Ever since the Los Angeles Chargers capped off the third-largest playoff collapse in NFL history, head coach Brandon Staley has seemingly been under fire from all comers. For curious decisions like playing the injured Mike Williams in a meaningless game; for letting the now-fired Joe Lombardi constrain one of the sport’s brightest quarterbacks in Justin Herbert; for allowing the Jacksonville Jaguars to continue the Chargers’ curse at always being the third-best at being the worst. It’s all very, very bleak.
While Staley’s job in L.A. seems, inexplicably, safe for now, it’s no wonder football people have connected Sean Payton to the Bolts’ job.
In the aftermath of the Chargers’ latest epic “Chargers-ing,” ESPN analyst Rex Ryan discussed what’s been wrong with Staley’s tenure thus far. Rather than deservedly critique Staley for being generally overzealous or limiting his best player, Ryan took it a step further. He equivocated Staley’s now-infamous aggressive nature on fourth down to disrespect of coaching legends that have come before.
Yes, it’s as silly of an argument as it sounds, and there’s no way Ryan actually feels this way — if he’s a serious person, anyway:
“This guy is so disrespectful to the game…he’s been reckless ever since he took the job.”
Rex Ryan crushes Brandon Staley. 👀 pic.twitter.com/bMQOYLjwPC
— Keyshawn, JWill & Max (@KeyJayandMax) January 16, 2023
If Ryan had simply leaned on the middle portion of his argument — that Staley’s decision-making can occasionally be needlessly reckless — this point of contention would hold up. But to make the reach to Staley actively asserting he’s better than Hall of Fame coaches like Bill Walsh and Bill Parcells and denote that his decisions make it seem as if he’s also bigger than the game of football is so contrived. Never mind that Ryan’s statement is tantamount to “never evolve, do it the way it’s always been done” None of the pioneers he lauds approached the game in that fashion. They were/are so great because they were willing to push the envelope instead of following the crowd.
Plus, is it really that “offensive” Staley goes for it on fourth down (the Chargers were fifth in the league with 31 attempts in 2022) more than most? Or is someone looking for a hot soundbite hyperbolizing a situation in a Football Guy way?
I don’t know that any of the “Bills” would care much about the former, but I’ll let you decide whether running it on fourth down a lot, somehow, tarnishes the reputation of pro football.