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Faulk’s Ware-Freeney Comparison Is Off
Posted by nickeatman at 6/27/2011 5:01 PM CDT
If you watched the Top 100 Players show on NFL Network and caught DeMarcus Ware on the set, then you probably saw what seemed to be a little tense exchange between the Cowboys’ Pro Bowl linebacker and Hall-of-Fame running back Marshall Faulk.
Maybe it’s just me, not sure if anyone else thought it was odd the way Faulk went out of his way to tell Ware that he didn’t deserve his No. 12 ranking, especially at the expense of one Dwight Freeney, who was picked waaaaay down there at 15.
For starters, it was weird because Ware was in the studio with Willie McGinest, Jay Glazer, Jamie Dukes and the host Lindsay Soto. Then on a TV screen off to the side via satellite, there’s Faulk who jumps in and says “with no disrespect” to Ware, but politely tells him he didn’t deserve to be higher than Freeney.
I’m all about a guy for being honest, and I’m sure some people probably respect Faulk even more for telling him to his face (although it was on TV) that he didn’t think that was the right call. But he then came back twice again and reiterated, as if the voting was going to change. To me, it put Ware in a bad spot to try and either agree with Faulk (which he wasn’t going to do), or just nod his head and respect his opinion. Just a little awkward to me.
I mean, Ware is voted as the 12th best player in the league, can't there be something positive to say about him or his game? And if you really feel that way about Freeney, then just mention that part when it's your turn to talk. Just say that you're a little surprised with Freeney's spot on there and leave it at that. But to call out Ware and say, this guy is better than you . . . I don't agree with that.
And that’s not beside the point that Faulk is completely wrong in his assessment. He tried to say that Freeney led the Colts to the playoffs. First of all, only one guy leads that team and it hasn’t changed in more than a decade. Two, Freeney is a great pass-rusher but he’s never asked to play the run. He gets to rush up field and it basically hurts the Colts because they get gashed all the time, most of the time on his side. The Colts ranked 25th in the league in run defense, while Freeney recorded 10 sacks.
Obviously, the Cowboys weren’t much better on defense with a 23rd overall ranking, but Ware’s stats have consistently been better than Freeney over the year, not to mention he’s more of a complete defensive player.
Again, I like Marshall Faulk – both as a player and even an announcer. But I think he could’ve handled that interview with Ware a little better – both in his content and approach.
Posted by nickeatman at 6/27/2011 5:01 PM CDT
If you watched the Top 100 Players show on NFL Network and caught DeMarcus Ware on the set, then you probably saw what seemed to be a little tense exchange between the Cowboys’ Pro Bowl linebacker and Hall-of-Fame running back Marshall Faulk.
Maybe it’s just me, not sure if anyone else thought it was odd the way Faulk went out of his way to tell Ware that he didn’t deserve his No. 12 ranking, especially at the expense of one Dwight Freeney, who was picked waaaaay down there at 15.
For starters, it was weird because Ware was in the studio with Willie McGinest, Jay Glazer, Jamie Dukes and the host Lindsay Soto. Then on a TV screen off to the side via satellite, there’s Faulk who jumps in and says “with no disrespect” to Ware, but politely tells him he didn’t deserve to be higher than Freeney.
I’m all about a guy for being honest, and I’m sure some people probably respect Faulk even more for telling him to his face (although it was on TV) that he didn’t think that was the right call. But he then came back twice again and reiterated, as if the voting was going to change. To me, it put Ware in a bad spot to try and either agree with Faulk (which he wasn’t going to do), or just nod his head and respect his opinion. Just a little awkward to me.
I mean, Ware is voted as the 12th best player in the league, can't there be something positive to say about him or his game? And if you really feel that way about Freeney, then just mention that part when it's your turn to talk. Just say that you're a little surprised with Freeney's spot on there and leave it at that. But to call out Ware and say, this guy is better than you . . . I don't agree with that.
And that’s not beside the point that Faulk is completely wrong in his assessment. He tried to say that Freeney led the Colts to the playoffs. First of all, only one guy leads that team and it hasn’t changed in more than a decade. Two, Freeney is a great pass-rusher but he’s never asked to play the run. He gets to rush up field and it basically hurts the Colts because they get gashed all the time, most of the time on his side. The Colts ranked 25th in the league in run defense, while Freeney recorded 10 sacks.
Obviously, the Cowboys weren’t much better on defense with a 23rd overall ranking, but Ware’s stats have consistently been better than Freeney over the year, not to mention he’s more of a complete defensive player.
Again, I like Marshall Faulk – both as a player and even an announcer. But I think he could’ve handled that interview with Ware a little better – both in his content and approach.
