Suck for Luck campaign update: Don't discount the Miami Dolphins

by Dan Kadar on Sep 20, 2011 2:12 PM EDT in 2012 NFL Draft

Twelve NFL teams have been identified as contenders to select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck first overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. We're only two weeks into the season, but the Suck for Luck campaign is in full swing with a few teams clearly ahead.

Leaders (not legends) in the clubhouse at 0-2:

Indianapolis Colts
Kansas City Chiefs
Miami Dolphins
Seattle Seahawks

It's clear that Indianapolis, Kansas City and Seattle are the current frontrunners for Luck, as pointed out by David Fucillo of SB Nation Bay Area. The Colts and Chiefs have both been marred by injury and the Seahawks have been marred by Tarvaris Jackson. Many are discounting the Miami Dolphins, however. Miami has to play the New York Jets and the suddenly dangerous Buffalo Bills twice each and New England on the road. Miami also gets San Diego on the road in two weeks. A Week 9 match-up with the Chiefs could be especially meaningful. Right now, this is the falling four and each would be better off with Luck – though Indianapolis more down the road.

Middling question marks of mediocrity at 1-1:

Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
Denver Broncos
Oakland Raiders
San Francisco 49ers

All things considered, Dallas might not even deserve to be in the discussion here. But if Tony Romo has a bad year where the Cowboys get the top pick, why keep him as the starter? Cincinnati rookie Andy Dalton may be another great game or two from playing the Bengals out of the Suck for Luck campaign. Denver and San Francisco are almost complete unknowns with (mostly) unproven backups in Tim Tebow and Colin Kaepernick. Cleveland's Colt McCoy could be just average enough to keep the Browns a mystery candidate all year. Al Davis remains nuts, so Oakland remains in the running.

For good or bad, they're at 2-0:

Buffalo Bills
Washington Redskins

Washington, the preseason favorite to easily win the Suck for Luck campaign has put itself in position to lose eligibility. The same can be said for Buffalo, but Ryan Fitzpatrick might be just good enough where the Bills might not even need Luck. Regardless, both of these teams are quickly playing themselves out of the running. And for that, I say enjoy Rex Grossman.

Note: Some of the other teams that are 0-2 aren't being considered because of the young, promising quarterback on their roster. They are the St. Louis Rams (Sam Bradford), Carolina Panthers (Cam Newton) and Minnesota Vikings (Christian Ponder).

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Chiefs are the front runner

As a fan, it sucks to say it. This team will go no where when dependent on Cassel to shoulder the team and win games.

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Sep 20, 2011 4:16 PM EDT reply actions

So your Saying Cassel

is worse than Tarvaris Jackson? I think its a toss up really but I don’t think cassel is horrible losing Jamaal Charles for the year brings them on Seattles level though.

by Jazzercise! on Sep 20, 2011 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Don't forget TonyM and Berry also were lost with ACL tears

Now Charles, so yes the Chiefs are the front runner. Cassel has folded anytime the game plan had to change from running to passing. Raiders/Ravens playoff game last year are perfect examples.

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Sep 20, 2011 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Talk about a quick fall. I have to look up Cassel’s contract. That may weigh into it some.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Sep 20, 2011 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll help ya

I just read 6 yrs, $63 million, with $40 million in the first 3 years, ending this year. So he’s not that expensive going forward.

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue."

by ct17 on Sep 21, 2011 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions

Yup front loaded the contract, so that shouldn't have any weight on the issue

If we end up at #1.. I can’t see how they would pass on Luck to keep Cassel the starter

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Sep 21, 2011 6:30 AM EDT up reply actions

though those Xmil in the first Yyears

generally includes their whole signing bonus, so he’s not quite as cheap in cap$ the last 3 years as it would look like.

Choke/Clutch is the fetishization of the small sample size.

"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." Upton Sinclair

by shake n bake on Sep 21, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Obviously

You have taken some hits but I still dont see how that makes the chiefs the frontrunners I think its 50/50 at this point.

by Jazzercise! on Sep 21, 2011 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

My money is still on Seattle

Before the year started, I had the top of the draft thus:
WAS, CAR, CIN, SEA, DEN, MIA, SFO, MIN, BUF…

Carolina, Cinci, and Minnesota would not take Luck. The Redskins have probably played their way out of contention.

I had Denver winning 4 games this year, but two of those were the first two. Having lost to Oakland, they are very much in contention of Andrew Luck. The Colts and Chiefs have both looked terrible in the first two weeks, but figure to improve (slightly) as the year goes on. They play each other week 5, so that should knock one of them out.

Seattle on the other hand is honestly that awful. In terms of talent they are below even Denver and thus are my front runner for Luck at the moment.

Joining those who hope for a change at Stampedeblue, so that the vibrant online Colts community can put its best foot forward.

by invisibulman on Sep 20, 2011 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

I picked Miami before the season

and I’m still looking good now. All I need is a midseason firing of Sparano and my bet’s in the bag

Raiders suck
Chargers are whiny douches
Chiefs are meh

by DBroncs1414 on Sep 20, 2011 6:36 PM EDT reply actions

Almost no one is considering Miami. It’s sort of shocking.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Sep 20, 2011 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Not for me

but that comes with the territory of being a genius.

Raiders suck
Chargers are whiny douches
Chiefs are meh

by DBroncs1414 on Sep 21, 2011 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions

I had them drafting 6th

So, I’m not that surprised. They should win just enough games to keep them from getting Luck though.

@Cle, Den, @KC, Was, Buf, Oak, @Buf… are all games where they should compete.

Joining those who hope for a change at Stampedeblue, so that the vibrant online Colts community can put its best foot forward.

by invisibulman on Sep 21, 2011 9:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Miami at least looks competitive

In comparison to the Chiefs.

Me and Matt Cassel just - you up, dog!

by ChiefWarPaint on Sep 20, 2011 7:59 PM EDT reply actions

Sad as it is, I don't think the Bengals would take Luck unless Dalton seriously regresses from this point on.

I’ve kinda expected a Flacco-esque career from him but maybe I jumped the gun a bit. Flacco’s ridden a great defense and running game for most of his career (Ratbirds fans can squawk the contrary all they want, it’s undeniable he’s benefited from those greatly), and those seemed to be stronger points for the Bengals at the moment.

I don’t think we’re playing our way into Luck. We’re too much better than Miami, Seattle, and Kansas City. I feel bad for the Chiefs fans. They kinda remind me of how the Bengals were last year and no team should put up with that.

by Doc Scratch on Sep 20, 2011 8:07 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah, as I mentioned, Cincinnati could quickly fall out of the running.

Mocking the Draft: Talking NFL Draft all year.

by Dan Kadar on Sep 20, 2011 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions

ties

Seattle, Colts and Chiefs are neck and neck. Miami at least has a decent running back tandem and QB. The Luck sweepstakes will be won by a team with 1 or 2 wins so you can pretty much get rid of everyone else, its a 3 team race at this point.

by Jazzercise! on Sep 20, 2011 8:08 PM EDT reply actions

Leaders (not legends) in the clubhouse at 0-2: Indianapolis Colts

------

"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."

Roger Ebert, Transformers review.

by E.M.H. on Sep 20, 2011 9:05 PM EDT reply actions

I can't stand the idea of Seattle getting Luck.

I hate the idea of cheering for them so that somebody else gets him, but if that’s what my Niners fandom demands, then that’s what I’ll do.

BTW, I’m really glad you worked this into a weekly item. I’ll be watching it every week.

My Week 2 Power Rankings:

1) KC
2) Seattle
3) Indy
4) Broncos
5) Dolphins
6) Cincinnati
7) Oakland
8) San Francisco
9) Cleveland
10) Washington
11) Dallas
12) Buffalo

I hope 2011 is Harbaugh-some!
Twitter me at twitter.com/grantmp1

by grantmp on Sep 20, 2011 10:33 PM EDT reply actions

My bottom 12 are

1. Kansas City
2. Seattle
3. Miami
4. Denver
5. Indianapolis
6. Cincinatti (won’t pick Luck though)
7. San Francisco
8. Cleveland
9. Oakland
10. Minnesota
11. Buffalo
12. St. Louis

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by seton hall and steelers on Sep 20, 2011 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

Dallas has to be in there if you have SF so low

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Reporter : "What do you remember about the BCS title game"
Cliff Harris: "That we lost"
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When Jim Harbaugh says "more is more" I think he is trying to say Moore is more.

by manraj7 on Sep 21, 2011 2:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Whoever picks #1 has to take him

I’m not sure there is anyone else even close to being worth the top pick. This is a weak draft at the top.

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue."

by ct17 on Sep 21, 2011 12:11 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Someone could get a kings ransom for the #1 pick though

I don't start arguments, I provoke thinking. -Me
Alameda Ta’amu NT/DE 2012 Draftee

by BAMFSpecialOps on Sep 21, 2011 6:31 AM EDT up reply actions

much

more feasible to trade the #1 overall pick now.

by KDean75 on Sep 21, 2011 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Dallas should be on the list.

Without a 4th quarter collapse by the niners the Boys would have started 0-2 which by no means is good.

by manraj7 on Sep 21, 2011 2:17 AM EDT reply actions

How can you discount Minnesota?

You consider Christian Ponder a “young, promising quarterback”, but he has yet to play a down and still hasn’t managed to grab the top of the depth chart away from a faltering McNabb. If Minnesota lays an extreme egg all over the NFL and shakes up the entire FO from the GM on down, we could see a Denver situation where another team is searching for the QB of the future while a recent first round QB is riding the pine. A new regime wouldn’t owe anything to Ponder, who is as much a question mark as Tebow and Kaepernick at the moment.

"You've got to respect your opponent, no matter who it is. You respect him best by going out there and beating him up." - Calvin Johnson

by Mavyrk on Sep 21, 2011 5:40 AM EDT reply actions

Two reasons, they still have a running game which puts them ahead of everyone on this list. Second, unless there is a coaching change, you don’t draft a QB two years in a row.

Joining those who hope for a change at Stampedeblue, so that the vibrant online Colts community can put its best foot forward.

by invisibulman on Sep 21, 2011 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

At the rate Minnesota is playing and how desperate Zygi is to field a good team to get his stadium

It’s be irresponsible to discount the possibility of a coaching change, is all I’m saying.

I’m not saying they should be frontrunners, but they should absolutely be on the watch list of middling question marks.

"You've got to respect your opponent, no matter who it is. You respect him best by going out there and beating him up." - Calvin Johnson

by Mavyrk on Sep 21, 2011 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions

There are just 4 serious contenders as I see it (in order)

1: Chiefs. They have twice the negative PF/PA of the 2nd worst Seahawks, and now they’ve lost Berry and Charles for the season. Charles set a record for YPC last year, and his replacement Thomas Jones wasn’t even close to league average. Matt Cassel has looked awful as well. Lets not forget, this team picked 5th overall just two years ago and 3rd overall the year before that.

2: Seahawks. The Seahawks have some young talent on offense, but that’s pretty much cancelled out by their starting QB. If Seattle sticks with Tarvaris Jackson, they will be so awful that picking in the top 2 would almost be expected. But if they switched to Charlie Whitehurst (who’s not bad, not great) today, they’d probably end up winning 4-6 games (thank you NFC West). The coach and GM put their foots in their mouths regarding Jackson this offseason and are forced to start him for the sake of their egos and reputation. As fans chant “Charlie” at every home game, can they really hold out all year?

3: Colts. By midseason, its entirely possible the Colts could be 0-8. I expect Manning to quickly ruin their #1 pick ambitions when he returns though. If Manning never returns, and Seattle benches Jackson, the Colts will probably pick 2nd.

4: Dolphins. The Dolphins are still in the discussion, having started 0-2 having not played a road game yet. However, the Dolphins play horrible at home and just lost to 1st place teams: the Pats and the Texans. It bears repeating, the 2010 Dolphins team went 1-7 at home and still amazingly won 7 games by going 6-2 on the road. Could the 2011 team repeat this same odd feat?

by Kip Earlywine on Sep 22, 2011 12:02 AM EDT reply actions