FanPost

What Carson isn't saying...

 

First, I should level set. I won't be ridiculous, I was one of the first folks to celebrate Carson's break down/walk off.  I personally like the guy, think he has a good head on his shoulders, but I KNOW HE HEARS FOOTSTEPS in the pocket. He's never been the same since the hit to the knee in the playoffs. Before that, he was one of the most accurate in-game passers in the league. He had the swagger of a naive kid and I wanted him at the reigns in ANY game, let alone a fourth quarter comeback.

It all starts with 2005's injury.  That SB was ours to lose - and the same Steelers team we played well twice that year (and should have beaten twice) - had enough to win it all.  Had that happened, we wouldn't be having any of these conversations, and Carson would still be spoken about along side Brady, Manning and Brees.  It didn't, and here we are with a mediocre quarterback. He had the will to come back from what doctors called a 'potentially career ending injury', and it impacted his psyche. The guy is always waiting to get hurt again. If this isn't clear to anyone else - take a look at what he can STILL do in the 4th quarter, when he doesn't have a chance to think about what could happen to him.  Now look what he does with time on the clock and/or the lead.  See a difference? If every play were a 4th quarter comeback, I'd love to have him for as long as he wants to play...but, they're not - and he's a liability.

Add to that the fact that he clearly has problems with Marvin, Mike Brown or the Offensive line...because literally NOTHING else is the same on this team. He does have one up side in my book.  He comes to play in conference (usually).  Additionally, we are ALL sure he wants out. I don't blame him...I do feel sorry for the folks that pick him up if he takes his fear with him. I will hope for his sake, and theirs, he blames us and performs beautifully. It would be nice to see him play well again.

Fast forward to today, and the purpose of my post. I am not sold on what he can do day in and day out...but I do know he wants another team and still wants to win.  To make a team with any chance to compete seek him out, he'd need to play lights out.  That would only garner a better trade for us, give Andy a bit more time to learn and watch from the sidelines, and potentially get us a proven player or a solid draft pick. He would also teach Andy how to study and practice, both of which even the haters of CP9 have to admit Carson handles well.

Before I get shot for being anti-Dalton, let me say this - I don't agree with what CP9's done. Ask quietly, be explicit and get what you want. Give him a year, and - as much as I dislike his style - Mike Brown has let his QB's go fairly quietly. Also, Dalton WILL be better for us in the long run, he WANTS to be here.

Before freaking out if he shows up and Marvin gives him the keys back, riddle me this - who is going to have the better eye for reading defenses? CP or Dalton? Right now? No question. Additionally, what has Carson said this entire off-season? NOTHING. Everyone has spoken for him thus far. And, we know how agents work. They go in like pitbulls and try to get their clients exactly what they want. A smart client (like Carson) says little to nothing.  Because he walked out on us or is holding out for what he wants, we're all acting like teenage boys that got dumped by the head cheerleader...'he's dumb, anyone can do better....what a <richard>'. He's spoken so little that it actually makes him look like pretty bad, but - he's still one heck of a step up from where we are.

BTW - knowing Mike Brown, how he's handled this and how dumb you'd have to be to get NOTHING, does any one else feel a conspiracy theory? Maybe they're all playing us to make Carson out to be the hero that rides back into save us. Just a sidebar...

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan, which is as important as the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors.