Sam Darnold finally got it done.

[GemCity]

I was never against Sam coming here. It was just shocking the way it went down.

I will say that I thought we could win, and have said in these forums, if he has a mediocre stat line with no turnovers.

But holeee hell. You’ve got to love Sam. He just went toe to toe with Stafford. He just ripped up the team that got the best of him last year.

If you don’t have full faith and confidence in this dude by now…if you don’t love what he’s done to shut down the narrative…you may look like this (in real life):

 

[SoulfishHawk]

I know who that is ^^

BISCUIT BOY!!!!!

 

[GemCity]

I know who that is ^^

BISCUIT BOY!!!!!

 

[sutz]

Sam won both ways. He was a "game manager" against the 49ers, because that's all he needed to do.

Against the Lambs, he needed to step up and play like an MVP, and he did.

Nice to have a QB that can do either when the situation calls for it.

 

[Welshers2]

ONE GAME TO RULE THEM ALL

SAM DARNOLD IS GOING TO THE ******* SUPER BOWL

AM I ******* DREAMING

 

[Trackhawk]

People talk about Sam Darnold's playoff game against the Rams last year like no one ever has a bad game. Tom Brady had 4 playoff games where he threw 3 interceptions. He's still the GOAT. It happens. Especially in the playoffs where you're playing good teams.

At the time people were saying things like that, Tom Brady had a 35 and 13 record in his 48 playoff games, while Sam Darnold was 0 and 1.

There was no bank of playoff appearances from which to draw, to claim Darnold’s poor showing was a fluke.

Donald had horrible stats in 100% of his playoff games, while Brady’s were significantly better than that.

The NFL is littered with promising quarterbacks who looked great in the regular season, but never pinned out in the post season. It was absolutely a legitimate concern with Darnold.

For now, Darnold has put that concern to rest.

And I’m talking about the people who had legitimate concerns, not the people who said Darnold’s one appearance proved he was bad. One appearance proves nothing either way.

 

[Trackhawk]

That's understandable.

You're really not missing anything except him referring to Sam Darnold as "Same" Darnold (meaning that it's always the same result with him in coming up short, or some nonsense) and now he's calling him "Different" Darnold. What a clown.

After the game, I came across that video of his, and responded

Welp. Skip was right. Same Darnold showed up. Same Darnold that won 14 games last season. Same Darnold that won 14 games this season. Same Darnold that put up 240 yards, 38 points, and engineered a high precision OT drive to win against the Rams in week 16. Same Darnold, indeed.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

I mean the guy had a HORRIBLE history of "choking in the playoffs"

....................one playoff game.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

At the time people were saying things like that, Tom Brady had a 35 and 13 record in his 48 playoff games, while Sam Darnold was 0 and 1.

There was no bank of playoff appearances from which to draw, to claim Darnold’s poor showing was a fluke.

Donald had horrible stats in 100% of his playoff games, while Brady’s were significantly better than that.

The NFL is littered with promising quarterbacks who looked great in the regular season, but never pinned out in the post season. It was absolutely a legitimate concern with Darnold.

For now, Darnold has put that concern to rest.

And I’m talking about the people who had legitimate concerns, not the people who said Darnold’s one appearance proved he was bad. One appearance proves nothing either way.

FFS. He hasn't just proven it, he's DESTROYED if. It because of the ridiculous narrative that he's not good enough. You and the others. Geezus F man. It never ends.

 

[glenwo2]

He actually said :

"For now" after Darnold won TWO playoff games.



I echo what @SoulfishHawk just said. Give me a friggin' break. smh.

So is he waiting for Sam to stumble so he can say "see? You should've listened to me" or something?

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

Its the problem with the world once you get judged and more or less become part of the “meme” culture thats all any cares to believe about you no matter how many times you succeed, the moment you fail its back to same old shit. The fact that Darnold continues to drown it out and seemingly doesnt care if that is how the world defines him really just shows he got some balls. To him its not about standing up to your doubters and proving people wrong, changing the script, he’s only caring about controlling what he can control and continuing to grow with in himself.

I dont care if Darnold isn’t thought of as an elite QB or even a good one, dont care he kind of comes off a lot like Russ, a bit robotic but not as corny.

The biggest difference though Darnold’s brand is his team and his teammates. He’ll play any role that it takes to win, no more, no less. Hes not clout chasing and trying to be an idol. He is who he is. And coaches and teammates love those types of players who are even keeled but grounded and true to the game without all the extra distractions because they know exactly who they are getting each and every day.

 

[glenwo2]

Its the problem with the world once you get judged and more or less become part of the “meme” culture thats all any cares to believe about you no matter how many times you succeed, the moment you fail its back to same old shit. The fact that Darnold continues to drown it out and seemingly doesnt care if that is how the world defines him really just shows he got some balls. To him its not about standing up to your doubters and proving people wrong, changing the script, he’s only caring about controlling what he can control and continuing to grow with in himself.

I dont care if Darnold isn’t thought of as an elite QB or even a good one, dont care he kind of comes off a lot like Russ, a bit robotic but not as corny.

The biggest difference though Darnold’s brand is his team and his teammates. He’ll play any role that it takes to win, no more, no less. Hes not clout chasing and trying to be an idol. He is who he is. And coaches and teammates love those types of players who are even keeled but grounded and true to the game without all the extra distractions because they know exactly who they are getting each and every day.

I disagree with this a ton.

He's more like Matt Hasslebeck in many respects.

I see none of Russ in him.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Sam Darnold the last 2 seasons, including playoffs: 30-7

Not much else needs to be said....

 

[Trackhawk]

He actually said :

"For now" after Darnold won TWO playoff games.

View attachment 78103

I echo what @SoulfishHawk just said. Give me a friggin' break. smh.

So is he waiting for Sam to stumble so he can say "see? You should've listened to me" or something?

No. And I really don’t know what your problem is.

There is a profound difference between saying that someone is proven to be bad and saying that someone hasn’t yet proven to be good (my position on Sam before the Rams game).

He has now performed at an MVP level in one playoff game, was neither asked to, nor needed to, do much in one playoff game, and pretty much shit the bed in one playoff game.

Yes, he has silenced his critics for now. Geno Smith and Russell Wilson silenced their critics for a while, too, before reality reared its ugly head. I’m not suggesting or hoping he will fail in a similar fashion, nor am I waiting for him to fail.

I wouldn’t be in a position to say “see you should have listened to me” (which you clearly haven’t) because I never said he is a bad QB, or claimed that he was doomed to fail.

My position has always simply been that he doesn’t have a sufficient body of work to support the claims that he is elite any more than he has a sufficient body of work to claim that he isn’t. Both sides of this stupid debate were jumping to unsupported conclusions. I take a wait and see/ show me the evidence approach.

He still has a very small sample size, but playing MVP level ball, while going toe to toe with Stafford, in a shootout is excellent supporting evidence that he is indeed a bona fide top tier QB.

In fact, I almost started a thread today suggesting we sign him to a long-term contract this off-season. I didn’t yet, because I’m still calculating what I think the Hawks should offer him. I’m leaning toward $53-$55 APY, but that may need to be adjusted upward if there are other signings that bump the market up.

He has performed far above the consensus expectation, and there is nothing to suggest he will fall off (in the way that there were hints with Russ and Geno). I think he only gets more expensive, and he deserves to be paid like the top 5 QB that he is.

I don’t understand why that is so hard to comprehend, but you do you.

 

[Mick063]

Here is the reality. Schneider will never pay a quarterback top five guaranteed money. He will ALWAYS have a rookie deal QB in development from this point forward. Look no further than the Vikings on how to be caught flat footed with inadequate QB development for an otherwise championship quality roster. There is a reason why Milroe routinely occupied a precious third roster spot on the 53-man roster. Sam knows this. Sam's agent knows this. After the Super Bowl win, Schneider is going to approach Sam with a long-term restructure at roughly 15% below the highest paid QB in the league. The restructure will be enticing with generous guaranteed money (Sam's agent needs a perceived victory to perpetuate his enterprise), but the offer WILL have a life span. Sam will either accept the restructure offer or the Super Bowl MVP must prepare to be flipped for a Russell Wilson equivalent deal to Miami, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, or gulp, NYJ. Unlike Lamar Jackson, there isn't a no trade clause in Sam's contract and Sam would not have a lot of input on his destination.

I think the Russell Wilson deal soured Schneider on overpaying for quarterbacks. Geno tested this and was flipped for a draft pick. Further, I think Schneider is looking at the Cowboys, Bills, and Ravens and he isn't prepared to follow their business model. In other words, it doesn't even matter if Sam is playing at an MVP level. The pay scale at the top of the QB market is simply too taxing, too many eggs placed in a single basket, relative to sustainable roster maintenance.

Here is the good news. Sam's personal measure of success is different than Geno's personal measure of success. Sam will take the generous offer. Brady won championships with team friendly deals. Stafford won MVP with a team friendly deal. Sam will only remain a Seahawk with a team friendly deal. Meanwhile, every Seahawk QB starter will always feel the presence of viable rookie-deal competition in development. Further, Jody Allen is just too far separated from day-to-day affairs to meddle in Schneider's strategic plans. He probably has the most latitude of any GM in the league. No owner is going to be imposing a Shedeur Sanders draft pick right after taking his developmental QB in the third round. No owner is going to turn the team facility into a three-ring circus. Schneider has earned a long, long leash to do whatever he thinks is necessary to sustain success and the hardworking man has enough personnel experience to understand all of the potential pitfalls. He has seen it all, experienced it all. The learning curve is complete; the people connections are vast. Now it is just a matter of staying on top of the trends and for John Schnieder, there is no finish line relative to making the team better.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

I disagree with this a ton.

He's more like Matt Hasslebeck in many respects.

I see none of Russ in him.

I dont know if we are talking ability or personality because if its ability then yeah 100% agree with your statement.

Sam’s football personality seems reserved and introverted like Russ. Like his emotions are dialed down. However, off the field just as a person Sam seems like the same dude and doesn’t care to go out of his way to produce the amount cringe and corniness Russ has with clout/glory chasing and money/power grabs. Which is why I feel Sam has the respect of his team because he is who he is in front of camera or behind closed doors.

From what I remember from Hasselbeck, he always wore his emotions outright and was always talking especially the shit and had a reputation of being the class clown type. You are never going to see Sam pronounce, “We want the ball and were going to score” or consistently butt heads with his coaches. Hass was a bit of a loose cannon and did not care at times to call Holmgren off and do things his own way.

 

[glenwo2]

No. And I really don’t know what your problem is.

There is a profound difference between saying that someone is proven to be bad and saying that someone hasn’t yet proven to be good (my position on Sam before the Rams game).

He has now performed at an MVP level in one playoff game, was neither asked to, nor needed to, do much in one playoff game, and pretty much shit the bed in one playoff game.

Yes, he has silenced his critics for now. Geno Smith and Russell Wilson silenced their critics for a while, too, before reality reared its ugly head. I’m not suggesting or hoping he will fail in a similar fashion, nor am I waiting for him to fail.

I wouldn’t be in a position to say “see you should have listened to me” (which you clearly haven’t) because I never said he is a bad QB, or claimed that he was doomed to fail.

My position has always simply been that he doesn’t have a sufficient body of work to support the claims that he is elite any more than he has a sufficient body of work to claim that he isn’t. Both sides of this stupid debate were jumping to unsupported conclusions. I take a wait and see/ show me the evidence approach.

He still has a very small sample size, but playing MVP level ball, while going toe to toe with Stafford, in a shootout is excellent supporting evidence that he is indeed a bona fide top tier QB.

In fact, I almost started a thread today suggesting we sign him to a long-term contract this off-season. I didn’t yet, because I’m still calculating what I think the Hawks should offer him. I’m leaning toward $53-$55 APY, but that may need to be adjusted upward if there are other signings that bump the market up.

He has performed far above the consensus expectation, and there is nothing to suggest he will fall off (in the way that there were hints with Russ and Geno). I think he only gets more expensive, and he deserves to be paid like the top 5 QB that he is.

I don’t understand why that is so hard to comprehend, but you do you.

My problem is this :

The context of "FOR NOW" implies that there is the expectation of possible failure down the road.

Sam just had the game of his career, putting to bed all the doubts of whether he can get it done in a big spot. But instead of being fully on-board with Sam going forward, it's basically "Yeah...he did well...FOR NOW".

Are you kidding me? Like...really?

What else does Sam have to do for you to stop having doubts, Track?

 

[glenwo2]

I dont know if we are talking ability or personality because if its ability then yeah 100% agree with your statement.

Sam’s football personality seems reserved and introverted like Russ. Like his emotions are dialed down. However, off the field just as a person Sam seems like the same dude and doesn’t care to go out of his way to produce the amount cringe and corniness Russ has with clout/glory chasing and money/power grabs. Which is why I feel Sam has the respect of his team because he is who he is in front of camera or behind closed doors.

From what I remember from Hasselbeck, he always wore his emotions outright and was always talking especially the shit and had a reputation of being the class clown type. You are never going to see Sam pronounce, “We want the ball and were going to score” or consistently butt heads with his coaches. Hass was a bit of a loose cannon and did not care at times to call Holmgren off and do things his own way.

The bolded was what I was thinking of when I said Sam is nothing like Russ.

 

[Atradees]

Slinging Sam is in to over 3 million in bonus money, One game to go. If Darnold gets all day like Stafforyrd? That would be something.

 

[themunn]

sigh....I can't believe I'm going to have to explain this but here goes :


My point is that last season it was the first time he was ever in a situation with high stakes like it was that final Regular Season game with the 1-seed on the line against Detroit.

If you actually had watched the game like I did back then, you would've seen that he was wildly inaccurate (missing WIDE-ASS OPEN receivers left and right) meaning that the moment seemed to have gotten to him.

It happens.

That's what I meant by being or not being *mentally prepared*.

He did not seem like he was.

Fast-forward to this year against the Niners in another big game for the 1-seed and he GOT IT DONE.

Why? Because he had the experience of what he went through last year to build off of.

He knew what to expect so he was better locked-in this time around.


I don't know how much more clear I can make this.


Also to your latter point, I've always thought he was better than he was portrayed. Hell...when he was a Panther and went 4-2, he almost dragged that sad carcass of a team into the playoffs if it wasn't for Brady and the Tampa Bay Bucs.

So you are wrong in your assumption that I thought Sam was no good.

Hope I helped explain my rationale better.

I mean the week before that he was in a game against another 11 win team divisional rival (Packers), a MUST WIN game if they wanted to stay in the 1 seed race, and he threw for 370 yards and 3 TDs.

If he had lost that game (and the 1-seed) the narrative would be the same "can't get it done in big games", but he did get it done in big games, week after week after week, and simply came up against a better team in the end. So nothing he did this year has been surprising - because now he's on that better team.