Wow, and not a knock on you, but I'm surprised that you came around so quickly. You struck me as very much Anti-Ratliff, no matter what. I'm happy to see in this case that I was right, as I really view him as the heir apparent to Favre. Will he be our #2 this year? Who knows? Hopefully, we never get to see our #2 or #3 on the field.
If he's better than Clemens then he should definitely be our number 2 QB. On a side note, and not that I'm comparing him to Brady just to get this out there...The Pats had Bledsoe as their No. 1 heading into 2001..and Damon Huard as their No. 2. Brady over took Huard and became the No. 2 prior to the season. So, the point is just because one is the veteran doesn't mean he necesarily be the No. 2 QB.
The only thing I see preventing Ratliff from coming up to #2 is that (a) Clemens has real-game experience, and (b) by lowering him to 3 the FO would be admitting failure in a high-round draft pick, something they may be unwilling to do.
With Ainge drafted with a finger injury on his throwing hand he clearly was taken on futures. It would be tough to just let him go because he may value. (Thus far, he has been able to show little). He represents a project that may not require a lot of work. Ratliff has been an out-of-nowhere bright spot this pre-season. I don't think anyone saw it coming or the Jets would have probably used their 5th round pick somewhere else.
Maybe...but I have seen them hit on high round draft picks more than miss so I wouldn't hold it against them.
Yeah, I can't see them worrying about that. They drafted Ratliff too, that would cover for admitting Clemens was a mistake. Sticking Clemens in there to justify the pick and having him still be lousy would only compound the problem. Ultimately the regime is judged on wins and losses, not which round they drafted their QB. I'm not writing Clemens off just yet, but you have to play who you think is your better guy, regardless of where he was drafted or how much he makes. Same philosophy as when it was Chad vs Clemens, play the best guy you have available.
Ratliff MAKES PLAYS and puts POINTS on the board. What else do you want in your QB?? The team seems to pick up its level of play when Ratliff is in there. We cut this kid and it would confirm that this CS wouldn't know a QB if one took a shit on Mangini's desk.
I think Ratliff earned his spot. He looks light years ahead of Clemens. I think Ainge is odd man out or get rid of Clemans and keep Ainge in the wings. That would be risky.
Only reason that Ainge was even drafted was 'cause of his last name and who his daddy is.... Too bad this is football and basketball...
