04/24/24
December 26, 2011
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
Don't normally link Deadspin, but nice to see Yorbit Torrealba in the holiday spirit,
posted by wfrazerjr at 02:36 PM on December 26, 2011
Drew Brees has just broken Dan Marino's single-season passing yardage record. Nice that he did it on a TD pass on Monday Night Football. The record has to be somewhat tainted with the rules now preventing the defense from actually playing defense and the QB being protected from anything more than a dirty look. Still, it's quite an achievement.
posted by Howard_T at 11:42 PM on December 26, 2011
So I squeaked by into the SpoFi Fantasy Football championship, but what happens in the case of a tie? Barring a stat change, it looks like we have a tie in the other semifinal.
posted by wfrazerjr at 12:16 AM on December 27, 2011
I don't know that I would call the record tainted (which I would reserve for situations in which there was some sort of malfeasance), but you certainly have to look at Brees' and Marino's accomplishments in light of the their respective eras. This Boston Globe story has a good assessment of the statistical accomplishments relative to what was/is going on in the NFL at the time. (Although it should be said that there are multiple likely Hall of Fame QBs in their respective primes playing right now, which skews the current sample). What the historical comparison (in terms of style of play and rules) also misses is the fact that Brees plays over half his games in domes (I believe 10+ so far this year), which certainly helps a precision passing game, while Marino presumably only had a game or two inside in 1984.
All that said, a great accomplishment for Brees. Seems like the record could not have been broken by a nicer guy.
posted by holden at 01:16 AM on December 27, 2011
The SpoFi fantasy league tie is broken according to these rules, unless this can be overridden somehow.
I can't believe I ended up in the consolation bracket.
posted by feloniousmonk at 01:44 AM on December 27, 2011
From holden's link:
Teams passed for, on average, 228.2 yards/game in Marino's record-breaking season; in 2011, that number is up to 243.3.
Is that really such a big deal? That's what, two pass completions difference? If it is a big deal, then someone please ejookate this rube.
posted by NoMich at 08:06 AM on December 27, 2011
Teams passed for, on average, 228.2 yards/game in Marino's record-breaking season; in 2011, that number is up to 243.3.
Is that really such a big deal? That's what, two pass completions difference? If it is a big deal, then someone please ejookate this rube..
228.2 * 16 = 3651.2
243.3 * 16 = 3892.8
Comparison of Dan Marino's results to league average:
5084 to 3651.2 = 39.24% more yards than the league average:
For Drew Brees to equal that, he'd have to finish with 5420.4 yards at the end of the season. Since he's at 5087, he'll have to throw for at least 354 yards in the final game.
He's done that 5 times already this season.
posted by grum@work at 09:53 AM on December 27, 2011
It was good to see Dan take it so well too and congratulate Drew. Take note, Mercury Morris.
To think, Drew could have been doing this for the Dolphins, but luckily we went for Daunte Culpepper instead.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 10:03 AM on December 27, 2011
Apparently, at least one person is pleased about Marino's record being broken -- Ray Finkle.
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:13 AM on December 27, 2011
it looks like we have a tie in the other semifinal.
The SpoFi fantasy league tie is broken according to these rules, unless this can be overridden somehow.
As the one who not only kissed his sister, but was bent over a barrel by her, I just have to say AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!! But, on the other hand, ties have to be broken somehow. I gracefully accept my banishment from the SpoFiBowl. It sure made last night's game interesting.
posted by tahoemoj at 11:19 AM on December 27, 2011
I knew for sure that I'd lost this week in the SpoFi League. I was behind by like 30 points with only Matt Ryan left to to play and the team I was up against had Sproles. I was shocked this morning to see Ryan had 49 fantasy points to give us the tie and that I actually won the tiebreaker. Awesome.
posted by MrFrisby at 01:21 PM on December 27, 2011
Awesome.
Matter of perspective, I guess. But congratulations and good luck bringing home the proverbial trophy.
posted by tahoemoj at 01:28 PM on December 27, 2011
Marino played in Miami, not East Rutherford, Cleveland or Green Bay, so the lack of domes was not so much of an impact considering he generally had favorable weather at all home games.
posted by billsaysthis at 02:26 PM on December 27, 2011
The Orioles are taking applications for a new PA announcer.