The Fallacy of Comparing Stats Across Different Eras

To try and explain or spilt hairs at this point is of no value. It reminds us that no matter when the game was played, it comes down to one thing only, WINS! Not stats, rules, changes, time period, etc.. You wouldn’t need to do this if Elway would simply do what Mgmt has to do….support your players and show belief in them publicly! All the historical stats and rules are irrelevant. It’s 2011, let’s play ball! Elway proved himself as a player, how will he fare as a exec mgr? Hmmmmm?

Agree completely.

Watching it I realize something. I MISS MUD!

 These NFL fields are just too pretty.

Move forward to the Tebow years….because this is happening, the rest is old.news. No one blames Elway for his opinion…he’s an idiot for making his opinion public. Don’t air dirty laundry, it’s gives those like Merrill Hoge the platform to perpetuate the Tebow. Crucifixion….that’s. NOT good .mgmt.

It’s been a really long time since I took time to watch some Elway highlight reels from his glory days. Elway was a true field general, and a serious threat to move the chains both with his arm, his legs, and often some crazy combination of the two. He truly elevated everyone’s level of play around him. I think it’s fair to say that he took three average – at best – football teams to the superbowl three times. Without Elway, those Broncos might have looked similar to today’s Colts without P. Manning.

It was against the Raiders in 1985 that I first caught Broncos fever, and it was because of the astounding, amazing plays Elway made with both his arm and his legs. He was undoubtedly the most entertaining football player I ever watched play, and you always knew there was a chance he could bring the Broncos back late in the game, no matter how bad the score was.

People often forget that Elway was seldom, if ever, a statistical leader in any category, except for racking up wins… I don’t think he ever led the league in TD’s or passing yardage??? I honestly don’t remember. My point is that you can’t look at Elways stats (besides his wins) and get a realistic feel for how great he really was.

This is not a knock against Tebow, but more praise of how truly great Elway was. Tebow no doubt has potential to become great, but it will look different than Elways greatness. So yes TL, statistical comparisons between Tebow and Elway are quite silly and frankly a waste of time and hot air.

He beat me to the punch. So what are we going to do? Put asterisks by all the records, and decide that some don’t really count? Why keep stats and records at all if they’re not comparable?

You’re too sensitive about Elway. No one should be trashing or bashing Elway by comparing him to Tebow. Current supporters are excited about Tebow and are eager to compare his record to the HOFer Elway’s. That takes nothing away from Elway’s record. I suggested in an earlier post (0 comments) that cumulative stats should be maintained game by game, using Elway as the benchmark. I can’t think of a better way to gauge Tebow’s progress. That’s a tribute to Elway.

But let’s separate Elway the HOFer from the current Elway who doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut or what to say when he does open it. His great career does not give him lifetime immunity for making stupid public statements. Perhaps they may be stupid because they are being made publicly. Who cares what he says in private?

If the media asks about Tebow as a long-term QB solution for the Broncos, he could simply answer that his focus right now is on the team winning and right now he is more interested in how Tebow is leading the team to those wins. Tebow is an exciting young QB who is respected by his teammates, and I personally am excited about the team and its success. There will be plenty of time to evaluate Tebow and his performance when the season is over.

When he is asked about the failure to make 3rd down plays, he could simply respond that Tebow has had relatively little time to work with his receivers and that this should be a temporary problem as the season progresses and timing improves. In addition, this current failure is not Tebow’s alone, just as the team’s success is not all Tebow’s, neither are any shortcomings. Perhaps the playcalling could be better on the types of passes thrown, Tebow could improve his accuracy, the receivers need to run better (correct) patterns and catch the ball when they get their hands on it, maybe a little better blocking by the line, many factors are involved.

When he makes statements that are perceived to be slights or putdowns of Tebow, whether direct or indirectly, that reflects more on Elway and his lack of judgment than on Tebow. Anything seen to diminish Tebow and what is being accomplished also diminishes the whole team and their efforts.

Elway is honest to a fault! I’m the biggest Elway fan in the world, but that is as a player. As a mgr, he has only to look to Rex Ryan to see what being too public looks like. But even Ryan doesn’t criticize Sanchez the way Elway creates a perception of uncertainty or disapproval. Every time he’s done it, the media goes into a “Broncos don’t back Tebow” frenzy! So, John please keep your feedback and opinions aimed at only those who should and and need to hear them. Everyone else should just assume Denver’s winning now and we intend to keep doing it. If Elway decides there’s a better QB for this team….count me in as 100% in support of him and this organization.

That said I also think that there are things that he really needs to work on. I think that if you asked him he knows he needs to work on them as well. The problem is that 95% or more of the Tebow-maniacs that followed him from Florida don’t think that he needs to work on anything. Any question about is performance is considered mean spirited and wrong.
 Elway is now considered a monster or villan because he was honest in saying that the QB position is not settled for the future of the team? They asked a loaded question and he answered… was it the answer I wanted to hear out of him?? no it wasn’t (mainly cause I am all in on Tebow and bought a jersey and haven’t had much luck buying Bronco QB jerseys since Elway.) And now “fans” complain because it wasn’t the answer they wanted to hear, or phrased the way they think it should have been. “he should have said this, he should have said that, he NEEDS to show his support” LOOK TT IS A PRO- he gets paid to play football, this isn’t high school or even college for that matter. THE BRONCOS have a lot invested in him to play good and get results. Is he getting the results? YES! Is he playing good? KINDA, his legs and the last 5 min of a game are GREAT, but everywhere else its kinda hit or miss. But he was honest… he didn’t say Tebow is horrible and we are winning in spite of him, he didn’t say thank God for the defense cause we are horrible on offense (not that I think we are, but our D is pretty BA.) He said that NO he wasn’t convinced that Tebow is the long term answer. He didn’t say he wasn’t, he didn’t say that in April he is drafting a QB no matter what. He basically said that he isn’t sure yet. If he would have gone on some long winded speech that it is promising, that Tebow is almost there… Vic and Gary would have pressed more since that is what the media does. Then people would be on here shouting that he didn’t give a big enough ringing endorsement for Tebow.
I HATE the SHORT SIDED VIEW TT brings out. You have all these people with absolutes- Mike and Mike “Offense is horrible, can’t last,” everything Merrill Hodge craps out of his *hole every time it opens to speak, and the “Fans” he never said he can’t or won’t get better, in fact he just dealt the biggest insurance policy he had in Orton- Really gonna trust Quinn can tie his shoes on game day? He just said that he needs to improve and gave examples of where the improvement needs to come from. Geez grow some thicker skin if that upsets you. This isn’t a league that gives trophies to everyone that participates… there are actual winners and losers and they are paid either way so you better show up.

Sorry Zappa I didn’t mean to go off topic to the post if I did, it just bothers me with all this Poor Tebow routine- he has been scrutinized and most of it is over the top and maybe that is what is bothering a bunch of fans. IDK.

Oh and you are spot on with the can’t compare besides TT isn’t a rookie, he has had 2 training camps, 2 preseasons, one offseason and Elway was thrown into the fire. If the argument is to compare wins then come back when TT wins 300 and 2 super bowls… I hope those fans come back cause I will be a happy BRONCO FAN!

I was one of the guys buying into some of the alliterations made by the comparison, but did not consider some of the points you present. Very well though out and I’m in complete agreement.

I strongly felt that Elway’s stats were misrepresented in the media, and you have come to the rescue. It truely is a tale of the two eras.

I am a huge Broncos fan, and since Tebow is a Bronco, I am a fan of Mr. Tebow. I have enjoyed every single victory that we have had the past few weeks with no complains, and I agree its all about winning. I strongly feel where Elway is coming from is how you sustain the success that none of us know how long its gonna last.

What happens when a team plays 4 qtrs like the Jets played us for the 3 qtrs? What happens when our D cannot get off the field and allows TDs after TDs to teams like NO, and GB? You can argue that Tebow is really a rookie this year and I agree, but so far he has not shown he can display that aspect of his game consistently irrespective of if its the playcalling or what not, but that is what Elway sees, and I agree with him that he has not seen enough yet. Maybe in time he will see it, but until then I had no issue with his remarks.

If Tebow works on his throwing game, we will be unstoppable, but like Shannon Sharpe said on Vic and Gary, you can’t get rid of your old habits during the crunch time. He said when the game is on the line, the OC call the plays that are well suited for your playmaker in crunch time as that is when the traditional stuff goes out the window, and at that time would the coaches call a running play or a passing play with Tebow? That is a good question.

I strongly feel if Tebow shows some improvement in his passing game, Elway would strongly consider giving Tebow one more year to see how he competes with the next QB he drafts with full training camp. Infact the entire MSM and some fans complain why Tebow cannot play entire game like 4th Qtr is because he is not let loose and the coaching staff is using that time as a training camp for him to help him succeed, not to make him look bad. I still do not figure out why they sometimes call too many back to back running plays, maybe to try to not make mistakes and win as playoffs are a possibility? Maybe, but a little confusing at times…