are also having outstanding seasons, with fullback Derek Watt and punter Drew Kaser making contributions. This is the kind of rookie class that turns into a playoff nucleus in a year or two. Let’s hope fans in San Diego get a chance to enjoy it.
Mike Tanier covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @MikeTanier.
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