The show is called “First Take” for a reason, but it may as well be called “hot taking,” because it is very clear that is what some of the program’s talking heads are doing.
It’s much more about presenting an argument that will go viral, due to its controversial nature, than it is making serious, salient points.
You can now tweet that “here is the attention that you ordered” meme at ESPN Betting Analyst Joe Fortenbaugh, who called the Baltimore Ravens the Philadelphia “76ers of the NFL.”
Fortenbaugh, in providing a take so hot that it will heat your entire home this winter, said there is no pressure on Lamar Jackson to ever actually win the Super Bowl, because “after six seasons, this is who he is.”
This cannot be a serious attempt at analysis. So where do we start with this nonsense?
How about with this chart, published on X by former Ravens.com editor Sarah Ellison.
“This is who he is.”
Lamar Jackson won his MVPs with two very different offenses & styles. He keeps evolving.
Also, more than half the QBs on this list didn’t win their 1st SB ring until 27 or older. Lamar is 27.
Stop putting him in a box. His story is nowhere near written. https://t.co/qDLkj1dKCa pic.twitter.com/6UU6Yp7J27
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) July 25, 2024
As she points out, a majority of the QBs on the multiple MVPs list did not win their first Super Bowl until age 27 (Jackson’s current age), or later.
Peyton Manning- 30 years, 317 days
Steve Young- 34 years, 110 days
Kurt Warner-28 years, 222 days
Brett Favre- 27, 108 days
Aaron Rodgers- 27, 66 days
And although he did not win multiple MVPs, it is worth noting that another legendary quarterback, John Elway did not win his first Super Bowl until age 38.
Not to mention the fact that eight other multiple MVP award winners, in addition to Jackson, didn’t win a Super Bowl or haven’t won it yet.
So basically the argument here is: “if you haven’t won a Super Bowl, and you didn’t win it early in your career, well then you’re really nothing more than a glorified perennial also-ran.”
And also “this is who you are and what you’ll always be.”
That’s the essence of the argument, and it’s extremely flimsy, to say the least.
Finally, the 76ers are the NBA franchise that is most commonly associated with the concept of tanking, which makes Fortenbaugh’s analogy even more silly.
The Ravens are about as polar opposite of “tanking” as it gets.