Green = Grbac?

[The Rick]

According to Jeffrey Flanagan he does...statistically anyway.

Uh-oh! Grbac and Green have eerily similar statistics

JEFFREY FLANAGAN

Perhaps Elvis Grbac never really left the building.

Elvis Grbac is Trent Green.

Seriously, their statistics are frighteningly similar — virtually identical in some areas.

• Grbac was here four years and was 26-22 as a starter. Green is in his fourth year and is 30-29 as a starter.

• Both quarterbacks started one playoff game here, both losses. Grbac had a 94.4 passer rating in his loss; Green had a 92.6 passer rating in his loss.

• Grbac threw for a touchdown once in every 23.45 passes here. Green has thrown for a touchdown once in every 23.02 passes.

• Grbac threw an interception once in every 32 passes. Green has thrown an interception once in every 32 passes.

• Grbac completed 58 percent of his passes here. Green has completed 61 percent of his passes.

• Green's cumulative numbers for touchdowns and yards are higher than Grbac's, simply because he has played more games. Green averages 7.7 yards per attempt, Grbac 6.9.

One can easily argue that Green has had more weapons, too. Grbac didn't have Priest Holmes or what some say is the league's best offensive line.

Grbac also didn't benefit from the imaginative play-calling of Al Saunders. Grbac was stuck with Paul Hackett and Jimmy Raye.

There is one other striking similarity. Both quarterbacks have a signature end-of-the-game play.

For Grbac, it was throwing the ball 15 yards short of the first down, hoping the receiver could miraculously break 20 tackles to keep the drive alive. For Green, it's taking a sack.

We will allow Green this much: He's never taken a cheap shot at his receivers, like Grbac did.

***

People still refer to NFL schedules as “soft” or “hard,” when in reality it's been years since each divisional team's schedule fluctuated much.

For example, the Chiefs, Broncos, Raiders and Chargers all play the same opponents, except for two.

This year, the Chiefs, based on winning the AFC West last year, had to play the champs of the AFC East (New England) and the AFC North (Baltimore). It just so happens that those two teams have a combined 17-5 record.

The Raiders drew Pittsburgh and Buffalo, who are a combined 15-7.

The Broncos drew Miami and Cincinnati, both having disappointing years while combining for a 7-15 mark.

The Chargers had the Browns and Jets, who are a combined 11-11.

***

Former Chief Nick Lowery didn't make the recent cutdown from 90 to 25 in the voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and that doesn't sit well with those who appreciate the skill of kicking in the NFL.

The Hall of Fame has just one kicker inducted — Jan Stenerud — and zero punters, not even Ray Guy.

Lowery finished his career with 383 field goals, third most in NFL history behind Gary Anderson (533) and Morten Andersen (515).

The best kicker in the game today, New England's Adam Vinatieri, strongly believes it's time that kickers and punters start literally kicking down the doors of the Hall.

“Guy should be in there,” Vinatieri told the Boston Globe. “Lowery should be in there. Both the Andersons (sic) should be, too. You play over 20 years and score 2,000 points and there's no place for you in the Hall of Fame? Maybe in the back somewhere? Come on, now.”

To reach Jeffrey Flanagan call (816) 234-4492 and leave a message or email jflanagan@kcstar.com

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