Bill Polian says Mayo will replace Ray Lewis as NFL's best linebacker

[bostonia3333]

Interesting read from the Polian Corner:

The Official Website of the Indianapolis Colts

Q: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is coming off knee surgery. This is about the time last season Manning began hitting a stride after offseason knee surgery. Is Brady at about that point?

Polian: I think that's correct. Tom Brady, to be borrow a phrase from our buddy, (ESPN announcer) Mike Greenberg, is back and better than ever. He's throwing the ball with authority. He has confidence in his physical ability. He's not worried about the knee. He's delivering the ball on time. He's seeing the field as well as he always did. He's as good as he ever was, with a passer rating of 99.2. He's doing a fine job. (Running back Laurence) Maroney is rushing the ball at a 4.3-yard-per-carry clip. Our old friend, Fred Taylor, is rushing it at a 4.5-yards-per-carry clip.

Q: Is Taylor going to be back?

Polian: I don't know. Knowing Fred Taylor, my guess would be, 'Yes.'

Q: Defensively?

Polian: They're good. They're really very good. They have young players in the secondary, but the front is every bit as good as it used to be. Their nose tackle (Vince Wilfork) is having a great year. They felt good enough about their front to be able to trade (defensive end Richard) Seymour. Jerod Mayo is one of the emerging stars in this league. He is, if not already, very soon to replace Ray (Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens) as the bell weather linebacker, the poster boy linebacker, in this league, and deservedly so. They're every bit as good as they were. The time to get them was early. Buffalo did not. They had a chance to put them away and didn't. They have been playing pretty darned good football ever since. They lost in overtime to Denver, but they're a good football team and an odds-on favorite to with that division.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'm sure Polian was talking through gritted teeth as he was answering those questions.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

I'd rank at least Patrick Willis ALREADY above Ray Lewis.

Because his skillset has definitely diminished. He's slowly becoming more mouth than ability.

 

[Kontradiction]

I'd rank at least Patrick Willis ALREADY above Ray Lewis.

Because his skillset has definitely diminished. He's slowly becoming more mouth than ability.

Not true. He's got that stupid dance that he does before games too.

 

[nashvillepatsfan]

I'd rank at least Patrick Willis ALREADY above Ray Lewis.

Because his skillset has definitely diminished. He's slowly becoming more mouth than ability.

My fantasy would be Mayo, and Willis as our MLBs in the 3-4.......

 

[bostonia3333]

Agree about Willis. I'm assuming Polian thinks Mayo may become what Ray Lewis was in his prime. I think that's what "bell-weather" linebacker means, lol--this Polian guy is kinda slippery and spooky the way he talks.

Towards the end of the article, Polian sounds a bit ticked off that the Bills didn't win that first game at NE! Why he needs to mention the Denver loss is kinda weird.

 

[jays52]

is it just me, or does Bill Polian strike you as one of those types that takes month long vacations to Thailand and speaks nothing about it upon return?

 

[Kontradiction]

is it just me, or does Bill Polian strike you as one of those types that takes month long vacations to Thailand and speaks nothing about it upon return?

The company credit card having gone mysteriously uncharged...

 

[jays52]

The company credit card having gone mysteriously uncharged...

I'm telling you man, I feel bad for those ladyboys he takes his pent up rage out on.

 

[HarkDawg]

hey Bill..... go back to Buffalo and win some more championships




"Whose your Daddy?"

 

[BradyFTW!]

Towards the end of the article, Polian sounds a bit ticked off that the Bills didn't win that first game at NE! Why he needs to mention the Denver loss is kinda weird.

Yeah, can't really blame him though. The Pats are competition and the Bills aren't. If the positions had been reversed, I'd be ticked at the Bills too.

 

[Patjew]

I always liked that Polian!

Well, not really. But I hope he's right in this case. For all of his douchebaggery he is an undeniable keen judge of football talent.

 

[alamo]

Is this any different than Belichick talking about how good the Titans were, before we faced them a month ago?

 

[maverick4]

I'd rank at least Patrick Willis ALREADY above Ray Lewis.

Because his skillset has definitely diminished. He's slowly becoming more mouth than ability.

Willis is good, but you can't just go by tackles. Mayo could be better in short time.

It is well known that San Francisco's stat guy gives Willis a credit for a tackle just for being in the vicinity of the area. Willis' stats are completely inflated over there.

 

[JSn]

Is this any different than Belichick talking about how good the Titans were, before we faced them a month ago?

Yes. The pats are going to score points.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Gotta give Polian for being one of the all-time FO greats, but he is a weird dude.

 

[shmessy]

Agree about Willis. I'm assuming Polian thinks Mayo may become what Ray Lewis was in his prime. I think that's what "bell-weather" linebacker means, lol--this Polian guy is kinda slippery and spooky the way he talks.

Towards the end of the article, Polian sounds a bit ticked off that the Bills didn't win that first game at NE! Why he needs to mention the Denver loss is kinda weird.

He was paying the Pats a compliment re: the Denver game basically noting that it could've gone either way against a (then) undefeated team on the road. He was just furthering his point that they are really good.

 

[mystrymaster]

That is a hard sell with Patrick Willis in the NFL.

 

[PatsBoy12]

He was paying the Pats a compliment re: the Denver game basically noting that it could've gone either way against a (then) undefeated team on the road. He was just furthering his point that they are really good.

Yeah, the Patriots should have gotten Denver and, the more I think about it, the Jets game was very "win-able." With that said, I think they are beginning to play very well and they'll be a handful as the season progresses.

 

[patriots pam]

I smell reverse psychology evil whammy!!!! Won't work, but nice try, Polian!

But just as I'm sure BB is earnest in his praise of the Colts and their players, I believe Polian is being the same here. You could call him some bad things, but stupid (especially about player ability) isn't one of them. Unfortunately.