Sam Darnold Is Weird

[NoGain]

I mean, what a weird dude. Almost all the memorable QB's I've seen during my arse wipe of an insignificant life stood out to me personality-wise in some marked way, their aura, or whatever you want to call it. Joe Montana's self-assured, almost cocky grin like "I'm going to get you, it's just a matter of time"; or Tom Brady's "I'm smarter than you and work harder than you and I will prevail over you" thing; or Patrick Mahomes's "just give me the ball and some time on the clock and I'll find a way"' or Marino's "I'm going to show you how this position can be played like no other". All leaders in each their own brazen kind of way.

And then I come to Darnold for such considerations, and I'm stumped. Does he have a personality? A recognizable aura? Something that just sticks out and slaps you in the face with it? He's like the tortoise in the race that doesn't even know when he's passing hares. Just da-deet-da-doo-da-deet-da-doo put my left foot in front of the other. It's almost like he needs his coaches and teammates to stop him and tell him he's doing good, or he'll just keep on humbly plodding along saying to himself I must get better, I must get better, I must get better...

I don't quite know what to make of this guy. He's a weird QB. A weird dude. I don't quite know how to embrace him. Yet.

 

[Bobblehead]

I mean, what a weird dude. Almost all the memorable QB's I've seen during my arse wipe of an insignificant life stood out to me personality-wise in some marked way, their aura, or whatever you want to call it. Joe Montana's self-assured, almost cocky grin like "I'm going to get you, it's just a matter of time"; or Tom Brady's "I'm smarter than you and work harder than you and I will prevail over you" thing; or Patrick Mahomes's "just give me the ball and some time on the clock and I'll find a way"' or Marino's "I'm going to show you how this position can be played like no other". All leaders in each their own brazen kind of way.

And then I come to Darnold for such considerations, and I'm stumped. Does he have a personality? A recognizable aura? Something that just sticks out and slaps you in the face with it? He's like the tortoise in the race that doesn't even know when he's passing hares. Just da-deet-da-doo-da-deet-da-doo put my left foot in front of the other. It's almost like he needs his coaches and teammates to stop him and tell him he's doing good, or he'll just keep on humbly plodding along saying to himself I must get better, I must get better, I must get better...

I don't quite know what to make of this guy. He's a weird QB. I don't quite know how to embrace him. Yet.

I like it.
I see no problem
He's our Forrest Gump.. Run Darnold Run,.,.

 

[CallMeADawg]

He’s just a regular dude with great football skills.

 

[NoGain]

He’s just a regular dude with great football skills.

I agree. But let's not kid ourselves. The QB position is like none other in all major team sports. Normally speaking, you've got to have some wild self-belief, bordering on the I-can-do-anything outer reaches. It's that important of a position. Darnold is just really different and weird in that way. Like another poster mentioned earlier, he's like our Forest Gump of a QB.

 

[CallMeADawg]

He just focuses on the technical aspects of high quality QB play. I’m not sure why he’s getting likened to Gump. Seems offensive to me.

 

[chris98251]

He has been dumped and disrespected, he is laser focused right now, he is respected and a leader on the team, something that we have not really had in like 13 years, we have seen anointed leaders, but someone that is without the hype saying he is. His personality will emerge I think once he has proven all those wrong that said he was a one-year wonder, flawed QB, can't win when it counts, a product of Minnesota's system or their OC's coaching him a certain way. In some ways he reminds me of Stabler or Plunkett from the Raiders, Stabler had a reputation of the field but never one to stand out media wise, he was smart, a leader, and just made those around him better. Was never expected to really be a star initially, it came to him. Plunkett was considered a bust after failing in New England and getting injured, yet at the Raiders he won Super Bowls and was gritty, smart, tough as nails, team followed him because of that. You could throw in Phil Simms also, Parcells seemed to always try to replace him he just rose to the top and was tough and a smart leader, team respected him. Personality of a Shower Towel.

How about our own Dave Kreig, another guy that was not expected to succeed, not a big personality, but the team loved his work and toughness, Knox just wanted someone to hand the ball off and not turn it over after Zorn went down. Old Milton College Free Agent fit the bill, then he started having success when we had injuries and the player emerged and could not be put back in the bag.

 

[NoGain]

He just focuses on the technical aspects of high quality QB play. I’m not sure why he’s getting likened to Gump. Seems offensive to me.

I don't see it as offensive. Gump succeeded at everything. Run Forest run.

 

[soxhawk]

He's just a humble guy. A guy who hopefully rewrites the books on how a modern QB acts.

 

[SeAhAwKeR4life]

He's just a humble guy. A guy who hopefully rewrites the books on how a modern QB acts.

And he's not weird and goony looking like this dude...





Why can't he wear a helmet normally either, too much hairdo?

 

[Spin Doctor]

To me he just seems like an ordinary guy thrust into the spotlight.

As another poster alluded to, he’s suffered a lot of failure then all of the sudden he is the guy the last two years. He almost seems shaken by it, humbled by it. There is a quiet confidence, almost a disbelief that after all the hard ship he endured that this is happening.

He’s not a big boisterous personality, he’s not polished in front of the camera. He’s what I imagine you or I would look like.

It’s a little disorienting coming from Hasselbeck who was a natural in front of the media, or Wilson who spent a great deal of time on his brand or Geno, a dude that was way too self assured and abrasive without the body of work to merit it.

Darnold very much so comes off as someone who’s taken their licks in life and is just starting to find their rhythm. Someone that is a little unsure of themselves, but is trying their hardest to fulfill the expectations people have put upon them.

He’s very much so the reluctant leader arch type. He doesn’t seek the spotlight but he just so happens to have the skills required to be a leader.

He just seems like an ordinary guy, which is a breath of fresh air when we had the politician and cocky, self assured arch type leader.

 

[Dolomight12]

And he's not weird and goony looking like this dude...

View attachment 75414

View attachment 75415

Why can't he wear a helmet normally either, too much hairdo?

View attachment 75416

Punchable. Flying roundhouse kickable, even.

 

[SeAhAwKeR4life]

Punchable. Flying roundhouse kickable, even.

The voice too, I mean the guy is a total goon, yet his QB talent is undeniable.

 

[glenwo2]

Everything that could be said, was said and I can't add anything to it.

People talk about having "aura's" and all that garbage.

I couldn't give two sh*ts about that.

JUST GO OUT THERE AND WIN SOME F*CKING FOOTBALL GAMES!

Sam Darnold is doing that and that's all that matters and all that SHOULD matter.

 

[sutz]

It's not a movie, he's not a "star" diva-type. He's a football player, a member of a team in the ultimate team game. When he compliments his teammates it doesn't sound fake or put on, he really means it. I like him.

 

[Natethegreat]

I don't find him weird. Just more reserved. Not a rah rah guy. Just goes out and gives what he has. He comes across as a normal guy to me.

 

[Slick]

Did not read the thread but my assumption is that he's into that K-Pop Demonslayer garbage.

 

[oldhawkfan]

Just because the guy is not comfortable speaking to a crowd doesn’t mean he can’t play QB with the best of them. You want Darnold awkwardness or Me3 contrived awkwardness?

 

[samwize77]

Slingin Sam!

 

[NoGain]

Just because the guy is not comfortable speaking to a crowd doesn’t mean he can’t play QB with the best of them. You want Darnold awkwardness or Me3 contrived awkwardness?

I never said he couldn't play QB. He's doing well.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

What? He's a humble leader. Totally locked in. How in the world is it hard to like Sam fricken Darnold? And what does a personality that somehow makes you not sure if you like him have to do with how he plays football?
Love dot net so much. Something strange and new every single day.
Also, let's be real, Quarterbacks are strange cats, always have been. MANY of them.