It's been a while since we had JT & ZT as the face of our franchise. The media tried "The Big Three" in Tuna, Ireland, and Sparano. That worked for a year but, no more. Having one or more is a good thing for fans, especially kids, to identify with. GOD only knows how many new fans we added, form everywhere, in the Marino years. So, who will be our new face for this once great franchise? Long is a fabulous player but a big ugly ain't gonna do it. Marshall is a Pro Bowler but a bit of a head case. Henne has a lot to prove, and we have no RB. For me, that leaves Wake with a maybe on Dansby or Davis. Anyone else?
I'm fine with Jake Long as the face of the franchise. He embodies toughness, consistency, and work ethic.
Jake Long, Cameron Wake, Karlos Dansby, all fit the bill at this time. In the future, hopefully guys like Vontae, Sean Smith, Koa Misi, etc. Really, if you're looking at faces of the franchise around the league, its almost always a QB.
Its going to have to be someone new. I'm not sure we have a real "media friendly" guy on the team right now. And it is a problem. TV is driven by personalities, and not having one right now hurts our chances even more of securing those coveted Sunday & Monday night spots. Henne is a deadpan, no life, no personality - a zombie like dude - not someone made for TV Long seems to be friendly enough - but he's an OL - not exactly a position made for stars (Alen I know what you are getting at and I appreciate it too - but that is not how the media works). Wake is an unknown and could perhaps breakthrough - but it hasn't happened yet with the national media, and it may not ever. Marshall is too weird & volatile - can't trust him completely and to be your "face" you need someone you know that you don't have to worry about discrediting the franchise every time he opens his mouth. Brown is more than likely gone, so that is a moot point. Williams - that ship passed a long time ago and far away Dansby - has to overcome being a defensive player - I will say he is the most likely candidate though No it has to be someone new, maybe from this draft, or in FA if there is one.
Well that is bad for us......Henne is the worst. Not that great looking, and ZERO PERSONALITY, almost zombie like.
Why is this important? I'm not trying to be a contrarian, but I don't think it matters. As long as there is a team identity, that's all that matters in my mind.
I think in today's QB driven NFL your QB better be the face of your franchise. I don't think a QB has to have some kind of amazing personality to be the face of a franchise. He just has to be able to throw the ball and throw it well. The rest comes. Peyton Manning wouldn't have any kind of personality worth a sack of beans if he wasn't arguably the best QB in the NFL. Chad Henne isn't the face of our franchise, but he could be if he can figure out how to play the position well.
DJ, Stop the presses, we agree. LOL Ingram will be ROY, and lead us into the playoffs. Henne will throw for 4,000 yards and be great. His personality will not matter. DON'T WAKE ME.
OK, and what team identity do we have? Can't run, can't pass, we drop int's, and are horrible on ST's. I really think having Wake as our franchise face is a whole lot easier.
I disagree, Manning is hilarious when he wants to be. He is not afraid of making fun of himself. He is not a HAHAHA in your face type of funny, but more cerebral kind of funny, and he's very good at it. Just watch some of his commercials, you'll see what I mean.
Well, one of the reasons why is we have not had a winning streak of any length since 08, that tends to attract positive attention.
Yeah we agreed earlier, then you messed it up with Ingram and Henne I don't want Ingram and Henne is never going to be a stud, sorry about that.
That's my point. If Peyton Manning wasn't an amazing QB he never would have been put into commercials. In those commercials he's coached on what to say and how to act. Sure the commercials are funny. But if Peyton never made it as an NFL QB, do you think he would be a particularly funny guy? If Chad Henne became an amazing QB I guarantee you he would also be cast in commercials and would be given witty / funny lines to say, or lines that would appear hilarious being in such contrast to his typical deadpan personality.
Manning is a comedian even when he's not in front of the camera. He's the life of the party where ever he goes, common knowledge. I personally would rather watch him off the field then on it. For whatever reason, I don't enjoy his game on the field as much as several other QB's.