Green on the Rampage (Rumor)

[TopGun]

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

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POSTED 9:48 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:21 p.m. EDT, September 20, 2004



McCOWN GETTING McBENCHED?



Word around the league is that Cardinals quarterback Josh McCown soon could be benched by coach Dennis Green.



The problem, of course, is that the Cards don't have a viable alternative at No. 2. The only options are Shaun King and rookie John Navarre.



We wouldn't be shocked to see Green add rocket-armed Jeff George to the mix, given that George had perhaps his most effective season as a pro in 1999 for Green's Vikings.



Either way, Green needs to do something, if for no reason other than to avert a mutiny. We're told that, during Sunday's game, players were yelling on the sideline to "take [McCown] the f--k out of the game."



As the Associated Press reports, Green said on Monday that he plans "to look at everything" as he attempts to pump up the team's lackluster offense.



We're told that, after Sunday's loss to the Patriots, Green went on a locker-room rampage, which included throwing helmets (without heads in them).

 

[DevonCardsFan]

Green is smart enough to know McCown had no oppurtunity Sunday. I take this article as serious as one that says George Bush and Osoma Bin Laden, were see having a picnin with Aliens, Pr Football Talk is the Enquirer of the NFL trash.

 

[AzCards21]

An article that starts with "word around the league" is always questionable.

 

[Russ Smith]

Don't buy it yet, but FWIW I posted the other day that Pasquarelli says George is 210 pounds, in best shape of his life, and dying to return to the NFL but since working out for Denver last year, has nobody returning his calls.

Don't see Green bringing him in now.

 

[AZCB34]

Forget the source for a moment and listen to the words and what I would immediately assume is a 4th grader connected a couple simple dots and crapped out this rubbish.

Will Green bench McCown this week? I would say the odds are very low of that happening...maybe he would on Sunday if McCown is looking awful.

Would Green bring Jeff George back? I would say the odds on that are very low (virtually non-existent). I mean, cmon, George hasn;t played since 2001 and even that year he only played in a couple games as I recall. Do we really believe Green is racing to George's house begging him to return? I sure don't. If Green really wanted George, he would have been signed sealed and delivered prior to camp so George could actually get back into football shape.

Were players yelling at green to "take McCown the f--k out of the game"? I find that hard to swallow. Green cut Kendall because Kendall may have challenged him in the lockerroom somehow. Am I to believe players were challenging Green publically on the sidelines? If so, I would expect the waiver wire to be active. Green may have lost some confidence in McCown but I guarantee you, Green's ego will not allow one of his players to challenge him on a personnel move. Mutiny? Sorry, if this was year 3 of the Green experiment, maybe a mutiny would be at hand but not in week 2 of year 1.

Now, onto the source of this "rumor". Like alot of things, this site should be ignored. You can send them an email offering up an outrageous "rumor" you have heard and suddenly you are their "mole" in whatever city. This site is a joke and if everyone ignores it, hopefully it would go away.

 

[RedViper]

Forget the source for a moment and listen to the words and what I would immediately assume is a 4th grader connected a couple simple dots and crapped out this rubbish.

Will Green bench McCown this week? I would say the odds are very low of that happening...maybe he would on Sunday if McCown is looking awful.

Would Green bring Jeff George back? I would say the odds on that are very low (virtually non-existent). I mean, cmon, George hasn;t played since 2001 and even that year he only played in a couple games as I recall. Do we really believe Green is racing to George's house begging him to return? I sure don't. If Green really wanted George, he would have been signed sealed and delivered prior to camp so George could actually get back into football shape.

Were players yelling at green to "take McCown the f--k out of the game"? I find that hard to swallow. Green cut Kendall because Kendall may have challenged him in the lockerroom somehow. Am I to believe players were challenging Green publically on the sidelines? If so, I would expect the waiver wire to be active. Green may have lost some confidence in McCown but I guarantee you, Green's ego will not allow one of his players to challenge him on a personnel move. Mutiny? Sorry, if this was year 3 of the Green experiment, maybe a mutiny would be at hand but not in week 2 of year 1.

Now, onto the source of this "rumor". Like alot of things, this site should be ignored. You can send them an email offering up an outrageous "rumor" you have heard and suddenly you are their "mole" in whatever city. This site is a joke and if everyone ignores it, hopefully it would go away..

Well reasoned. I'm writing these rumors off as complete BS.

 

[WildBB]

The Patriots players, Brady, and coach Belicheck had nothing but words of encouragement and praise for McCown. I think Belicheck sees something good in him as well.

We need to give him at least 8 games for a fair 1st yr. assessment. Minimum.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

LOL when Green announced McCown was the starter I predicted he would be benched by week 6.

I really hope I am wrong

 

[Crimson Warrior]

The Patriots players, Brady, and coach Belicheck had nothing but words of encouragement and praise for McCown. I think Belicheck sees something good in him as well.

We need to give him at least 8 games for a fair 1st yr. assessment. Minimum.

I'll go along with that.

And as for my two cents on the game, hey, we faced probably the best defense and best defensive scheme in the NFL, and we got stuffed.

There's a reason why NE has won 18 games in a row. Yet, we were still in the game most of the way.

Lets not get all freaked out just yet.

 

[Stronso]

I'll go along with that.

And as for my two cents on the game, hey, we faced probably the best defense and best defensive scheme in the NFL, and we got stuffed.

There's a reason why NE has won 18 games in a row. Yet, we were still in the game most of the way.

Lets not get all freaked out just yet.

I think people are not recalling that if we had last years staff/team we probably would have lost by 45 to the Pats.

I think Josh had to run for his life and he did not have - save one - opportunity to set and throw all game.

The O-Line needs work - and from that everything else goes - the running game, setting up the passing game, etc. I am really not surprised at the result, and I am not surprised at how badly the O-Line played due to the fact that Step is a rookie making line calls against arguably the best D in the NFL. But, there were ALOT of positive that I can take from this game. Yes, we still may be a bit away from where we want to be but I see we are going in the right direction.

 

[john h]

LOL when Green announced McCown was the starter I predicted he would be benched by week 6.

I really hope I am wrong

Your predition is the same has mine has been. McCown will be on the bench by week 6. Another game like Sunday and he may be there sooner.

 

[justAndy]

...

some of us are freaking out.
this team was 4-12 last year, and has a lot of new faces.
I'm giving them ALL YEAR to grow - remember 2002 - started 4-2, then an utter collapse? I'll never forget that.

 

[Russ Smith]

Your predition is the same has mine has been. McCown will be on the bench by week 6. Another game like Sunday and he may be there sooner.

The whole team will be on the bench by week 6, it's our bye week

 

[JeffGollin]

a 4th grader connected a couple simple dots and crapped out this rubbish.
The writer has a right to express an opinion. But it's cowardly to avoid accountability for that opinion by pawning it off as "fact" or claiming that someone else said it.

 

[Scott MS]

Again, let's wait until this teams plays teams other than the league's elite. Nobody expected the Cards to even have a chance in those two games and they did.

I'm waiting for the back to back games in weeks 4 and 5 against the Saints at home and 49ers on the road. Those are games this team can win.

 

[Tangodnzr]

Again, let's wait until this teams plays teams other than the league's elite. Nobody expected the Cards to even have a chance in those two games and they did.

I'm waiting for the back to back games in weeks 4 and 5 against the Saints at home and 49ers on the road. Those are games this team can win.

Ahh yes....a voice of reason in the somewhat wilderness of impatience !!!!

I'm not sure about this week's game against Atlanta, as I don't know that much about their defense. I still have to think, however, that after last week, comparatively, the game hopefully should slow down a little for Josh.

From what little I've heard though, this may still be a tough outing for the offense, especially if something isn't done to improve the O-line situation.

I totally agree, after games 4 and 5 is when most reasonable people should probably expect to see a little more tangible results from the offense.

The Pats defense makes just about any QB look bad, and "speeds the game" up for them.

Look at last night, with Jim Johnson's aggressive D against the Vikes.....the Vikes looked and got little better results against Philly than the Cards did against the Pats, yet you don't hear people calling for Culpepper's head.

Amazing......

 

[Mrospi]

I couldn't agree more.... patience is needed here.....McCown should not be benched until we actually get to see this offense perform with Boldin back at full strength. Keep in Mind this is Josh's 1st year as a starter..... Overall the team has been competitive.... something I didn't see alot of last year. Denny has them on the right track. The next 3 games are possible wins... could very well be 3-2 heading into the bye..... and Boldin coming back.... this is assuming we see the same effort they have given in the 1st 2 games

 

[conraddobler]

Ahh yes....a voice of reason in the somewhat wilderness of impatience !!!!

I'm not sure about this week's game against Atlanta, as I don't know that much about their defense. I still have to think, however, that after last week, comparatively, the game hopefully should slow down a little for Josh.

From what little I've heard though, this may still be a tough outing for the offense, especially if something isn't done to improve the O-line situation.

I totally agree, after games 4 and 5 is when most reasonable people should probably expect to see a little more tangible results from the offense.

The Pats defense makes just about any QB look bad, and "speeds the game" up for them.

Look at last night, with Jim Johnson's aggressive D against the Vikes.....the Vikes looked and got little better results against Philly than the Cards did against the Pats, yet you don't hear people calling for Culpepper's head.

Amazing......

I wanted Jim Johnson to be our head coach interestingly enough and I don't personally like Green but and this is a big but, I think Green is a good coach and that we are lucky to have him.

Josh may or may not be the answer but bailing on him now is just stupid. Give the kid at least half a season and then throw him over the railing if you want but jeez let him play a few games as the starter first.

Josh seems to have learned watching Plummer and did very well in his first game not throwing picks. He got schooled by the Pats, big deal a lot of other QB's do too.

I saw the same thing everyone else did, very little time to throw and then some bad plays on Josh's part when he did have time but it's just like anything in life, new kids often time run scared and do dumb things because they are new.

I only care if he gets better over time and starts showing flashes, this next game will be very telling to see if he is making progress or not.

 

[Scott MS]

Ahh yes....a voice of reason in the somewhat wilderness of impatience !!!!

I'm not sure about this week's game against Atlanta, as I don't know that much about their defense. I still have to think, however, that after last week, comparatively, the game hopefully should slow down a little for Josh.

From what little I've heard though, this may still be a tough outing for the offense, especially if something isn't done to improve the O-line situation.

I totally agree, after games 4 and 5 is when most reasonable people should probably expect to see a little more tangible results from the offense.

The Pats defense makes just about any QB look bad, and "speeds the game" up for them.

Look at last night, with Jim Johnson's aggressive D against the Vikes.....the Vikes looked and got little better results against Philly than the Cards did against the Pats, yet you don't hear people calling for Culpepper's head.

Amazing......

I think the Cards struggle again this week against the Falcons. They seem to be a much improved team and stopping Vick may be difficult. It would be nice to see the Cards lose by 3 points this weekend (a win would be great).

Realistically, as I said before, I think Weeks 4 and 5 are key. Even if the Cards go down 0-3, they can pull back to 2-3 at the Bye. Following the Bye, they have a tough one at Seattle, but then road games at Miami, Buffalo, and then New York Giants at home.

It is not unrealistic that they could be 4-5 or 5-4 at that point. My season pick is 7-9 and I'm still going with it.

I think we have winnable games in the following: 1) New Orleans, 2) at San Franciso, 3) at Buffalo, 4) at Miami, 5) New York Giants, 6) at Detroit, 7) San Franciso, 8 ) St. Louis, 9) Tampa Bay (who looks really bad!)

 

[Scott MS]

I think we lose to Seattle twice, at Carolina, and to the New York Jets at home.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Look at last night, with Jim Johnson's aggressive D against the Vikes.....the Vikes looked and got little better results against Philly than the Cards did against the Pats, yet you don't hear people calling for Culpepper's head.

Amazing......

Surely you jest?

Thats because Culpepper, other than the fumble, had a good game. He does what good QB's do -hit his hot receiver and slip the rush. Culpepper has an amazing ability to feel the rush coming w/o staring it down, tucking it and running.

The things McCown needs to work on are things Culpepper do so damn well: Feel the rush w/o starign at them, make quick decisions, recognize blitzes, and keep his head up when scrambling while still looking for the play downfield.

McCown needs to really watch some tape of how Culpepper does it and I would be suprised if he hasnt already!

 

[OmahaCardsFan]

Ahh yes....a voice of reason in the somewhat wilderness of impatience !!!!

I'm not sure about this week's game against Atlanta, as I don't know that much about their defense. I still have to think, however, that after last week, comparatively, the game hopefully should slow down a little for Josh.

From what little I've heard though, this may still be a tough outing for the offense, especially if something isn't done to improve the O-line situation.

I totally agree, after games 4 and 5 is when most reasonable people should probably expect to see a little more tangible results from the offense.

The Pats defense makes just about any QB look bad, and "speeds the game" up for them.

Look at last night, with Jim Johnson's aggressive D against the Vikes.....the Vikes looked and got little better results against Philly than the Cards did against the Pats, yet you don't hear people calling for Culpepper's head.

Amazing......

Culpepper moved them down the field all night (under similar pressure that Josh had). They just self destructed in the red zone time and time again. But you're right about Jim Johnson's relentless blitzing.

 

[Cardiac]

Surely you jest?

Thats because Culpepper, other than the fumble, had a good game. He does what good QB's do -hit his hot receiver and slip the rush. Culpepper has an amazing ability to feel the rush coming w/o staring it down, tucking it and running.

The things McCown needs to work on are things Culpepper do so damn well: Feel the rush w/o starign at them, make quick decisions, recognize blitzes, and keep his head up when scrambling while still looking for the play downfield.

McCown needs to really watch some tape of how Culpepper does it and I would be suprised if he hasnt already!

Great Post!!

If you look at the stats from this game the Vikings should have won the game.
The difference was that the Eagles actually scored some points.
For everyone who says that our secondary will be fixed by a pass rush just look at the results from this game. Constant immediate pressure on Culpepper and he still threw for over 300 yds. The loss of Vincent and Taylor is impacting the Eagles. They just now have an explosive offense that makes up for the slip in defensive performance.

Shane, did you watch the game Monday night. The Eagles CB's were giving that despised ten yard cushion on many plays. Their CB's just did a better job of tackling in the open field on the short routes etc.

Until the Cards can do something but suck against the run then teams will continue to drive the ball up and down the field between the 20's. Red zone D and TO's are our only chance.

 

[Duckjake]

Until the Cards can do something but suck against the run then teams will continue to drive the ball up and down the field between the 20's. Red zone D and TO's are our only chance.

Don't forget dropped passes and penalties.

We need to move Calvin Pace to LBer. Then we'd have one LB as big as the guys wearing the 50's for the Patriots. Those guys were scary.

As for McCown, if they don't get him some protection soon he'll be out of the league by 2006 either in traction or because he's so gunshy he can no longer play. The guy was literally starting to run before he finished his drop.