C.C. Ryder: Flash Gordon Syndrome: Taking Aaron Rodgers for a Fool

In Washington, as per usual, there is a great deal of panic with regard to the Quarterback. I thought at first this was a D.C. only mental illness. I see by the behavior of the rest of the League and its commentators, you are considered mentally ill yourself if you are not in total panic over your quarterback.

So it isn't just Washington.

But for decades now we have been pining away for that shining quarterback on a hill few have ever landed. Why we crave something we have never had--a superstar quarterback--is a little confusing. You would think adaptation would kick in. It should dawn on you you are not going to get it. A watched pot never signs with Washington.

Most teams in the NFL are missing a superstar quarterback. Some of them win anyway. Like Joe Gibbs did. He never had Flash Gordon at quarterback.

What he did have was an almost impregnable offensive line. In fact, the 1991 Washington squad had an offensive line half of the league TODAY could win a Super Bowl with. The league has little in the way of Flash Gordons. And that has always been the case.

I suppose it depends on the hyperbole you use to describe the QB position. I guess some mean by the magic phrase "franchise quarterback" simply that the quarterback is good. Well, what do you mean by good? He wins games? He has a big arm? He's mobile? He's gutsy?

I personally am easy. You win you are in. That's leftover from the George Allen Death Valley Days. So I'd be fine with Taylor Heinicke and Sam Howell at quarterback in Washington.

Now there's some talk about wanting Aaron Rodgers. We have a gritty defense. We have receivers he'd like. We have a running game. There's just one problem. It is a big one when you are a nursing home QB.

We don't have an offensive line that can pass block. The first words out of Rodgers' mouth ought to be: "What are you going to do at offensive line? If you aren't going to draft any linemen, how are you going to handle the middle blitz? How are you going to block those NFC East edge rushers? Do you feel fullbacks and tight ends are like unicorns? They don't exist?"

"And lastly, how big a butterball do you take me for?"

Great offensive lines, I submit, win more championships than Flash Gordons with bad offensive lines.

I'm betting the original C.C. Ryder, Joe Namath, himself a much-ballyhooed New York Jets quarterback, would agree.