Have You Ever Considered….The Titans?
Obviously the timing of this didn’t work out, but I had it sitting in my folder half-complete for two weeks now and just wasn’t able to finish it before I started dying of the flu. The Texans more or less officially took control of the division this past weekend by beating the Titans and making their route to the playoffs very very difficult, but for a while there things were getting very interesting.
Goddamn Ryan Tannehill basically taking my shots at him and going out just to prove me wrong. This is all because I killed him. And also because I mocked his fans. Ryan Tannehill knows who I am and hates me, personally. Curse him. You had your damn chance, Ryan. You made me doubt you after years of irrelevance. Don’t expect me to love you now just because you can. You ass. I hate you.
But seriously good for him. He got out of the mess that was Miami and is finally finding some of that elusive success. He’s done well enough during his starts to justify the Titans at the very least franchising him. The Titans may have found their QB for the future, and fuck me, it’s Ryan Tannehill. Happy for the guy.
This leaves the far more interesting question of what happens to Mariota? The Titans can’t keep him at this point. Marcus has proven he can start, but things were clearly not going well by the end and I think a change of scenery is needed for both parties. The Titans are likely to franchise or extend Ryan and let Mariota walk. So where does he go? Let’s take a look at teams with QB question marks. I don’t see Mariota getting picked up as a starter, but maybe he could pull his own version of a Tannehill somewhere.
-Bears: Trubes has been mildly better as of late, but the Bears could probably use a solid backup plan even if they decide to stick by him for another season.
-Steelers: Ben’s future is up in the air, Duck is fine but nothing special, and Mason Rudolph is complete ass. Probably not a likely landing spot, but possible.
-Colts: Biscuits seems like he’s worth trying out, but a veteran presence might be welcome as competition
-Broncos: Lock appears to be a potential candidate for the future now, but this is another case where a solid backup for competition might be fitting. Also Elway can’t resist his urges.
-Chargers: Rivers has not been himself this season and LA is closer to Hawaii, Mariota’s home. I could see this one happening.
-Bengals: Well I mean someone has to play QB, but it’ll probably be whoever they draft at #1. Solid backup option though.
-Bucs: What if they ditch Jameis? This would be a comedy option
-Panthers: I don’t see them moving on from Cam for worse Cam but we don’t know what David Tepper wants yet
-Dolphins: Fitz isn’t the long-term answer and who knows what the fuck is up with Rosen
-Anywhere that needs a solid backup really fits here. Most teams could benefit from Mariota as a backup, and smart coaches could find a way to put him into the offense as a weird wildcat type option, sort of like how the 49ers used Kaep before Smith went down.
Anyway this is my mandatory once per year “HEY! THE TITANS!” Comic. If anything, it’s fun seeing Tannehill and Derrick Henry have fun. I’m eager to see where Mariota goes, if only because I will finally find out if all those local Oregon Ducks fans who bandwagoned the Titans when Mariota got drafted are going to stay as Titans fans or switch teams, or even stop following pro ball all-together.
I want to see somebody do a comparison of QBR by quarterbacks with Adam Gase as their coach and before/after he took over.
This is the part of the year when people praise Tannehill for having his team in position to make the playoffs. Then he collapses and the excuse-making begins. We shall see if this time it’ll be different but I doubt it. Yesterday he looked like regular Tannehill again and I fully expect him to go full Tannehill against the Saints.
“I’m eager to see where Mariota goes, if only because I will finally find out if all those local Oregon Ducks fans who bandwagoned the Titans when Mariota got drafted are going to stay as Titans fans or switch teams, or even stop following pro ball all-together.”
If my dad’s any indication, they’re not staying Titans fans.
My old man was, very briefly, a Detroit Lions fan for around three years from ’86. He was a massive Chuck Long fan, the ‘QB genius’ from his alma mater and he had so high hopes for him to make it big in the pros.
I’m guessing a lot of folks who are reading this comment of mine might be going ‘Chuck who?’ Considering this is the Lions and knowing their perennial woes, especially with QBs pre-Stafford, you can guess what happened to poor Chuck and his career without looking him up elsewhere.
Ever since, to this day, the Detroit Lions are the only NFC North team he openly wishes ill will upon(he cheers for the other three though, but a bit less for the Vikings), and he roots for the Packers and Bears to crush them in the most humiliating fashion ever every season. He hasn’t been disappointed much in that regard yet, with the Lions’ ongoing ‘no playoff wins’ streak.
Even the drafting of Hockenson this year didn’t save the Lions from his rancor, the only thing he’ll say is that he hopes TJ will stay healthy and productive for his rookie deal then ‘get the hell away from those loser bums and save himself, they’ll never accomplish anything.’
At least Mariota tasted a playoff win during his tenure in Tennessee and was only stopped by the ruthless Pats juggernaut. I’m guessing Oregon fans won’t be that bitter towards the Titans, but I’m pretty sure their fandom will follow Mark on his trip to journeyman-dom.
I’d rather us have Cam Newton than Marcus Mariota. But honestly just have someone fill in next year and not be complete ass and then hope to god we draft a QB so we can prime him to be the QB of the future.
Knowing the Chargers they never pick who I want to pick come draft time. Ideally I’d want Tua, but I know he won’t drop to us. Not even close. It’ll probably be Justin Herbert, but then again, who knows. Way to early to say right now.
I’d love to see Mariota go to the Bucs. What a power move that’d be.
Based on your list, I’d say realistically it would be between the Bears and Chargers. After having such a huge investment in Trubisky, signing Mariota would likely be an ok cap hit. Nagy did work just briefly with Mahomes and to me, Mariota seems like he could be a “lite” version of Mahomes. He’s like one part Lamar Jackson, one part Mahomes, one part (QB WHO CONSTANTLY DISAPPOINTS) all together. Nagy could see if he is something to work with maybe. The Chargers might not be bad either since Rivers may leave and start his own version of Daddy Day Care.
Also, I’d keep an eye on the Saints. Mariota is still young, Teddy will likely be leaving in FA, and Payton loved Lamar Jackson in the draft. Mariota’s running ability would be something Payton would certainly utilitize, even with Hill on the roster.
Though a psycho Jag fan, I have to admit, the drawing of Derrick Henry eating a jaguar made me laugh (and is sadly accurate).
Tough that you made this after the titans season just ended.
Is it bad that I initially thought the coffee table picture in the first panel was a subtle reference to David Tepper’s famous paperweight?
Haven’t you made like 3 Titans comics this season? Two of them back to back? (I mean yeah, it was Saturn devouring Rivers, but Titans-related)
A Redskins fan would have been more apt.
Idk man this team makes me want to give a tree a 60mph hug sometimes.
Mariota goes to the Pats and wins 9 Superbowls in a row under Steve Belichick. They only record other teams sidelines for 8 of those years.