QBs: Dickhead vs. Douchebag
 

I've been thinking about the Clausen debate a good deal recently. I'm not totally sold on Clausen in light of next year's class, but I'm not sure we'll be in position to take one of those guys either. Obviously, Clausen's personality has rubbed people the wrong way at times. But how so?

Mecca made a point the other day that it wasn't a big deal, because a lot of QBs were douches. That's definitely true, but perhaps taken more literally, how successful have the true douchebags been? I'm talking about me-first, aloof assholes who have a bizarre air of entitlement about them.

Conversely, how has their success compared to that of dickheads? Essentially a dickhead is someone who acts like an ass to a lot of people, is incredibly demanding, but may not have the aloof attitude of the douchebag.


Looking at a lot of QBs across history, I think that you could break them down along the following lines:

Dickheads:

Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady.

All of them bitched out their WRs for very small mistakes, got on their line for blown coverages, or snapped on a back for missing a block. But one could argue that it was due to their insane competitive drive.

Douchebags:

Jeff George, Jay Cutler, Ryan Leaf.

These guys were all (seemingly) despised by both fans and teammates. They didn't always get into it with players, but they never seemed to have a problem mixing it up with either fans or coaches.


Here is the crux. Obviously, the dickheads in the above example are "winners" while the douchebags are "losers". Is the only differentiation between the two the fact that the dickheads won? Or, do the dickheads have something within their dickhead personality that makes them win, something the douchebags never had?

If we are to believe this rather primitive theory, do you think that Clausen's actions are the actions of a dickhead or a douchebag, and how might that affect your view on drafting him?

**Note that I've exempted guys like Drew Brees and Joe Montana, who seem universally loved by their teammates

****Grbac was a douche and Gannon was a dickhead.

Honestly.....I get more upset if my QB doesn't get on his WRs for dropping the ball or he doesn't get on the offensive lineman who misses their assignment.

Classic hallmark of a dickhead QB.

Douchebag throws his arms up and makes a stupid face while sulking on the sidelines.

Well....a classic douchebag move would be throwing an INT and then smiling and laughing while he walks back to the sidelines.

I also like QBs that don't over-or under-throw their receivers on a regular basis.

Example? :)

Hmmm....first person that comes to mind. Jay Cutler.

I think it's leadership that makes the difference, although how or why someone is a "leader" isn't so much a tangible thing. George, Cutler and Leaf were/all are basically flakes whose teammates wouldn't piss on them if they were on fire, whereas Marino, Manning and Brady were/are clearly "the man" on their teams. I think it has to do with the ability to drive the people around them to a higher level of play. Maybe they're dickheads for the sake of the team, whereas the other guys were dickheads into themselves? Maybe it's how they try to get their points across? Hell if I know, but I think leadership is the difference.

As for Clausen, I don't really know. He's had some really good individual results in what I consider a less-than-perfect situation, but I don't have a clue how he'll translate to the NFL. Just for me, there's always something that's seemed a little "off" about him, but with Weis on the staff, this is the really rare situation where I would just acceed to the decision of the team. 'cause I think we have a deeper insight than any other franchise into him. Although on the other hand, maybe it would be tunnel vision.

I agree. People will follow a dickhead. Patton was a consummate dickhead. People will not follow a douchebag.

It is possible for a dickhead not to be a winner.......because like keg said....he has to be a leader as well. You can't yell at your WRs all game and expect them to follow you. You also have to pull them aside when they make the great catch and pat them on the helmet and tell them good job.

<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AqHfYcJ52NQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AqHfYcJ52NQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

Jamarcus Russell amirite

That's Matt Cassel.

"Sports Illustrated labeled Clausen "the kid with the golden arm" when he was a junior in high school. He announced his commitment to Notre Dame by arriving at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., in a stretch Hummer limousine."

That's a lot more d-bag than dickhead.

Refusing to play for the team that drafted you seems like a douchebag move.