Tannehill signs Extension through 2020

[Pappy13]

I think this is Tannehill's year to prove that his ceiling is higher than Andy Dalton or Joe Flacco (and for the record, I see Flacco as the same as Dalton, but with one really good postseason).

I think you are over rating Dalton. Tannehill has already matched Dalton in my opinion, still has a ways to go to reach Flacco.

[Spider-Dan]

Dalton has made the playoffs each of the 4 years he has been in the league (with THE BENGALS, mind you) and has been to two Pro Bowls.  That would be two more Pro Bowls than Flacco has made, even though Flacco has been in the league almost twice as long.

I honestly think you're underrating Dalton and overrating Flacco.  I am not that impressed with Flacco's one really good postseason, and I've mentioned similar feelings about Eli.

[miamid45]

Dalton has made the playoffs each of the 4 years he has been in the league (with THE BENGALS, mind you) and has been to two Pro Bowls.  That would be two more Pro Bowls than Flacco has made, even though Flacco has been in the league almost twice as long.

I honestly think you're underrating Dalton and overrating Flacco.  I am not that impressed with Flacco's one really good postseason, and I've mentioned similar feelings about Eli.

Dalton not even in the same class as Flacco and Eli.  The guy chokes in the playoffs....no fire..nothing.
Will take Tannehill over him any day. 

Dalton also been blessed with a star receiver and a solid running game those 4 years.  He was good regular season, but abissmal in the playoffs.  This for me puts him in a lower level than the other two QBs and Tannehill seemingly improving each year.

[Spider-Dan]

Tell me, of the Ravens and Bengals, which do you consider to be superior in the following categories:

- ownership
- front office/player personnel management
- coaching

Again: Dalton has done this with the Bengals, one of the worst franchises in the league.  Criticize him all you like for failing to win in the playoffs; as far as I'm concerned, regularly making the playoffs with the Bengals is a minor miracle.

I would also like to reiterate that Dalton has made two Pro Bowls, which is some indication of individual performance.  Flacco has yet to make one, and he's been on a bunch of playoff teams, which tells you something about his level of contribution to his team's record.

Just to clarify another thing: I think Flacco is generally overrated, and I think Eli is generally overrated, but that doesn't mean I think Flacco and Eli are equal.  Based solely on the ring factor, many people rate Eli as elite (when he's just good) and Flacco as very good (when he's just above-average).

[EDGECRUSHER]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/14012/andy-dalton

Andy Dalton had the be the 7th alternative to make the Pro Bowl those years. He is the definition of average. His QBR last year was 25 out of 33, that's actually worse than average. I see flashes of brilliance with him and he is practically the 3rd best Bengals QB of all-time, but he is not a Pro Bowler legitimately.

Tanny crushed him last year in pretty much every category except creepy eyebrows.

[Pappy13]

Dalton has made the playoffs each of the 4 years he has been in the league (with THE BENGALS, mind you) and has been to two Pro Bowls.  That would be two more Pro Bowls than Flacco has made, even though Flacco has been in the league almost twice as long.

To each his own, but pro bowls don't do much for me since they are mostly popularity contests and if you are gonna use playoffs as a guide at least look at his numbers in the playoffs and not just the fact he made it to the playoffs. 0-4. Never scored more than 13. 1-6 TD-INT ratio. Highest QB rating of 67. Flacco may have only had 1 stellar post season but these are scary bad numbers.

Opp  Result   Comp Att Pct  Yds Avg TD Int Sck SckY Rate Att Yds Avg TD FUM Lost
@HOU L 10-31  27   42  64.3 257 6.1 0  3   4   33   51.4 3   17  5.7 0  1   0
@HOU L 13-19  14   30  46.7 127 4.2 0  1   2    9   44.7 4   15  3.8 0  --  --
SD   L 10-27  29   51  56.9 334 6.5 1  2   3    8   67.0 5   26  5.2 0  2   1
@IND L 10-26  18   35  51.4 155 4.4 0  0   3   11   63.4 4   34  8.5 0  1   1

[Spider-Dan]

Andy Dalton had the be the 7th alternative to make the Pro Bowl those years.

This is my point.  Flacco has been on better teams that have won lots of postseason games, and QBs always get credit for their teams' success (deserved or not).  And even with this extra credit, the Pro Bowl selection is getting down to the seventh best QB in the CONFERENCE and they're STILL like, "No thanks Joe, we're good, we won't be needing you in Hawaii this year."

Anyway, the point is less about Dalton vs. Flacco and more about the fact that neither one of them is particularly impressive.  It's clear to me that barring a transformation into a completely different player, Tannehill has no shot to be an elite QB.  I see the absolute  best case scenario at this point being a Rivers- or Romo-level QB (which is certainly good enough for me), but even that would require some substantial improvement on Tannehill's part.

[Brian Fein]

best case scenario at this point being a Rivers- or Romo-level QB (which is certainly good enough for me), but even that would require some substantial improvement on Tannehill's part.

You just hit my 2 "overrated" QB's - similar to your Eli/Flacco discussion.  I have never liked Rivers.  Romo, a bit better, but just seems too reckless with the ball.  I dunno - stats aside, to me, these names are all the same player.  Throw in Alex Smith for good measure while you're at it.

I'll take today's Tannehill, future potential improvement included, over all these guys right now.

[Rich]

Tell me, of the Ravens and Bengals, which do you consider to be superior in the following categories:

- ownership
- front office/player personnel management
- coaching

Again: Dalton has done this with the Bengals, one of the worst franchises in the league.  Criticize him all you like for failing to win in the playoffs; as far as I'm concerned, regularly making the playoffs with the Bengals is a minor miracle.

I would also like to reiterate that Dalton has made two Pro Bowls, which is some indication of individual performance.  Flacco has yet to make one, and he's been on a bunch of playoff teams, which tells you something about his level of contribution to his team's record.

Just to clarify another thing: I think Flacco is generally overrated, and I think Eli is generally overrated, but that doesn't mean I think Flacco and Eli are equal.  Based solely on the ring factor, many people rate Eli as elite (when he's just good) and Flacco as very good (when he's just above-average).

Bengals offensive line pass blocking rankings:

2014 - 3rd
2013 - 9th
2012 - 4th

You're correct about the Bengals not being the model franchise. But Dalton has had some help.

They also fielded a top 3 defense in 2012, top 10 in 2013 but they were pretty bad in 2014.

That being said, the Bengals are in one of the toughest divisions in football.

I wonder what Tannehill could accomplish with a top 10 pass blocking offensive line. He's had a bottom of the league unit his entire career.

[Phishfan]

Not that I have any dog in this fight but one of Dalton's Pro Bowls was because Flacco turned it down. So if we are using that as a measuring stick of the two it should be tied.

Dalton made the team after being voted a seventh alternate during the Pro Bowl voting last month. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco turned down his first Pro Bowl invitation because his wife, Dana, is due to deliver their third child Tuesday.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12199288/andy-dalton-cincinnati-bengals-named-pro-bowl

And to keep things on topic, I'm very pleased with Tannehill's progression and I think we have a solid starter for a while.

[Spider-Dan]

You just hit my 2 "overrated" QB's - similar to your Eli/Flacco discussion.  I have never liked Rivers.  Romo, a bit better, but just seems too reckless with the ball.  I dunno - stats aside, to me, these names are all the same player.

Well, yes, I suppose if you're ignoring stats there isn't much difference?  I mean, lots of players are very similar if you set stats aside.

[MikeO]

Well, yes, I suppose if you're ignoring stats there isn't much difference?  I mean, lots of players are very similar if you set stats aside.

LMAO!!

[Brian Fein]

Well, yes, I suppose if you're ignoring stats there isn't much difference?  I mean, lots of players are very similar if you set stats aside.

You can watch a player over their career and get a feel for if they are a good QB or not.  I like stats as much as the next guy but it doesn't always tell the story, as you mentioned.  Example, swap Joe Flacco and Andy Dalton's teams and which one do YOU think is more successful?  Their numbers are largely circumstantial based on their surroundings, even though they are the same players.

[masterfins]

Granted I don't think Flacco is an elite QB, but he is better than I used to think he was.  After the Ravens' defense was almost completely turned over, Ray Rice had a terrible year playing (then suspended), yut they still competed for the playoffs.  So...I give him more credit than previously.  Comparing him with Dalton I think it's a coin toss between the two, just depends on your teams system.

[MikeO]

You can watch a player over their career and get a feel for if they are a good QB or not.  I like stats as much as the next guy but it doesn't always tell the story, as you mentioned.  Example, swap Joe Flacco and Andy Dalton's teams and which one do YOU think is more successful?  Their numbers are largely circumstantial based on their surroundings, even though they are the same players.

I think if you had Flacco in Cincy he would have won at least 1 playoff game in 4 years, probably more. Put Dalton in Baltimore and no way the Ravens win a Super Bowl or multiple playoff games in that time-span

To me Flacco is a better player and its not even close. Doesn't make Flacco elite or a Top 5 NFL QB, he is just much better than Dalton