chip egan wrote:
Rock, the other problem that comes up with numbers is that they don't always tell the story, or the truth. Researching numbers in one thing, yet watching with an open mind is another. I've researched the players, but numbers don't account for everything. The Bears opener is a great example because when you look only at the numbers you would think that they blew out Detroit. That, we know, was not the case as they were saved by a silly rule to eliminate the winning TD.
If numbers are what you follow then one would think you would believe that Emmitt Smith is the greatest running back ever and Pete Rose the greatest hitter. Most experts agree that Smith was very good, but not in the class of a Payton or Brown, Sayers or even Barry Sanders. While Rose has the most hits ever, many baseball people see Ted Williams, Joe Dimaggio, and Mickey Mantle, among others, to be better. A case could even be made for Albert Pujols, Ichiro and Tony Gwynn. Would you rather face Rose or Williams with a game on the line?
Numbers can be misleading (look at how politicians spin numbers in polls and businesses with their record keeping books). You can use numbers to support an argument regardless of the side you are on. But they don't always paint the picture completely. Again, in comparing Romo and Cutler, Romo has had far better talent around him (in WR, RB and linemen) in his career to this point than Cutler has. Thus, on paper his numbers should be better. Cutler had no line to protect him (it looked like a jailbreak last year, this preseason and in the first series against Dallas) and his number one receiver would be, at best, a two or three on another team. Romo had fumble problems, yet had people like future Hall of Famer Terrell Owens to throw to. His rating is better, but games weren't on his shoulders to win like Cutler's was. Cutler seems to be able to make the talent around him better, and I don't think that is the case with Romo. Those are the types of intangibles that don't show up on paper that seperates players.
Rock, as for the Sox go look at some other numbers even later in the season to prove my point. The Colorado Rockies tremendous run to get to the playoffs and then the World Series several years ago...Lou Piniella manages two teams to the best record in baseball (Seattle and the Cubs), yet both lose in the first round...a not much above .500 team in the Saint Louis Cardinals wins the World Series just a few years ago. By the numbers, the Rockies should never have gotten to the playoffs let alone the world series. Based on records, both Seattle and the Cubs should have at least gotten to the World Series.
Heck, the Patriots were perfect several years ago ( and, thus, favored to win) but lost the Super Bowl to a team they beat in the regular season.
The point is that the numbers, while definately worth looking at, don't give the complete story and should not be the sole factor in making a decision.
You are making a case that Cutler is better than Romo. That's fair. However, you aren't making a case that it shouldn't even be a discussion.
If he had said that Caleb Hanie is better than Jay Cutler you'd be right on. However, it's not an accepted fact that Cutler is clearly better than Romo. Not a single person here has agreed with you that it is "stupid" to think Romo is better than Cutler even if they think Cutler is better.