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Matt Waldman: 75% chance Bridgwater falls due to racism (2 Viewers)

Well, after considering his podcast, his response to this thread, his 2012 article, and his most recent article http://mattwaldmanrsp.com/2014/03/25/how-to-find-your-mercedes/ ...putting this all together, I think it's safe to assume Waldman has Bridgewater ranked comfortably as his #1 QB in his RSP. Which means, if Bridgewater isn't the first QB selected and/or he falls out of the top-15, then Waldman will feel vindicated that NFL execs and GMs are a bunch of racist fools.

And, if Bridgewater is selected QB1 and in the top-10, then the 25% safety net kicks in, and Waldman will still maintain that NFL execs and GMs are a bunch of racist fools.

Incidentally, I'm not sure what Waldman's issue is with the NFC exec who referred to Leftwich as "soft," if it meant he missed a lot of time to injury. We all know about and remember the heroics he put on at Marshall playing on a broken leg. That ain't soft, that's one tough sob. In that regard. However, Leftwich's NFL career was marred by at least 32 weeks where he was listed as either on the IR or "doubtful," or "out" due to injury (e.g., ribs, elbow, tailbone, ankle, knee). By that standard maybe "soft" has nothing to do with race, but simply reflects that the guy was injury-prone and that the NFC exec has the same concerns for Bridgewater, who had an assortment of ankle, thumb, and wrist injuries and probably needs to fill out his frame a bit to survive the pros for a long time as a franchise QB.

Or, maybe Waldman's right, and the exec is a racist.

:shrug:
Can you please quote where Matt said that NFL execs were "a bunch of racist fools" or even strongly implied that?

His position was far more subtle than any of that. I know some people think his position was outrageous, but the counterpoints have reached just as "ridiculous" of a level of hyperbole and foolishness.
If you haven't heard Waldman's podcast comments or read his response here or read the Mercedes article, you should. His implication throughout is that execs are making foolish arguments and decisions based on race. I don't see how that interpretation is even in question.
I have listened and I have read the article in question. I see your interpretation of both as hyperbolic and unfair. However unlike some people in this thread, I will not say that you are wrong or attack you personally for feeling that way. To be fair to you, you have been fairly level headed in your criticisms of Matt and have not really crossed any lines, unlike some.

Matt's insertion of racism into the discussion, imo, was more directed at how a black QB may be held to different standards or be elevaluated differently based on the stereotype that black QBs are athletes and not cerebral field generals. Perhaps since Bridgewater is not an athletic freak, and more a traditional pocket passer, his skin color could have some effect on how he is perceived as an NFL prospect. The black QBs that many cite as counter examples of QBs being drafted highly (Newton, Griffin, Manuel) fit the athletic QB mold - and many questioned their ability to read defenses and become pocket passers. However they were drafted because of their running ability, strong arms and potential, despite many thinking they weren't necessarily great QBs in the traditional sense. Since Brdigewater is much more Tom Brady than Cam Newton, his skin color could be a detriment. I'm not sure I buy that in this day and age, but don't feel it's an outrageous position to take.

As an example, I remember back when Jamarcus Russell was a prospect coming into the league and I read posts here at FBG which talked about his dynasty prospects and how his rushing stats would greatly enhance his fantasy production. Meanwhile I could probably beat the guy in a foot race. That's the subconscious, subtle or indirect racism Matt may be bringing into focus. Why was it assumed that Russell was a running QB?

Why can't that be discussed for what it is rather than the insults, personal attacks (towards his wife, friends and choice of pets), and distortions of his position that I've seen from many in this thread?
Dude, did you think much about where Tom Brady was drafted when citing that as an example?

How can Tom Brady be Tom Brady now, but get drafted where he did in the NFL draft, and think that Bridgewater slipping out of the top 10 is 75% due to racism rather than to talent evaluation being an extremely imprecise art? That means if he's pick 1.11, not even a later rounder like Brady was, it's 75% likely to be due to racism.

Is it not manifestly obvious how baseless Waldman's claim is? Of all the reasons that create variance in where people rank these players, Waldman is going to hitch his horse to racism with 75% certainty?

That's why the outrage. We're talking racism here. As far as the public eye is concerned, racism is right up there with murder, rape, incest and pedophilia with the general population.

All it takes to be accused by Waldman of racism, well, accused of being at least 75% likely to be racist, is that you disagree with him on how early in the first round a black QB should go.
First, you obviously only read the thread title and didn't listen to the podcast or read the article because he didn't accuse anyone of being 75% likely a racist. You don't even have his usage of "75%" attributed to the right potential outcome. It's a 75% chance of falling out of the top 10, not that if he does it will be 75% due to racism, as the thread title suggests.

Secondly, dude, Tom Brady was only used to represent the idea of "being a pocket passer", I could have used Peyton Manning instead, who went No. 1 overall. So you are also misrepresenting or not reading carefully what I said either.
Wow, I went back and re-read the transcript in post #15. If your assertion is correct, then I may have been giving him too much credit.

Instead of saying that if Bridgewater falls out of the top 10, it will be 75% likely to be due to racism, he instead said that there is a 75% chance that Bridgewater will fall out of the top 10 and it will (that's an important word) be because he doesn't look enough like what a team wants as the face of a franchise...which he attributes to subconscious racism.

So, in essence, he said that there is a 75% that Bridgewater slides out of the top 10, and there is a 100% chance of it being due to subconscious racism if it happens.

Now, if he can only slide out of the top 10 because of racism, and there is a 75% chance he will slide out of the top 10, then doesn't that mean that there is a 75% chance that the top 10 teams are racist?

So then I was wrong in that instead of saying that there's a 75% that he slides due to racism, Waldman instead said that there's just a flat 75% chance of the top 10 teams being racist, albeit subconsciously.

I'm tying to remember my algebraic properties and how the parenthesis work with multiplication, but I'm pretty sure that's how it plays out.

So do you think you are helping him by drawing that distinction?

As for the Brady reference, my point is perfectly valid. That was a horrible example for you to draw on in defense of Waldman. That was my point about Brady...I can't believe you went there in defense of Waldman. If the evaluation of QB's is so reliable pre-draft, how did 32 teams not know that Brady had even starter potential, not to mention pro-bowl or HOF potential, when they were picking in the first 5 rounds of the 2000 draft?

If 32 teams can miss on the non-athletic pocket-passer like Brady, who consequently has the looks and charm to be everyone's fantasy face of the franchise, for 5 rounds, how absolutely freakin' ludicrous is it to say that a non-athletic, undersized pocket-passer like Bridgewater will only slide out of the top 10 due to racism?

I don't care why you brought Brady up. It doesn't matter. He's the perfect example of how imprecise the evaluation process is. It therefore highlights how reckless and baseless it is for Waldman to say what he did.
This really is kind of a good point here.
It would be a good point, except that Waldman has more experience with racism and has talked to NFL people, so he knows more. This is why no matter how wel made any critical points are, they won't beat out Waldman. Period. Full Stop. QED
I hope this is sarcasm

 
You can add Phil Simms to the list of racists. He doesn't think any of the QBs are worth a top ten pick but really picked apart Bridgewater.

 
i keep thinking this thread will fall off the first page, but it does not. IF this statement was meant to spark controversy it was well played

 
On the NFL Network they were saying that Bridgewater has been looking really shaky during his pro workouts and his stock is dropping very fast. Possibly out of the first rd.

 
On the NFL Network they were saying that Bridgewater has been looking really shaky during his pro workouts and his stock is dropping very fast. Possibly out of the first rd.
I'd be stoked as hell if the guy somehow fell to the Browns at 1.26... but I think maybe things are getting a little overblown now... he'll likely still go top 10.

 
On the NFL Network they were saying that Bridgewater has been looking really shaky during his pro workouts and his stock is dropping very fast. Possibly out of the first rd.
I'd be stoked as hell if the guy somehow fell to the Browns at 1.26... but I think maybe things are getting a little overblown now... he'll likely still go top 10.
Happened to geno smith last year because these guys were never as good as people made them out to be in the first place

 
On the NFL Network they were saying that Bridgewater has been looking really shaky during his pro workouts and his stock is dropping very fast. Possibly out of the first rd.
I'd be stoked as hell if the guy somehow fell to the Browns at 1.26... but I think maybe things are getting a little overblown now... he'll likely still go top 10.
Happened to geno smith last year because these guys were never as good as people made them out to be in the first place
I may be one of the most anti-QB guys re this year's draft.

But bridgewater at 1.26 is a nobrainer for my Browns.

At 1.04 id cry in a river of feces

 
On the NFL Network they were saying that Bridgewater has been looking really shaky during his pro workouts and his stock is dropping very fast. Possibly out of the first rd.
I'd be stoked as hell if the guy somehow fell to the Browns at 1.26... but I think maybe things are getting a little overblown now... he'll likely still go top 10.
Happened to geno smith last year because these guys were never as good as people made them out to be in the first place
I may be one of the most anti-QB guys re this year's draft.

But bridgewater at 1.26 is a nobrainer for my Browns.

At 1.04 id cry in a river of feces
I don't touch a 208 lb QB in the 1st 3 rounds unless he runs a 4.6 or better

 
I don't think it's possible that Bridewater drops out of the first but, who knows, crazier things have happened. New England seems like one team that would love the opportunity to draft him.

I recently went back and re-listened to the podcast in question and am frankly amazed at the stark contrast between the FBG's take and the majority of other pundits and fantasy heads on the subject of Bridgewater. For Waldman, Lammey, Bloom and the gang it seems so cut and dry (or black and white if you want to get punny)... I just don't see where they are coming from.

It was more than a little ironic that they were talking about "good 'ol boys" and were so disparaging of a certain QB in this years draft. All in all, not their finest effort.

 
I don't think it's possible that Bridewater drops out of the first but, who knows, crazier things have happened. New England seems like one team that would love the opportunity to draft him.

I recently went back and re-listened to the podcast in question and am frankly amazed at the stark contrast between the FBG's take and the majority of other pundits and fantasy heads on the subject of Bridgewater. For Waldman, Lammey, Bloom and the gang it seems so cut and dry (or black and white if you want to get punny)... I just don't see where they are coming from.

It was more than a little ironic that they were talking about "good 'ol boys" and were so disparaging of a certain QB in this years draft. All in all, not their finest effort.
:goodposting:

 
Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater's agent told ProFootballTalk his client has only had one private workout, and the assessment they received was "simply amazing and sharp."

This contradicts a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen stating Bridgewater had looked shaky in his private workouts -- which is obviously impossible considering he has only had one. There is blood in the water surrounding Bridgewater, and NFL teams will say anything or leak any information if it means a coveted player will fall to them. Lying season is in full swing.
 
Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater's agent told ProFootballTalk his client has only had one private workout, and the assessment they received was "simply amazing and sharp."

This contradicts a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen stating Bridgewater had looked shaky in his private workouts -- which is obviously impossible considering he has only had one. There is blood in the water surrounding Bridgewater, and NFL teams will say anything or leak any information if it means a coveted player will fall to them. Lying season is in full swing.
His agent said it was amazing and the scouts and analysts said it was a disaster ...who's opinion you going with?

 
Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater's agent told ProFootballTalk his client has only had one private workout, and the assessment they received was "simply amazing and sharp."

This contradicts a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen stating Bridgewater had looked shaky in his private workouts -- which is obviously impossible considering he has only had one. There is blood in the water surrounding Bridgewater, and NFL teams will say anything or leak any information if it means a coveted player will fall to them. Lying season is in full swing.
His agent said it was amazing and the scouts and analysts said it was a disaster ...who's opinion you going with?
I personally dont care about what a guy looks like at a pro day/private workout

Im against any of these guys going early... but it's pretty funny that he's had ONE private workout, but the talk he's been shaky in several private workouts.

 
"This contradicts a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen stating Bridgewater had looked shaky in his private workouts..."

Silly season...

Nothing against Mort. Love the guy, and you can't blame him for reporting what he hears, but it's April. A team was interested enough to work him out... why on earth would they tell the truth? Either way.

 
Has it been mentioned yet that Teddy Bridgewater's Wonderlic score (20) would have ranked him tied for 32nd (last) in the NFL, related to 2013 pre-season NFL starting quarterbacks?

http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1hfmp1/wonderlic_scores_for_each_teams_starting_qb/

Obviously not a great predictor of NFL success (see: Matt Flynn and Christian Ponder, compared to Big Ben and Cam Newton). But if people did have any concerns about Bridgwater's frame/strength/durability, posting a low Wonderlic score (compared to other starting QBs) can't have helped.

Although the next thing folks will say is that the Wonderlic questions have some sort of racial bias. Maybe they do, maybe they don't...I have no idea. Just saying that a 20 on the Wonderlic isn't great for a QB. Looks like Albert Einstein compared to Vince Young and JaMarcus Russell, LOL. But still not good compared to most other NFL starting QBs.

 
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Has it been mentioned yet that Teddy Bridgewater's Wonderlic score (20) would have ranked him tied for 32nd (last) in the NFL, related to 2013 pre-season NFL starting quarterbacks?

http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1hfmp1/wonderlic_scores_for_each_teams_starting_qb/

Obviously not a great predictor of NFL success (see: Matt Flynn and Christian Ponder, compared to Big Ben and Cam Newton). But if people did have any concerns about Bridgwater's frame/strength/durability, posting a low Wonderlic score (compared to other starting QBs) can't have helped.

Although the next thing folks will say is that the Wonderlic questions have some sort of racial bias. Maybe they do, maybe they don't...I have no idea. Just saying that a 20 on the Wonderlic isn't great for a QB. Looks like Albert Einstein compared to Vince Young and JaMarcus Russell, LOL. But still not good compared to most other NFL starting QBs.
I believe Russell had a score of 24. Regardless, Wonderlic scores aren't predictive of QB success. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees scored 28, Brett Favre a 22 and Dan Marino 15.If I worked in an NFL front office I wouldn't bat an eye at a 20 Wonderlic. Most tests are culturally biased to some degree.

 
Has it been mentioned yet that Teddy Bridgewater's Wonderlic score (20) would have ranked him tied for 32nd (last) in the NFL, related to 2013 pre-season NFL starting quarterbacks?

http://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/1hfmp1/wonderlic_scores_for_each_teams_starting_qb/

Obviously not a great predictor of NFL success (see: Matt Flynn and Christian Ponder, compared to Big Ben and Cam Newton). But if people did have any concerns about Bridgwater's frame/strength/durability, posting a low Wonderlic score (compared to other starting QBs) can't have helped.

Although the next thing folks will say is that the Wonderlic questions have some sort of racial bias. Maybe they do, maybe they don't...I have no idea. Just saying that a 20 on the Wonderlic isn't great for a QB. Looks like Albert Einstein compared to Vince Young and JaMarcus Russell, LOL. But still not good compared to most other NFL starting QBs.
I believe Russell had a score of 24. Regardless, Wonderlic scores aren't predictive of QB success. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees scored 28, Brett Favre a 22 and Dan Marino 15.If I worked in an NFL front office I wouldn't bat an eye at a 20 Wonderlic. Most tests are culturally biased to some degree.
Aah, yep. Correct on Russell (Wonderlic = 24). My bad.

As a Vikings fan, I'd be doing back-flips if Bridgewater somehow falls past HOU, JAX, CLE, OAK and maybe TBB. Though what they REALLY (also) need is a stud LB in this draft (or two). But if Bridgewater is there at 8, my guess is every other QB except for maybe Bortles or Manziel is still there too. Which would make me wish they could trade down a bit (to one of the WR or OL needy teams) and still get their guy. As to racism/prejudice affecting Bridgewater's draft position? I don't know that I'm buying it. But if the Vikings can get a QB who can make quick reads, not be a turtle under pressure, and have the arm strength to get the ball where it needs to be down the field? I don't care if he has blue skin, pink hair, and a third arm/leg! And I would imagine most fans, the team's front office, and the team's coaching staff feel the exact same way.

 
Soulfly3 said:
Ramblin Wreck said:
Soulfly3 said:
Da Guru said:
On the NFL Network they were saying that Bridgewater has been looking really shaky during his pro workouts and his stock is dropping very fast. Possibly out of the first rd.
I'd be stoked as hell if the guy somehow fell to the Browns at 1.26... but I think maybe things are getting a little overblown now... he'll likely still go top 10.
Happened to geno smith last year because these guys were never as good as people made them out to be in the first place
I may be one of the most anti-QB guys re this year's draft. But bridgewater at 1.26 is a nobrainer for my Browns.

At 1.04 id cry in a river of feces
If he is a franchise QB then he's worth 1.4. If he's not a franchise QB then 1.26 should be used elsewhere.

 
For a guy that ranked Tyler Wilson #1 and Sean Renfree #4 last year at QB Waldman sure is making some pretty arrogant comments on twitter today towards Carr, Garropolo, and Savage.

 
On the NFL Network they were saying that Bridgewater has been looking really shaky during his pro workouts and his stock is dropping very fast. Possibly out of the first rd.
I'd be stoked as hell if the guy somehow fell to the Browns at 1.26... but I think maybe things are getting a little overblown now... he'll likely still go top 10.
Happened to geno smith last year because these guys were never as good as people made them out to be in the first place
I may be one of the most anti-QB guys re this year's draft.But bridgewater at 1.26 is a nobrainer for my Browns.

At 1.04 id cry in a river of feces
If he is a franchise QB then he's worth 1.4. If he's not a franchise QB then 1.26 should be used elsewhere.
My thoughts exactly.

I don't think Bridgewater falls past 1.04. He's got a wart or two, but nothing Norv can't cure. If Cleveland goes full fantasy mode this draft, they could end up with Bridgewater, Gordon, Cameron, Seastrunk and Jarvis Landry manning the skill positions. ... Makes we wanna buy a jersey.

 
Da Guru said:
What was he right about ? No one was arguing that he might not fall, we were arguing that if he did fall it wouldn't be because of racism
then why is he falling?
People are just now finding out he's black.

Cam is lucky nobody realized he was black until after the draft!

 
It turns out he's falling for actual concerns about his ability.
like what?
Cmon Mac. Don't tell me you want that guy.
my opinion aside I am curious why others don't want him. There is no substance in most of his negative criticisms. Don't like him? Fine. Tell me why.
There's plenty of substance to the negative criticisms.

Do your own homework.

Still like him in the pros, despite said criticisms.

 
Don't you guys realize that once a player is identified as a player that could go at the top of the draft that becomes set in stone. Players never fall from where they are originally pegged to be drafted. If they do the only plausible explanation must be racism.

 
It turns out he's falling for actual concerns about his ability.
like what?
Cmon Mac. Don't tell me you want that guy.
my opinion aside I am curious why others don't want him. There is no substance in most of his negative criticisms. Don't like him? Fine. Tell me why.
There's plenty of substance to the negative criticisms.

Do your own homework.

Still like him in the pros, despite said criticisms.
I have. And haven't seen much of quantitative criticism. Decision maker's are over reacting to suboptimal workouts and forgetting about all of his great tape. The further away we get from actual games the dumber the football analysis.
 
The overall theme of why Bridgewater is "falling" from what I can tell is that he didn't look good behind closed doors at a workout nearly nobody saw.

 
Whoever

Da Guru said:
What was he right about ? No one was arguing that he might not fall, we were arguing that if he did fall it wouldn't be because of racism
then why is he falling?
Who said he's falling? Maybe he was never rated as high as some internet dorks thought by people that actually know what they are doing.

 
Whoever

Da Guru said:
What was he right about ? No one was arguing that he might not fall, we were arguing that if he did fall it wouldn't be because of racism
then why is he falling?
Who said he's falling? Maybe he was never rated as high as some internet dorks thought by people that actually know what they are doing.
then why is he a second rate qb prospect?
 
The overall theme of why Bridgewater is "falling" from what I can tell is that he didn't look good behind closed doors at a workout nearly nobody saw.
me too. All that tape, playing injured, improving each year, stepping up in big games, his excellent accuracy, all while his mom battles breast cancer doesn't matter because he had a bad day. Allegedly.
 
Whoever

Da Guru said:
What was he right about ? No one was arguing that he might not fall, we were arguing that if he did fall it wouldn't be because of racism
then why is he falling?
Who said he's falling? Maybe he was never rated as high as some internet dorks thought by people that actually know what they are doing.
then why is he a second rate qb prospect?
Who called him a second rate qb prospect? Why don't you ask the scouts that called him that instead of the internet dorks?

 
The overall theme of why Bridgewater is "falling" from what I can tell is that he didn't look good behind closed doors at a workout nearly nobody saw.
me too. All that tape, playing injured, improving each year, stepping up in big games, his excellent accuracy, all while his mom battles breast cancer doesn't matter because he had a bad day. Allegedly.
Playing injured ? Isn't that something every player has done at some point? Improving each year ? Once again, making improvements is common as well for young players. The question is where is he improving from and how much did he improve. Excellent accuracy ? Pennington had excellent accuracy, takes more than that.

 
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Whoever

Da Guru said:
What was he right about ? No one was arguing that he might not fall, we were arguing that if he did fall it wouldn't be because of racism
then why is he falling?
Who said he's falling? Maybe he was never rated as high as some internet dorks thought by people that actually know what they are doing.
then why is he a second rate qb prospect?
Who called him a second rate qb prospect? Why don't you ask the scouts that called him that instead of the internet dorks?
I am doubting the scouts did. Everyone who followed him in season has been very positive about his prospects. The negative buzz didn't begin until decision maker's who don't start paying attention until January started giving their opinions.
 
The overall theme of why Bridgewater is "falling" from what I can tell is that he didn't look good behind closed doors at a workout nearly nobody saw.
me too. All that tape, playing injured, improving each year, stepping up in big games, his excellent accuracy, all while his mom battles breast cancer doesn't matter because he had a bad day. Allegedly.
Playing injured ? Isn't that something every player has done at some point? Improving each year ? Once again, making improvements is common as well for young players. The question is where is he improving from and how much did he improve. Excellent accuracy ? Pennington had excellent accuracy, takes more than that.
please list all qbs that played despite a broken wrist.
 
Whoever

Da Guru said:
What was he right about ? No one was arguing that he might not fall, we were arguing that if he did fall it wouldn't be because of racism
then why is he falling?
Who said he's falling? Maybe he was never rated as high as some internet dorks thought by people that actually know what they are doing.
then why is he a second rate qb prospect?
Who called him a second rate qb prospect? Why don't you ask the scouts that called him that instead of the internet dorks?
I am doubting the scouts did. Everyone who followed him in season has been very positive about his prospects. The negative buzz didn't begin until decision maker's who don't start paying attention until January started giving their opinions.
Wait. What decision makers have called Bridgewater a second rate QB? Did those same decision makers call him an elite prospect before?

 
Whoever

Da Guru said:
What was he right about ? No one was arguing that he might not fall, we were arguing that if he did fall it wouldn't be because of racism
then why is he falling?
Who said he's falling? Maybe he was never rated as high as some internet dorks thought by people that actually know what they are doing.
then why is he a second rate qb prospect?
Who called him a second rate qb prospect? Why don't you ask the scouts that called him that instead of the internet dorks?
I am doubting the scouts did. Everyone who followed him in season has been very positive about his prospects. The negative buzz didn't begin until decision maker's who don't start paying attention until January started giving their opinions.
Wait. What decision makers have called Bridgewater a second rate QB? Did those same decision makers call him an elite prospect before?
if he isn't then there is no debate about whether he is a top five pick
 

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