Disqus - Latest Comments for jaredstill

Re: Why sportswriters shouldn't "stick to sports"

jaredstill — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:56:47 -0000

I concur with the above. I think EDJS said it best in encouraging y'all to use your gifts.

I don't know how to fully articulate this, but something has dawned on me that I can't reconcile; there's a popular radio show/podcast that I REALLY enjoy because he's willing to take on social/racial/economic/religious issues. And his show is the only mainstream one I consistently listen to because it doesn't patronize me with the topics.

On the other hand, I feel the same way that Kwash, IAOSF & EDJS do in HOW my favorite football site (you guys KNOW that I love your work), handles social & political issues.

I can appreciate the conundrum of how & what to talk about on a football site; I've 'white-boared' ideas for years about a website based on my eclectic interests (football, analytics, finance, faith, growth, politics, sociology, defense, technology, etc)

I would like you guys to consider this, please. Obviously you don't have to, and my advice is worth what you paid for it, but I think y'all 'know' me enough to know I have IAOFM's best interests at heart. I feel you may have a blind-spot here:

It's not just what is presented in the realm of politics, social issues, it's HOW it's presented. It's my perspective that in the vast majority of the issue-text, the tone is condescending, almost bullying (agree with us, or you're a _____) in how it's framed. And I don't mean where there truly is no other reasonable opinion, such as rape, abuse of women/children, etc.

Do you "have to" respect others' viewpoints, or treat them respectfully? No. But I'd suggest that changing the tone--would a) be more welcoming and engaging b) set the tone for more respectful debate within the site, and c) it exudes more confidence in your own positions to state them, defend them, without demonizing other people's views. Lastly, d) I believe that's consistent with the value of tolerance that is so widely espoused.

Just my $.02...for free, so more like $0.000002

Re: John Madden won't drink Goodell's Kool-Aid on letting six-year-olds tackle

jaredstill — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:20:21 -0000

There's a much larger story here: who's freaking kid takes FIVE YEARS to get potty trained?!

Re: Reality show won't help Sam make Rams, but does that matter?

jaredstill — Fri, 16 May 2014 13:43:54 -0000

I don't understand what Sam is thinking, and I'm worried about who has his ear if his personal judgement was clearly on point (Sam did not tell teams about plans for the show, out of a fear that it would harm his chances of being drafted.) but that was obviously overruled.

I feel STRONGLY that the best strategic and tactical approach for Sam the football player, AND Sam the Gay torchbearer that he rightly sees himself as, would've been for him to eliminate all distractions, and appearances of distractions and be 100% focussed on making that team. He should live at the gym until he's signed, and then at the Rams facility. (Remember Tebow's summer traveling, book-signing and speaking tour? Whether he was getting the film and study in that he needed or not, the appearance was that he was pulled in a number of other directions.)

Terrible tactical move, IMO and an indicator that he's unfortunately got some Peter Tebow's around him, and that he's approaching this as more Tim, and less Peyton. That's a shame and a missed opportunity in my mind, because he has the opportunity and RESPONSIBILITY in my opinion to help push the envelope for other gay athletes. To give NFL GM's more hesitancy (which again, he KNEW they would feel, based on his decision not to disclose this) is a disservice to Sam the football player and future gay football players.

For the record, I felt the same about Tebow as a Christian. Sure, there are lots of professed Christians in locker rooms, but Tim was one that wore his faith as a missionary, and viewed his whole life as a mission field. It was so admirable at first. But whether it's Tebow as the missionary Christian, or Michael Sam the 'missionary gay football player', the best thing they could do for their beliefs and platforms is to maximize their God-given talents and abilities...and the opportunity to maximize the exposure and reach of the platform will come later.

Be the best damn football player you can be, sans any peripheral circus, as a service to your teammates and the organization...and the platform will still be there--and I believe everyone would respect them all the more for postponing the exposure.

Just my $.02

Re: Gut Reaction: Broncos draft Cody Latimer with pick #56

jaredstill — Fri, 09 May 2014 23:56:36 -0000

Disagree with the assessment that Lee had street cred playing at USC. He had street cred because he was the best WR in the nation in 2012, and arguably the best football player. He's an incredible WR, #1 starter from day one. He was above Watkins by most accounts coming into 2013. He got hurt, he dropped. A la Keenan Allen. Expect him to break-out just as much if Bortles is half-way decent...

That said, I like this pick, I don't like giving up other pics to make it happen. However, come fall camp with everyone healthy, I think this breaks down as whether there's an extra PS candidate or an impact WR on the team. There are only so many roster spots to fill.

Re: Arizona may lose a Super Bowl for the SECOND TIME

jaredstill — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 09:06:36 -0000

Just wondering, since it wasn't addressed, which part of the bill was objectionable and/or unconstitutional?

Re: Where in the NFL is Brady Quinn?

jaredstill — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 10:11:06 -0000

Remember when posters were mandatory decor for our rooms?

Re: Live Blog: Broncos @ Cowboys

jaredstill — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 18:12:59 -0000

77% WP at half

Re: Live Blog: Broncos @ Cowboys

jaredstill — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 18:11:32 -0000

That win probability chart is phenomenal!

Re: Reflecting on tolerance and the Riley Cooper situation

jaredstill — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 12:54:14 -0000

I really enjoyed this Ted, and agree whole-heartedly. Loved your thoughtful approach to this topic. I found myself nodding in agreement with you as I read, as well. I threw around names and slurs like they were sentence conjunctions growing up, and even into adulthood. It was refined and the absolute norm in high school and college locker rooms, refined in creativity of Fraternity banter. I was even called, "my nigga" by some of the guys I played with in high school and at NAU.

I had to clean up my language as an Officer in the Air Force (we're not the Navy, you know!), but at home I still talked like a fraternity brat and threw around "gay" and "homo" and "fag" in private...until I once described something stupid as being "so gay" in front of one of my Lieutenant peers, who we all suspected was gay (he is, and has since come out). As much as we're different--he fits every gay male stereotype--I still really cared for him as a person, and peer. I don't know if he heard me or not, but it woke me up when I thought about how that must've felt.

Thankfully, that was the catalyst for me growing out of the habit of dropping what I now know as gay slurs. God has since placed a really unique and rather large collection of gay guys in my life. Some are Christians, some have been too hurt by the church and some people within it to ever trust another Christian (until they realize I am), and some came out to me personally before others. Why am I apparently so disarming? I don't know, perhaps they sense that I genuinely love and care for them as a friend and person and brother first and foremost. Call me crazy, but I believe genuinely loving engagement is what I'm called to as a Christian.

I thank you Ted for writing this without any labeling or finger-pointing towards other views (conservatives, Christians, etc) or telling us how they think. That's something that you've done a number of times in the past, and it's always as angering and hurtful as it is untrue of me, and many others who share my views. This piece was thankfully completely absent of that, and for that, I thank you for perhaps learning & evolving on that? :)

Love you, and your golden keyboard, Ted. Bravo.

Re: What makes a good football coach?

jaredstill — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:55:41 -0000

Phenomenal piece. Must not have been an un-used minute of thinking, thought-construction on that (awful) drive to Yuma. I drive a lot, and believe in "automobile university", but have seldom landed at my destination and banged-out a comprehensive think-piece like this.

This is why you're on the best--regardless of platform--Ted!

Re: Broncos lowballed Clady in 2012 Lard

jaredstill — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 11:56:46 -0000

This is where I wish you guys had more access. Totally respect your decision vis a vis, what MHR did in the past, and the Ministry of Information at DV...in the absence of you guys having more access, just wish there was a source that was reliable. $12M is a ton of money, but I can't be too concerned with it, because the story could be printed entirely differently in the Post in two days...with nothing mentioned at all.

Re: The most predictable Rasmussen poll ever

jaredstill — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 17:54:06 -0000

Certainly Gawker's not going to point this out, but from the internals of the poll, blacks responded that *blacks* were the most racist, by +7% margin. Would make for an interesting comment-fight on Politico, or some other site, but not here. Here's it's just misplaced. Of course it's the writer's, IAOFM's prerogative and choice, but you've built an audience because of excellent Broncos and football analysis, not heavy-handed, political/social posts. Just my $.02; I'd love to see this site please stay within its stated mission, and incredibly gifted, best-in-class, skill-set...

Re: Why John Elway never liked that loser Terry Bradshaw

jaredstill — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 10:37:03 -0000

Haha, "P.S. GFY, Bradshaw. Still."

Classic

Re: Banging the table for the Broncos to draft a matchup safety at #28

jaredstill — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:35:26 -0000

Perfect. Love the idea (specifically) and the need for this type of ball-player in general.

Re: Draft Notes: TE superlatives and rankings

jaredstill — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 00:24:57 -0000

Gosh dawg that's good analysis. That's why you're one of the best in the biz Ted

Re: Mailbag: How about Margus Hunt or Tank Carradine?

jaredstill — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:47:33 -0000

Thanks for the analysis & putting the time in to answer this Ted! It's why you guys are the absolute best! And you articulated all of my thoughts in one tweet so well + the analysis I was looking for. Awesome.

Re: Kenny McKinley: all too human

jaredstill — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:46:38 -0000

Wow. Just heart-breaking.

Re: Cracking the Zombie code

jaredstill — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 13:00:58 -0000

And...this is why I've mostly stopped reading one of my favorite football writers of the past few years. It's been over a year since I've mostly avoided Ted's pieces, and he's the writer I followed from MHR, to SmarterFootball to IAOFM.

I don't begrudge anyone's right to write whatever you please, and have always really personally enjoyed Ted outside of these political pieces, but these pieces & the comments throughout the mostly-football pieces, fall into the category of what you should write, and what advances the interest of this site, and its brand, in my opinion.

I'm not just tired of the condescending, sweeping generalizations, that are in my view, mostly ignorant and make up for everything they lack in logical, considerate debate, with rhetoric and straw-men ad nauseam.
My advice is unsolicited, and my opinion is just one of your many, growing, readership; because I love this site for its football content, and really like Ted and the staff for their ability and knowledge, I wanted to offer my opinion...for whatever it's worth.

Re: Game Predictions: USC at Utah

jaredstill — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:49:46 -0000

USC 42 -- Utah 10. Complete, 3-phase victory. 300 yards passing, 250 rushing, a special-teams TD, and defense pitches a 2nd half shutout.

Re: Gut Reaction: Broncos draft Brock Osweiler at #57

jaredstill — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 23:08:30 -0000

Seriously, inexperienced FO? Osweiler over LaMichael James & maybe the Tenn Chat QB later? Bad trade off

Re: Browns acquire #3 pick, presumably for Richardson

jaredstill — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:10:12 -0000

*Matt Kalil. Ryan is taken ;)

Re: You Got Served - Here we go (again)

jaredstill — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:58:10 -0000

Nailed it on Orton, Ted. Exactly my thoughts & feelings.

Unfortunately, this has all the makings of the angst of LSU fans over their QB for the last couple years. The entire fanbase has wanted anybody but Jefferson, and Miles was invested in his decision, so (stubbornly) kept rolling JJ out there. The big difference is, LSU can win 10, 11, maybe even 12 games on the strength of their defense, running game, and special playmakers (look at thier offensive rankings the last few years)...and Denver in now way can. But I don&#8217t see EFX budging on the starting QB unless/until the season gets really out of hand.

After last night, trying to take an objective look at the schedule, I don&#8217t see Den favored in more than 1 or 2 games the entire rest of the season&#8230but I also don&#8217t see anything changing at QB. Really ugly, if you ask me.

Re: You Got Served - Football and nutjobbery

jaredstill — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 21:39:06 -0000

Ted, just dropping in letting you know, I still read & appreciate everything you&#8217ve written (even where there&#8217s been disagreement). You&#8217re a great force for football-communication-and-critical-thinking-good in the world. Keep it up.

Re: The Daily Lard 8-25-11

jaredstill — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 13:19:47 -0000

Count me as one of your regular readers, irregular commenters. Oh, and I don&#8217t leave comments that often either.

Thanks for the morning dose of sanity amongst a sea of vitriol.

Re: You Got Served - Championship Weekend

jaredstill — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 18:31:06 -0000

Great. As always, Ted. Look forward to reading your pieces every time you drop &#8216em.