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the-record-columns · 5 years

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March 20, 2019: Columns

Out of the ashes: An old radio from an old and dear friend…

The 1930 Crosley console radio

By KEN WELBORN

Record Publisher

At this past Monday night's meeting of the Rotary Club of North Wilkesboro, Dr. Conrad Shaw was honored with this year’s Rotary Club Citizen of the Year Award.

This much deserved award was received by Dr. Shaw with thankfulness and humility as he was literally surrounded by family and friends.

On a personal level, Conrad Shaw was the principal of the North Wilkesboro Elementary School for 14 years, eight of them when I was a student there. He was the nearest thing to God-on-this-Earth I ever knew--running a very tight ship--tough, but always fair. And, when we left the 8th Grade for high school, we could read, write, count, and knew we had better behave. No if's, no and's, no but's, no or's, no nor’s - PERIOD!

We were none the worse for the wear, either

Many years later, I helped launch Thursday Magazine, predecessor to The Record. I used the old Hoyle Hutchens house on E Street in North Wilkesboro for our offices, and it became a refuge for anything old, odd, or eclectic. Among my favorite things in that office was my old radios. Over the years I had bought everything from a coin-operated radio in a metal case to a wide variety of other radios out of everything from Bakelite cases to some with beautiful woodwork.

The one common thread through all these radios was Conrad Shaw, who had become a dear friend in my adult life. After he left NWES, he worked the rest of his education career at Wilkes Community College, He retired in 1995 and made a hobby of restoring old radios--a hobby which meshed perfectly with mine. Over a period of time he has repaired and or restored nine radios for me. When we had that awful fire in 2004, all of them burned up. Not too long after the fire Conrad asked me about the radios and I told him they were all lost.

Around Christmas time of that year, I received a phone call from Conrad asking me to stop by and see him. Of course I was glad to, and even more so when I realized why he had called. Sitting in his basement workshop was a beautiful 1930 Crosley console radio. Conrad plugged it in and in about 30 seconds it was playing perfectly. He went on to explain the steps he had gone through in restoring the radio to its original working condition, and that it came from the home of the late musician and historian J. Jay Anderson. I told Conrad about some of the things I had purchased from that estate and my own somewhat quirky relationship with the eccentric Mr. Anderson.

"I knew you had purchased several things from there," Conrad began. “And you had told me you had lost most of your radios in that fire. To That end, I want to make this old Crosley console a gift to you. You can now say you are back to collecting radios again."

I was, and am, more pleased than I can say in words. Yes, I love the old radio, but more importantly, I love being thought of. It is a wonderful feeling — the feeling of friendship I feel when Conrad makes one of his visits to the offices of The Record.

Truly, Conrad Shaw has been good to me my whole life — even before I knew it.

Congratulations again on being Rotary's Citizen of the Year, a much deserved honor.

Time After Time By HEATHER DEAN JOURNALIST/PHOTO JOURNALIST

Generation X: We were the most radical in so many ways. Atari was in three colors, we pulled down the Berlin wall, TV shows and movies were all original (there was no need for remakes or reality TV), the music was full of synthesizers and wicked cool guitar riffs. We were making history in all genres, especially in the areas of the World Wide Web. Star Wars was everything good in life, and the effects were cutting edge technology. David Hasselhoff was the coolest guy ever.

Fast forward to 2019. We the teens of the 80’s are now parents and some even grandparents. Cars can’t fly like we had planned, but they can talk like KITT. We hold palm sized computers in our hands, and can speak or text anyone in the world in an instant. All our Sci-Fi fantasies turned into term papers and valedictorian speeches of our well laid plans for the future, have turned into distant memories, like the fog at a Bon Jovi concert- palpable then gone.

Last week the best of the 80’s were brought back for a weekend as the Wilkes Playmakers presented the hit musical “Back to the 80’s.” All the characters had heartthrob names: Corey, Tiffany, Debbie, Ferris, Eillen, and Alf. The nerd learned karate kid moves and took down the bully at the end. The kids sang songs by WHAM, Madonna, The Buggles, Cindy Lauper, and Jefferson Starship to name just a few. (My favorite was a reference to Milli Vannili.)

During rehearsals, we had to explain why some of their lines were so funny to us, the parents. The kids just didn’t get it. Some of them had never seen the iconic movies they were playing out on stage. The Breakfast who? What’s an Atari? They had never known a time without cell phones and they certainly didn’t know the struggle to create the perfect mix tape.

So here our theatre kids were, learning 80’s dance moves, and songs, albeit with eyes rolled the first few weeks of rehearsal. Then came time for costuming; the girls were mortified at the shoulder pads, blue eye shadow, everything neon, and big hair. As they filed in for dress rehearsal I squealed and said “Oh. Em. Gee. You look AMAZING!!!” They were spot on with the help of moms who lived it. “Heather, we look stupid. I can’t believe y’all wore this mess. It’s so gross.” But that ‘gag me with a spoon’ sentiment soon led into a love of everything glossy and hot pink and was replaced with “hang on, you need more blush” and “is my hair big enough?’ Pass the Aquanet please.”

Our kids had struggled at first, but in the ‘final countdown’ they had morphed into GenX, and it showed. A packed Thursday night rarely happens, and we had to use overflow parking down the street at the First Baptist Church for every performance. Saturday sold out, something that hasn’t happened in a decade, and Sunday’s show was almost sold out, another rarity. These kids were now the history makers, as the audiences cheered and sang along with the live band. Many even dressed up in 80’s regalia to attend the show.

One night, as we were all in the dressing room helping the girls get ready, two of the girls said “If we were teens in the 80’s I bet we would be best friends” This struck me as funny. “If you were bff’s in the 80’s, you would be your mom and me now.” Eyes widened and a hush fell in the hairspray laden air. “Ladies, as cool and amazing as you are NOW, is how totally radical your parents and I were THEN.” Perspective. It will get you every time.

Then, “Oh, Heather, you’ll always be cool.”

Bless em.

Congratulations to cast and crewmates of Back to the 80’s. It was totally tubular.

Give Peace a Chance

By EARL COX

Special to The Record

Jared Kushner, senior adviser and son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump, has been working on a peace plan to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Details of this plan are being kept under lock and key but will be revealed soon after the elections in Israel on April 9th. If Benjamin Netanyahu is reelected, he will become the longest serving prime minister in Israel’s history thus far. It would be quite an achievement for both Trump and Netanyahu to have a workable peace plan with the Palestinians however, unless and until the Palestinians and all parties to any such plan agree that Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state, no peace plan will be possible. Furthermore, the world must stop holding Israel to a different and higher standard. Rules, regulations, fairness and justice must apply equally to all.

Israel is often accused of being an apartheid state however nothing could be further from the truth. All Israeli citizens are not Jewish however all are treated equally under the law without regard to race, religion or sexual orientation. Muslims, Bedouins, Druze and others serve in senior level positions within the government of Israel, however the media and the liberal left want the world to believe otherwise.

Here in the United States there has been a growing movement on our college and university campuses by various pro-Palestinian organizations such as Students for Justice in Palestine. These organizations, with the support of liberal professors, are promoting and engaging in BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) campaigns against Israel claiming they are helping the Palestinian cause. Those who promote the truth in an attempt to stop these anti-Semitic BDS campaigns are accused of stifling freedom of speech.

The aim of the BDS movement is not to help the Palestinians. It is to isolate Israel internationally and do as much economic harm as possible as part of the plan to erase Israel from off the face of the earth. The Palestinians are then expected to be crowned rightful heirs to inherit whatever remains of the Jewish state.

Thanks in large part to the efforts of the Israel Allies Foundation which is the international arm of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, a total of 27 states have passed legislation making it illegal for local governments to contract with companies that participate in the BDS movement. Opposition to such anti-BDS legislation leans heavily on the complaint that Americans’ First Amendment rights are being infringed upon. However, none of the anti-BDS legislation restricts an individual’s right to boycott Israeli products or businesses. It only restricts the government from being party to such boycotts.

The BDS movement incorrectly and unfairly places blame on Israel for all aspects of the conflict with the Palestinians despite the fact that Israel has made multiple peace offers all of which the Palestinians have rejected. Those in the BDS camp promote a distorted history that Israel is an illegal occupier of the land and maintains that Israel is responsible for Palestinian poverty and suffering. The BDS movement holds out false hope to the Palestinians that they can achieve their nationalistic aspirations without having to negotiate a deal directly with the Israelis because only Israel will be forced to compromise for peace.

By attempting to bludgeon Israel into submission through economic isolation, they believe Israel can be weakened enough to capitulate to every Palestinian demand. This is unrealistic, especially given Israel’s strong economy and superior military capabilities. In short, the Palestinians want a Jew-free state. They want Israel eliminated and replaced with a Palestinian state.

BDS must be stopped in its tracks. How can you help? Ask your local grocery stores and other retailers to consider stocking Israeli products. Buy Israeli Bonds to support the booming Israeli economy and whenever you have an opportunity, speak the truth about Israel. A loss for the BDS movement is a win for everyone else - Israelis and Palestinians. This is how to give peace a chance.

‘I’m a Teacher and Legislator: We’re Making Strides in Increasing Teacher Pay’

By REP. JEFFREY ELMORE

N.C. House

This week, we received welcome news in our efforts to increase teacher pay in North Carolina.

According to a new report released on Tuesday by the National Education Association, one of the nation’s largest teacher unions, North Carolina has now jumped to 29th in the nation in average teacher pay and second in the Southeast. In addition, the average teacher salary in North Carolina has now reached $53,975.

As a public-school teacher for nearly two decades in Wilkes County and a legislator in the N.C. General Assembly since 2012, I have a personal understanding of the challenges facing our teachers. Furthermore, as the only school teacher in the state legislator, I know that teacher pay is an emotional issue for many in our state, as the education system has had an impact in some way on everyone.

Regardless of political party, ensuring quality teachers in the classroom is of the upmost priority. Sadly, teacher pay has been used as a political football, even a weapon, by politicians to advance their agenda and careers for decades. For me, this is very frustrating and it is my goal to highlight the positive work being done to reward our teachers.

Make no mistake, there is more work to be done and we will continue to build on these efforts. This report is exciting news, especially when you look at how far we have come in teacher pay.

When voters gave Republicans the majority in the General Assembly in 2011, North Carolina was ranked 47th in the nation in teacher pay. Furthermore, due to decades of irresponsible spending and budgeting, school systems across the state were considering a reduction in force, instituting hiring freezes and furloughing teachers.

That’s why we immediately went to work and laid out a plan to reward, recruit and retain teachers in North Carolina. We set out realistic goals, not based on winning votes, but actually delivering real results for our teachers, students and parents.

After five consecutive years of pay increases for our teachers, including over 9% in the past two years, we are meeting those goals and getting the results we planned for. As reported this past week, North Carolina is now 29th in the nation and second in the Southeast in teacher pay – and has an average teacher salary of nearly $54,000.

In fact, teacher salaries in North Carolina have risen at the third highest rate in the entire country over the past five years.

While the ranking is a step in the right direction, and second in the Southeast is a great accomplishment, we must and will do more. Our goal is and has been to reward teachers for their hard work while ensuring our children are getting the best education possible to prepare them for the future.

Since the Great Recession, our state has faced many challenges. We have made progress. We will continue to prioritize our state’s sound fiscal footing. We will continue to save for the unexpected rainy day. Lastly, we will continue to make strategic investments for our future.

Representative Jeffrey Elmore serves the 94th House District in the N.C. General Assembly and is the Chairman of House Education K-12 and Education Appropriations. He is also in his eighteenth year as a Wilkes County School teacher.

Conway, a Black River and Spring Time

By CARL WHITE

Life in the Carolinas

I discovered historic downtown Conway, S.C., by happenstance while on my way to Myrtle Beach for the production of our first Christmas special. On that day I was the guest for the morning show on 93.9 FM WCRE in Cheraw. When I left the studio I put the Myrtle Beach address in my GPS. Based on the displayed ETA, the drive time was about two and a half hours; this would give me plenty of time to arrive and check into our hotel before evening activities.

About midway through the drive I realized I was seeing places and things I had never seen before. For me, this is always exciting and I was stopping more than I had planned, and before long I became aware that time was slipping away. I knew if I were not careful, I would go from having plenty of time to being late, so I got back on the road.

I soon found myself in the midst of a picturesque Southern town with charming buildings reminiscent of times before strip malls and by-passes, times when the town center was the heart of commerce, shopping, dining and entertainment.

It was late afternoon, Christmas music filled the air and the streets and storefronts were decorated, thus intensifying the feeling of being in a special place. This was a part of Conway that I had never seen before. I guess I was like the millions of other people who only knew the Conway by-pass, which, like most by-passes, has no sense of history.

From downtown I crossed the Waccamaw River and continued to Myrtle Beach. When I arrived at the hotel, I asked the front desk staff what they could tell me about Conway. I collected some information and contact names and went on with the evening's events.

It would be some months before I could make it back to Conway, but when I did, my first stop was the Chamber of Commerce. I learned about the historic Live Oaks that some call the oldest citizens in town. It is said that some of the trees predate the founding of America.

I was given the name of Larry Biddle as a champion for all things Conway. I called Larry and asked if we could meet. He agreed and we met that afternoon and I was given the grand tour of Conway as it is today and a lesson on the founding of Conway and much of its colorful history.

While I had gone fishing in the black waters of the Waccamaw River, I did not know that the river was the highway for the Waccamaw Indians who were in the area prior to the founding of America.

The Waccamaw was also the water way that a young Englishman traveled while charting the Royal Governor, Robert Johnson's Township Plan. The King's Town was formed in 1732 and the name was shortened to Kingston before finally becoming Conway.

I enjoyed discovering this part of our history while strolling on the meandering boardwalk along the banks of the Waccamaw. This is also when I noticed the beauty of spring time in Conway. The tender green color of new leaves on the trees that border the Waccamaw River looked fresh and alive. From certain views, the moss draped ancient Live Oaks and large azaleas were spectacular.

There are many more stories for me to share about historic Conway and her people, this one is about how I first discovered this charming Southern town and the beauty she displays in spring time.

Carl White is the executive producer and host of the award winning syndicated TV show Carl White’s Life In the Carolinas. The weekly show is now in its seventh year of syndication and can be seen in the Charlotte viewing market on WJZY Fox 46 Saturday at 1noon. For more on the show visit www.lifeinthecarolinas.com, You can email Carl White at [email protected].

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funnythingshere0-blog · 5 years

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#HailMail: Redskins Enter Week 11 In First Place

New Post has been published on http://funnythingshere.xyz/hailmail-redskins-enter-week-11-in-first-place/

#HailMail: Redskins Enter Week 11 In First Place

The Redskins enter Week 11 in first place in the NFC East. Redskins.com’s Jake Kring-Schreifels answers fan questions as the team prepares for the Buccaneeers.

What is the timeline for Trey Quinn to hit the field on gamedays?

Funny you should ask. The Redskins activated him on Wednesday after practice and he should be in line to play Sunday against the Texans.

Quinn played eight offensive snaps and six special teams snaps in the Redskins’ first game against the Cardinals, but suffered a high ankle sprain on a punt return. He was placed on the Reserve/Injured list along with Cam Sims, who also injured his ankle that game, and has been slowly working his way back to the field.

Head coach Jay Gruden wanted to see him practice on Wednesday before officially using him as one of the two players able to be activated from the Reserve/Injured list. Now, it’s a matter of how much he’ll be used on gameday.

So far, wide receiver Maurice Harris has been playing the slot position in place of Jamison Crowder, dealing with his own ankle injury. That would likely change with Quinn back in the fold, moving Harris outside. Quinn was taking more snaps in the slot during practice on Thursday, and Jay Gruden said if he is active on Sunday, that’s where he’ll play.

Because it’s early, and Quinn is still getting adjusted to the game flow, he likely won’t play many snaps, but would also be the go-to guy to return punts again. He said Thursday he doesn’t believe he’ll have a mental block when it coes to taking on contact. Stay tuned.

#HailMail

How will the redskins combat the scrambling of Deshaun Watson and the playmaking ability of Deandre Hopkins in this Sunday’s match up?

— It’s AD* (@NathanD22817608) November 13, 2018

How will the Redskins combat the scrambling of Deshaun Watson and the playmaking ability of DeAndre Hopkins in this Sunday’s matchup?

It’s no question that the Texans have some formidable offensive weapons. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is showing shades of last year’s self again and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is showing what he always does.

Unlike other athletic quarterbacks, such as Dak Prescott and Cam Newton, Watson isn’t as prone to running if none of his reads are initially open. For better and for worse, he holds onto the football as long as possible, looking to make a play downfield before deciding to run for it.

The downside for the Texans is an offensive line that’s allowed 30 sacks, some brought on by Watson’s own desire to stay around the pocket and make a big throw happen.

“By his record you wouldn’t be able to tell he was sacked 30 times but, I think he’s just trying to make plays, he’s still young,” linebacker Zach Brown said. “Eventually he’ll get that clock ticking in his head, but most of the time when you watch film he’ll drop back, sometimes he’ll just let the pass rush get there and then he’ll figure it out from there. You’ve got to just take away some of his receivers, he’s got good receivers so it’s going to be a challenge, especially for our DBs.”

Much like last week, going up against wide receivers Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson, among other targets, the Redskins allowed more than 500 total yards but three points. Cornerback Josh Norman trailed Evans, who finished with three catches for 51 yards, throughout most of the game while Greg Stroman eventually helped on the other side against Jackson.

That seems like what will happen against Hopkins and Demaryius Thomas, too. For them to have a better chance, though, the defensive line will need to get multiple hands on Watson. Second and third chances make it much harder for the secondary to plaster their receivers.

#HailMail why does seem like every DC can stop our Offense or really slow it down, is it because our WR are not that good.

— rufus johnson (@rufusjohnson6) November 13, 2018

Why does seem like every DC can stop our offense or really slow it down? Is it because our WRs are not that good?

The answer to this question does not come down to one position group.

For the majority of this season, quarterback Alex Smith hasn’t had the benefit of working with a full offensive group. Wide receiver Paul Richardson Jr. was injured early and then went to IR. Wide receiver Jamison Crowder has missed the last five games. Running Chris Thompson has missed the last two games. The offensive line lost guards Shawn Lauvao and Brandon Scherff against the Falcons at home two weeks ago. Left tackle Trent Williams is in line to miss his third consecutive game.

It’s not ideal, and while those can’t be excuses (the Redskins have still won six games), they do explain why even some of the league’s worst defenses have had better success limiting the Redskins’ output.

In fairness, wide receiver Josh Doctson has started to play more consistently, grabbing a touchdown in the last two games, and Maurice Harris has continued to be a reliable option for Smith over the middle of the field. A couple better executed plays might have even put the Redskins in the end zone a couple more times.

“I do feel like as a whole, the consistency of execution I think is improving despite point output,” Smith said. “Certainly, there is a good chunk of that fourth quarter we did jump into some four-minute territory and I feel like we executed really well in converting some third downs and eating up a bunch of clock there at the end of that game. So yeah, I do feel like it has gotten better. But certainly like I said, those situations change weekly. You don’t know what they’re going to be. You don’t know how they’re going to come up. All of the sudden – sudden change – we get a turnover. All of a sudden, four-minute we’re going to take a shot to Vernon [Davis], red zone, things like that. You have to prepare for all those and be able to execute them when they do come up.”

This isn’t about one unit being less superior than another. It’s about a group, which now feels like a patchwork group, continuing to refine and adjust and, in the process, hoping that the execution of big plays in key situations will start to break more of its way.

Source: https://www.redskins.com/news/hailmail-redskins-enter-week-11-in-first-place

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medproish · 6 years

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The 2018 NFL Draft will be defined by what happens with the quarterbacks expected to go in the first round. At least three quarterbacks, and possibly four, will go in the top five picks, while a total of six could go in Round 1 for the first time since 1983. You know, that draft with John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino.

Yeah, that one.

This quarterback class may have more hype than any since 2004, the year Eli Manning, Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger had NFL teams deciding which could be a franchise quarterback (spoiler alert: all of them)

But how does 2018 measure up in terms of talent? Will it produce three franchise quarterbacks like 2004? More? Zero? Below, I’ve tried to answer where I think this class slots in among every class since 2004 by ranking them all.

Classes that produced franchise quarterbacks were given boosts, and those with colossal busts were downgraded. Because this is a ranking of the entire class, depth was also a factor, yet franchise quarterbacks were most important.

I’ve listed noteworthy quarterbacks from each draft year into the following categories:

Franchise QBs: Like elite quarterbacks, these are simply guys everybody knows are franchise QBs. Maybe not for their entire career, but for at least a 3-4 year stretch, they were the face of their franchise and produced at a high level. If you and your friend have to argue for 30 minutes over someone … he’s probably not a franchise quarterback, although I will concede there’s no concrete definition of that term.

Solid Starters: Maybe ventured into the “franchise QB” ranks for a short period of time but didn’t sustain the quality of play to stay in that category. Or, a quarterback with plenty of starts on his resume who was never considered a franchise quarterback and simply has been (or was) an up-and-down starter in his career.

Capable Backups: Pretty cut and dry. Worth mentioning though that backups are backups for a reason. Some of the names you’ll see in this category are not high-caliber quarterbacks. They did show some signs of competence in relief appearances or spot starts yet were mostly incapable of hanging onto a starting job.

Busts: Almost solely meant for first-round picks who simply did not live up to their draft status and were either completely out of the league much sooner than many expected or fell into the “capable backup” ranks during what should have been the prime of their careers.

15. Class of 2007

Franchise QBs: None Solid starters: None Capable backups:Kevin Kolb (2.04) Busts:JaMarcus Russell (1.01), Brady Quinn (1.22), Drew Stanton (2.11)

This draft featured two first-round quarterbacks who never made it as franchise quarterbacks. In fact, it can be argued Russell is the biggest quarterback bust in modern NFL history, which does major damage to the reputation of this draft class, a group that didn’t even yield any signal-callers who were solid starters for a few seasons. Kolb had a two-game stretch in 2008 with over 300 yards then another 300-plus yard game in 2010 that led to him being traded to the Cardinals for a quality cornerback — Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie — and a second-round pick (!) in the 2012 draft. But he flopped in Arizona. At best, he was a capable backup.

14. Class of 2013

Franchise QBs: None Solid Starters: None Capable Backups: Geno Smith (2.07), Mike Glennon (4.01), Landry Jones (4.18), Busts: EJ Manuel (1.16)

Manuel was the only quarterback picked in the first round in 2013, and he was grabbed after the Bills traded back from No. 8 overall. He never started more than five consecutive games in Buffalo and ultimately busted. This draft class had a fair amount of hype at quarterback with decorated USC quarterback Matt Barkley and late-riser Ryan Nassib along with the super-productive Smith, who, at the time, surprisingly went in the second round. Nevertheless, the 2013 draft class didn’t give the league any franchise quarterbacks nor solid starters. But Smith, Glennon, and Jones are somewhat capable backups.

13. Class of 2010

Franchise QBs: None Solid Starters:Sam Bradford (1.01) Capable Backups: Colt McCoy (3.21) Busts: Tim Tebow (1.25)

Bradford was widely viewed as a can’t-miss quarterback prospect, but his injury history was a concern. Those concerns have plagued his NFL career, and only recently has he become a solid starter when healthy. Tebow had his magical run with the Broncos in 2011 that featured the overtime playoff win against the Steelers and inspired Tebow mania across the country. That all turned out to be a mirage, as Denver won the majority of those games in spite of Tebow, not because of him. McCoy had a few solid spot starts but was never a quality starter. This class was nothing to write home about.

12. Class of 2006

Franchise QBs: None Solid Starters: Jay Culter (1.10) Capable Backups: Kellen Clemens (2.17), Tarvaris Jackson (2.32), Charlie Whitehurst (3.17), Bruce Gradkowski (6.25) Busts:Vince Young (1.03), Matt Leinart (1.10)

Cutler is on the cusp between solid starter and franchise quarterback. I just can’t categorize him in the latter despite his longevity in the NFL. Solid starter? Sure. But his three best seasons with the Bears were his final three in Chicago. The first of those years was 2013 when he completed 63.1 percent of his passes, averaged an above-average 7.4 yards per attempt and threw 19 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Ehhh. His completion percentage increased the next year (66.1), as did his touchdowns (28) but he led the NFL in interceptions (18). Ohhh. Cutler has just been too inconsistent to earn the franchise-quarterback label, and when he was at his best, he wasn’t ever elite or very close to it. Young and Leinart ultimately busted, though Young had more staying power than Leinart. As a consolation, this was one of the “better” capable backup-quarterback classes.

11. Class of 2009

Franchise QBs:Matthew Stafford (1.01) Solid Starters: None Capable Backups: None Busts:Mark Sanchez (1.05), Josh Freeman (1.17)

Injuries led to patience being important with the super-young Stafford during the beginning stages of his time in Detroit. Although he’s been a high-volume producer — he threw for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2011, then 4,967 yards on a ridiculous 727 attempts in 2012 — the former No. 1 overall pick wavered back and forth between the solid starter and franchise quarterback labels until 2015. Since then, he’s ascended to become an unquestioned franchise quarterback. Over his past three years, he’s tossed 85 touchdowns to just 33 interceptions. The Jets traded way up to get Mark Sanchez, which didn’t work out, and Josh Freeman has one of the craziest outlier quarterback seasons in recent memory as the lone bright spot on his professional resume. In 2010, at 22 years old, he completed 61.4 percent of his throws at 7.3 yards per attempt with 25 touchdowns and just six picks. The wheels fell off after that, and although his 2012 wasn’t brutal, he never truly recovered from his post-2010 regression. The rest of this class features a plethora of signal-callers who didn’t amount to much in the NFL.

10. Class of 2017

Franchise QBs:Deshaun Watson (1.12, TBD), Mitchell Trubisky (1.03, TBD), Patrick Mahomes (1.10, TBD) Solid Starters: Deshaun Watson (1.12, TBD), Mitchell Trubisky (1.03, TBD), Patrick Mahomes (1.10, TBD) Capable Backups: DeShone Kizer (2.20)

Obviously, it’s difficult to slot the 2017 rookies into this list, especially with Mahomes starting just one game, Watson starting six, and Trubisky starting 12 on a team with an unenviable receiver situation last year. Watson showed signs of franchise-quarterback skills, and Mahomes’ start in the season finale was a wild, fun ride. Trubisky flashed too. This class has upside, that’s for sure. There’s a good amount of projection with this group, the most being with Mahomes. I doubt he totally busts with Andy Reid as his coach. Kizer’s erratic accuracy led to many more head-in-hands plays than triumphant ones, but now he can learn from Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

9. Class of 2015

Franchise QBs:Jameis Winston (1.01), Marcus Mariota (1.02) Solid Starters: None Capable Backups:Trevor Siemian (7.33)

The 2015 quarterback class was always about two Heisman-winning quarterbacks. And that was basically it. Winston has Andrew Luck-type ability but at this point, are the Buccaneers overjoyed with what he’s done on the field in two seasons? I’m not so sure, especially for being the No. 1 overall pick. His efficiency did markedly improve in 2017 — with jumps in completion percentage and yards per attempt — so at this relatively early juncture of his career, I feel OK placing him into the franchise quarterback category. After all, he’s only 24. Kind of a similar story with Mariota. At times, he’s looked like a transcendent young signal-caller. In other outings, he’s looked totally lost. After two quality seasons at the outset of his time with the Titans, he took a step back as a passer last year. Really strange. Because I have to place him somewhere now, I do think Mariota’s good enough to be considered a franchise guy. The Broncos got a whole heck of a lot out of the 33rd pick in the seventh round in Siemian despite his flaws being exposed in 2017. The rest of his class hasn’t shown much.

8. Class of 2014

Franchise QBs: Derek Carr (2.04), JImmy Garoppolo (2.30, TBD) Solid Starters:Jimmy Garoppolo (2.30), Blake Bortles (1.03), Teddy Bridgewater (1.32) Capable Backups:Tom Savage (4.35), AJ McCarron (5.23) Busts: Johnny Manziel (1.22)

What a fascinating bunch. It was shock when the Jaguars picked Bortles at No. 3 overall. Manziel “slipped” to No. 22, as did Bridgewater to the last pick in the first round. Ironically, the top-tier quarterback who fell the furthest — Carr — has easily been the best signal-caller in his draft class. Bridgewater has refined talent, but will he see the field in New York with the Jets primed to pick a quarterback in Round 1 of this draft? I couldn’t put Jimmy G into the franchise quarterback category just yet, even though he’s being paid like one. After all, he’s started seven games in the NFL. Although, I will admit he’s at the ceiling of the solid starter distinction. Manziel was a mega bust, McCarron is serviceable backup/spot starter, and Savage had moments of decent play in the quarterback carousel in Houston.

7. Class of 2008

Franchise QBs:Matt Ryan (1.03), Joe Flacco (1.18) Solid Starters: None Capable Backups:Chad Henne (2.26), Matt Flynn (7.02) Busts: None

Ryan has been a franchise quarterback for his entire career. End of story. Flacco is near the floor of that franchise quarterback group. Henne has been a clipboard holder for a long time after kinda-sorta flopping in Miami to start his career, and Matt Flynn parlayed a 480-yard, six-touchdown effort on a loaded Packers team to a big payday in Seattle and being the answer to a trivia question that asks “who did Russell Wilson beat out to win the Seahawks starting job as a rookie?” This class gets a slight bump not only for Ryan and Flacco but because there weren’t really any franchise-altering busts. No solid starters though.

6. Class of 2011

Franchise QBs:Cam Newton (1.01) Solid Starters:Andy Dalton (2.03), Colin Kaepernick (2.04), Tyrod Taylor (6.15) Capable Backups: T.J. Yates (5.21) Busts:Jake Locker (1.08), Blaine Gabbert (1.10), Christian Ponder (1.12)

Newton isn’t the most accurate or consistent passer. But he won the league MVP and set records to begin his career, both of which scream franchise quarterback. Dalton has never been a franchise guy, but he’s a solid starter. Kaepernick gets a solid starter designation because when he burst onto the scene, he was borderline unstoppable. Now, he’s likely a capable backup. Taylor was a polarizing signal-caller in Buffalo, yet was one of the league’s best low-volume, low-turnover quarterbacks over the past three seasons. Yates, at his best, has been a capable backup. With Newton, Dalton, Kaepernick, and Taylor, this class is quite good when only glancing at the successful throwers. However, it’s dragged down by a trio of big busts in the top 15.

5. Class of 2016

Franchise QBs:Carson Wentz (1.02), Jared Goff (1.01), Dak Prescott (4.37) Solid Starters: None Capable Backups: Jacoby Brissett (3.29), Cody Kessler (3.31) Busts: Paxton Lynch (1.26)

Wentz and (especially) Goff had disappointing, highly concerning rookie campaigns. As sophomores in the pros, Wentz was an MVP candidate and Goff made a sizable leap to become one of the league’s most efficient passers. He led the NFL with 12.9 yards per completion. Prescott had arguably the best rookie quarterback season in the NFL history in 2016, and though he came back to Earth a bit in 2017, for a player only entering his third professional, he looks like a franchise quarterback. Brissett had flashes of decent play as the Colts starter in 2017, but I can’t put him into the solid starter category yet. Kessler can be an adequate backup. Lynch, the wild-card of this draft class and whom the Broncos traded up for in the back end of Round 1, has looked like a bust after two seasons.

4. Class of 2012

Franchise QBs: Andrew Luck (1.01), Russell Wilson (3.12) Solid Starters:Ryan Tannehill (1.08), Kirk Cousins (4.07) Capable Backups: Brock Osweiler (2.25), Nick Foles (3.25) Busts: Robert Griffin III (1.02), Brandon Weeden (1.22)

Luck and Wilson are franchise quarterbacks who are borderline elite. Tannehill probably hasn’t lived up to being the No. 8 overall pick with the Dolphins. He’s solid though. Cousins just signed an $84 million contract with the Vikings after three-straight 4,000-yard campaigns in Washington. Osweiler was a gigantic free-agent whiff as a starter for the Texans. As a backup? Decent at best. Foles has a historically efficient season on his pro resume — 2013 — and is the reigning Super Bowl MVP. I’d need to see more over a longer period of time for him to be a solid starter. Griffin III was on the fast track to superstardom after his rookie year. Then defenses caught up to him, and after his knee injury, he was never the same. Weeden was a wasted first-round pick by the Browns. The busts sink this class. But with Luck, Wilson, and then the depth provided by Tannehill, Cousins, and Foles, this is one of the better top-to-bottom quarterback groups over the past 15 years.

3. Class of 2005

Franchise QBs: Alex Smith (1.01), Aaron Rodgers (1.24) Solid Starters: None Capable Backups: Kyle Orton (4.05), Derek Anderson (6.39), Matt Cassel (7.16), Ryan Fitzpatrick (7.36) Busts: Jason Campbell (1.25)

Extraordinarily top-heavy class here. I mean, Rodgers is the most gifted passer in NFL history. I truly believe that. Smith had a rough go of it early in his 49ers career then blossomed into one of the league’s more stable quarterbacks once Jim Harbaugh got to San Francisco. Smith was a reliable, low-volume signal-caller under Andy Reid’s tutelage until 2017, when he catapulted into the elite category. His 104.2 quarterback rating was tops in the league, and he had the NFL’s lowest interception rate of 1.0 percent. No solid starters from the 2005 class, yet a respectable assortment of capable backups, who all had at least one year of adequate-to-good play as a season-long starter. Campbell was the lone bust in this group, but he was picked late in Round 1.

2. Class of 2018

Franchise QBs:Mason Rudolph, Lamar Jackson, Josh Rosen Solid Starters: Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield Capable Backups: Kyle Lauletta Busts:Josh Allen

Time for widespread prognostication. I love Rudolph’s refined game as a passer. Jackson has Michael Vick 2.0 written all over him. And that doesn’t mean just the second coming of Vick, but a more advanced version. He’s further ahead of Vick as a passer compared to when the former No. 1 overall pick came into the NFL in 2001. Rosen has all the ability in the world to become a franchise quarterback because he’s essentially a finished product right now and is very accurate at the short-to-intermediate levels. Darnold has the second-highest bust potential behind Allen due to his age, relative lack of experience, and turnover issues in college, but I do think his positive plays will outweigh his mistakes at the pro level. Mayfield is supremely accurate, and his pro success will mostly be decided by where he lands. With an innovative offensive coordinator that can come close to recreating what he had at Oklahoma, Mayfield will flourish in the NFL. I just worry about him being able to acclimate to a situation not as ideal as the one he had in college. Lauletta is a lite version of Jimmy G. Allen’s inaccuracy has become overstated by now, but he certainly needs to get better in that area and can’t force the football as much as he showed in college. Those are two issues I don’t believe will be erased in the NFL.

1. Class of 2004

Franchise QBs:Eli Manning (1.01), Philip Rivers (1.04), Ben Roethlisberger (1.11) Solid Starters: Matt Schaub (3.27) Capable Backups: None Busts: J.P. Losman (1.22)

You’re looking at three potential (likely?) Hall of Fame quarterbacks in this class, although out of this trio, I’d have the biggest gripe with Manning getting in. But those two Super Bowl rings will be hard to ignore for voters. Manning, Rivers, and Big Ben have been franchise cornerstones for at least 13 seasons. For Eli, 14 years. For Big Ben, it’s been 15 seasons. During his prime in Houston, Schaub was one of the more underrated quarterbacks in football. Losman is the lone bust in that famous first round, a signal-caller with all the physical tools but poor decision-making to go along with a gun-slinger mentality. It’ll be difficult to unseat this quarterback class.

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medproish · 6 years

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The 2018 NFL Draft class features the most hyped quarterback group since, at the earliest, 2004, and may very well have six signal-callers go in the first round for the first time since 1983. You know, that draft with John Elway, Jim Kelly and Dan Marino.

Yeah, that one.

With that being the case, it’s time to rank the quarterback draft classes over the past 15 years — including this one.

I’ve listed noteworthy quarterbacks from each draft year into the following categories:

15. Class of 2007

Franchise QBs: None Solid starters: None Capable backups:Kevin Kolb (2.04) Busts:JaMarcus Russell (1.01), Brady Quinn (1.22), Drew Stanton (2.11)

14. Class of 2013

Franchise QBs: None Solid Starters: None Capable Backups: Geno Smith (2.07), Mike Glennon (4.01), Landry Jones (4.18), Busts: EJ Manuel (1.16)

13. Class of 2010

Franchise QBs: None Solid Starters:Sam Bradford (1.01) Capable Backups: Colt McCoy (3.21) Busts: Tim Tebow (1.25)

12. Class of 2006

11. Class of 2009

Franchise QBs:Matthew Stafford (1.01) Solid Starters: None Capable Backups: None Busts:Mark Sanchez (1.05), Josh Freeman (1.17)

10. Class of 2017

Obviously, it’s difficult to slot the 2017 rookies into this list, especially with Mahomes starting just one game, Watson starting six, and Trubisky starting 12 on a team with an unenviable receiver situation last year. Watson showed signs of franchise-quarterback skills, and Mahomes’ start in the season finale was a wild, fun ride. Trubisky flashed too. This class has upside, that’s for sure. Kizer’s erratic accuracy led to many more head-in-hands plays than triumphant ones, but now he can learn from Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

9. Class of 2015

Franchise QBs:Jameis Winston (1.01), Marcus Mariota (1.02) Solid Starters: None Capable Backups:Trevor Siemian (7.33)

8. Class of 2014

Franchise QBs: Derek Carr (2.04) Solid Starters:Jimmy Garoppolo (2.30), Blake Bortles (1.03), Teddy Bridgewater (1.32) Capable Backups:Tom Savage (4.35), AJ McCarron (5.23) Busts: Johnny Manziel (1.22)

7. Class of 2008

Franchise QBs:Matt Ryan (1.03), Joe Flacco (1.18) Solid Starters: None Capable Backups:Chad Henne (2.26), Matt Flynn (7.02) Busts: None

6. Class of 2011

5. Class of 2016

Franchise QBs:Carson Wentz (1.02), Jared Goff (1.01), Dak Prescott (4.37) Solid Starters: None Capable Backups: Jacoby Brissett (3.29), Cody Kessler (3.31) Busts: Paxton Lynch (1.26)

4. Class of 2012

3. Class of 2005

2. Class of 2018

Franchise QBs:Mason Rudolph, Lamar Jackson, Josh Rosen Solid Starters: Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield Capable Backups: Kyle Lauletta Busts:Josh Allen

1. Class of 2004

Franchise QBs:Eli Manning (1.01), Philip Rivers (1.04), Ben Roethlisberger (1.11) Solid Starters: Matt Schaub (3.27) Capable Backups: None Busts: J.P. Losman (1.22)

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junker-town · 7 years

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Washington just can’t stop shooting itself in the foot

Between the Scot McCloughan firing and the bungled Kirk Cousins negotiations, it’s been yet another offseason of turmoil in D.C.

Sometimes it feels like the Washington NFL franchise is allergic to organizational stability. In 2015, they won the NFC East title, found their franchise quarterback of the future, and had a highly regarded general manager, Scot McCloughan, building a rock-solid roster. Head coach Jay Gruden helped develop Kirk Cousins into a good quarterback, a fortunate turn of luck for a franchise still reeling from the Robert Griffin III flameout.

Although Washington missed the playoffs last season, things were looking up, or so it seemed.

But the good feelings couldn’t last, because Dan Snyder’s operation is driven to drama and dysfunction like flies to trash. McCloughan got fired amidst an ugly power struggle, leading to Bruce Allen taking the reins. Cousins is almost certainly on the way out after the team failed to sign him to a long-term deal — he’s stuck playing under the franchise tag for the second straight year. Several key pieces left in free agency and offensive coordinator Sean McVay took the head coaching job with the Los Angeles Rams.

This is not to say that all hope is lost — there’s still a lot of talent on this team, Gruden is a quality coach, and if Cousins keeps exceeding expectations they should be on the fringes of playoff contention. However, the front-office turmoil and lack of long-term vision remains a persistent problem with this franchise, one that won’t be going away any time soon.

What happened to Scot McCloughan?

A respected talent evaluator going back to his days with the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers, McCloughan got his big break in 2015 when Washington hired him as general manager. Under his watch, the team went 9-7 in 2015 and 8-7-1 last season, barely missing the playoffs after a Week 17 loss to the New York Giants.

Things started getting weird when the season ended. McCloughan didn’t attend the NFL Combine in February, which is pretty much unheard of for an NFL GM. A few weeks later, he was unceremoniously fired and The Washington Post published a report that McCloughan relapsed into alcoholism, which both he and several players later denied.

Whatever the exact details were, it seems pretty obvious that McCloughan was locked in a power struggle with Allen, a battle he ultimately lost. Allen served as the GM from 2010-14 before being given the title of team president. He reportedly clashed with McCloughan multiple times and things came to a head this offseason. Now McCloughan is gone and it appears that Allen is calling the shots again, presumably getting what he wanted all along.

If this all seems bizarre and petty, well, that’s business as usual in D.C.

Was told late in the season of jealousy up top and how they'd one day use McCloughan drinking as an excuse to can him. Exactly what happened

— Mike Jones (@MikeJonesWaPo) March 10, 2017

The team has decided to go into the season without a true GM, although former quarterback and Super Bowl 22 MVP, Doug Williams, got promoted to Senior Vice President of Player Personnel.

Now what’s the deal with Kirk Cousins?

Cousins might actually be a pretty good quarterback, after all. Largely considered an afterthought in the 2012 NFL Draft, Cousins went in the fourth round and was expected to just back up Robert Griffin III. But when injuries and coaching dysfunction derailed RGIII’s career, Cousins stepped up to the starting role and acquitted himself fairly well.

Turnovers are still a big concern for Cousins — he has 42 interceptions in 46 games and lost 24 fumbles. However, he’s otherwise been an efficient passer with occasional flashes of greatness. In 2016, Cousins set a new career high with 4,917 passing yards, while averaging 8.1 yards per attempt, completing 67 percent of his passes, and putting up a 97.2 QB Rating.

His season did end on a sour note, throwing a back-breaking late interception to cost Washington a playoff spot, but for the most part Cousins is worth committing to as a starting quarterback. There are plenty of teams who would to have someone at his level, and pay him like a franchise guy.

Now here’s the catch: Washington hasn’t committed to Cousins for the long term. They gave him the franchise tag last offseason, which made sense at the time — hedge your bets in case Cousins turns back into a pumpkin. But after another solid season, Washington still couldn’t lock up Cousins to a multi-year deal. He got the tag for a second time and the July 17 deadline came and went with no new contract.

One of the biggest sticking points, at least on Cousins’ end, was the guaranteed money. Although the offer Washington made public contained $53 million in guarantees, it’s barely more than what Cousins would’ve already earned with the franchise tag money. He made $19.953 million last year and will take home $23.943 million this season. He’s now set to be a free agent next offseason, and if Washington tags him a third time, his salary will balloon to well over $30 million. Cousins owns the leverage now, and Washington only has itself to blame.

Though Cousins said that he’s open to returning to Washington, let’s be realistic -- he’s probably gone. The 49ers are the most obvious candidate for Cousins’ services next year, especially since Kyle Shanahan took the head coaching job. The two have a history together with Shanahan being Cousins’ offensive coordinator from 2012-13, so it’s a natural fit. Other QB-needy teams like the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns will have plenty of salary cap space to afford Cousins’ contract. If Washington doesn’t tag him again, he’ll be the most coveted quarterback on the open market next spring.

In essence, Washington handed Cousins around $43 million in two years, threw him under the bus for doing so, and likely won’t have anything to show for it. That’s not good, especially with no in-house options to replace Cousins. The only other quarterbacks on the roster are Colt McCoy and Nate Sudfeld. Unless we’re still trying to make Colt McCoy happen in 2018, what’s the plan here? What is Washington trying to accomplish by alienating Cousins, who is still the 2017 starter?

There’s a slight chance Washington could get one of the top QBs in next year’s draft — like Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, or Josh Rosen — but it’s a long shot at best. Unless things fall apart, this roster isn’t bad enough to secure a top-10 pick, and if they can’t swing a trade like they did grab RG3 five years ago, they don’t have a lot of options left.

It didn’t have to be this way, but thanks to the team’s hardline stance with Cousins’ contract, their situation under center is completely up in the air. But for the moment, Cousins is still here, so let’s take a look at his supporting cast.

Lots of turnover at wide receiver

Last year’s leading receivers for Washington were DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon. Neither of them is on the team anymore, with both men bolting in free agency. That’s kind of a problem.

In fairness, WR isn’t a total black hole like you might expect. Washington signed Terrelle Pryor, who impressed in his first full season as a receiver with the Cleveland Browns. Pryor only signed a one-year deal, so he’ll have to prove that 2016 wasn’t a fluke. (For what it’s worth, Pryor and Cousins have already developed good chemistry.)

The rest of the pass-catching unit has promise but is largely unproven and injury-prone. Playing next to Pryor will be Jamison Crowder, who had a quiet breakout season with seven touchdowns and figures to play a larger role in the offense. Josh Doctson’s rookie season was mostly wiped out by a lingering Achilles injury, but the 2016 first-round pick stayed healthy through OTAs and still has a lot of upside.

Jordan Reed remains one of the league’s premier tight ends, but he simply can’t escape the injury bug — a concussion and shoulder ailment limited him to 12 games last year. Washington needs him to stay on the field because he is Cousins’ most reliable red zone weapon, with 17 touchdowns over the last two years.

The running game is something of a muddled picture right now. Rob Kelley usurped Matt Jones as the starter last year, but he’ll be pushed by fourth-round rookie Samaje Perine, while Chris Thompson returns as the pass-catching back. Despite playing second fiddle to Joe Mixon at the University of Oklahoma, Perine was impressive in his own right and could have a clear path to the starting job if he outplays Kelley in training camp and preseason.

Defense was a clear weakness, but there’s room for growth

Washington’s defense could be best described as “it exists.” Despite boasting some star power, this unit was mediocre at best in 2016. Washington ranked 28th in yards allowed, 19th in points allowed, and 25th in DVOA, with Pro Football Focus ranking the secondary at No. 21 heading into this season.

There were some bright spots, to be sure. Washington won the Josh Norman sweepstakes after the Carolina Panthers rescinded his franchise tag. He wasn’t quite as good as his 2015 All-Pro campaign, but Norman is still one of the better cornerbacks in football. Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan earned his second Pro Bowl trip with 11 sacks and Trent Murphy had nine of his own. Bashaud Breeland recovered from early-season struggles to be a capable No. 2 cornerback.

Washington went out of its way to upgrade defense in the offseason. Defensive tackle was a particular point of emphasis, with the team signing Stacy McGee and Terrell McClain in free agency, and drafting Jonathan Allen in the first round. They also addressed their secondary with free agent safety D.J. Swearinger, third-round cornerback Fabian Moreau, and fourth-round safety Montae Nicholson.

The team also ousted defensive coordinator Joe Barry, promoting linebackers coach Greg Manusky to replace him.

There are a lot of new faces, but with better injury luck and growth from the young players, this defense should be much better than the unit that got burned way too many times last season.

Where does the team go from here?

It’s been yet another chaotic offseason, but at the end of the day, Washington still has football games to play. As far as 2017 goes, it wouldn’t be surprising if this team makes a playoff push — they’re only two years removed from a division title and have some quality playmakers.

But in a division that keeps getting better and more competitive, Washington cannot afford any backslides. The Dallas Cowboys found their own franchise QB in Dak Prescott, the New York Giants made a quick turnaround, and the Philadelphia Eagles could be back in the mix if Carson Wentz is the real deal. Washington doesn’t have the easy path it did in 2015, when 9-7 was enough to win the NFC East. The stakes are much higher this time.

Of course, the real questions start piling up after 2017. What does this team do after Cousins is gone? They have several other key players (Pryor, DeAngelo Hall, Zach Brown, Murphy) hitting free agency next year, with no guarantee that all of them will stay. How many of them follow Jackson and Garcon out the door to avoid the constant drama?

It wasn’t that long ago that Washington had a franchise QB and tantalizing potential, only to see the whole thing implode over in-fighting and power struggles. They got lucky with Cousins waiting in the wings after RGIII’s demise, but with Cousins almost certainly leaving, they once again have more questions than answers. This franchise seems destined to repeat the same mistakes over and over again.

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