Jeff Hart: Friday Linkfest for February 17, 2012

By: Jeff Hart | Posted: February 17, 2012

Want to see Matthew Stafford chuck some deep balls off the roof of ESPN? Of course you do.

I’m not sure why Stafford was sniping ESPN office drones, but I can only assume it was to show Marshall Faulk that he can work well even with amateur receivers. Faulk minimized Stafford’s 5,000+ yard passing season, complaining that the mark has no meaning in the current NFL and that anyone should be able to accomplish that while throwing to Megatron. Drew Stanton respectfully disagrees.

Faulk is sort of right about one thing: passing yards as a stat are pretty meaningless, at least in terms of measuring success. Passing yards have only about a 50% correlation to winning percentage. Real Quarterback Rating, on the other hand, now that’s a stat to live and die by.

Here’s a fun way to pass the off-season: which players would make the Tom Coughlin all star team? Seeing names like Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell mentioned alongside Eli Manning is likely as close to experiencing a championship as Jags fans will ever get. Enjoy it!

There’s been some talk recently about improving the live NFL viewing experience because, according to some, it’s super-boring. The NFL’s main tactic has been to increase WiFi access, so fans can check their fantasy teams during lulls in the action. Others, like Pats owner Robert Kraft, want to take some lessons from hockey.

If blasé football fans were hoping the traditional kick-off would return next season , it’s not happening. The numbers are in, revealing a 50% decrease in kick-off related concussions. Looks like we’re just going to have to make touchbacks exciting. I’m thinking Atlasphere-style smoke explosions.  

At least the at-home viewers have it good. Following the dismissal of Ron Jaworski, commentary genius Jon Gruden was given some helpful (and hurtful) notes on his performance by ESPN brass. Should make for an interesting next season of Positively Gruden.

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