Armchair Quarterback

Armchair Quarterback

Legendary quarterback Joe Namath wants the NFL to consider placing receivers in the helmets of all the players so that they can hear the quarterback.

"As a fan, I don’t like to see the game constantly stopped and these five-yard penalties marked off because a guy suddenly can’t hear and he just flinches a half-inch," Namath says. "I would like for the linemen and the other players to be able to hear. Communication on the field can only help the quality of the game, and the quality of the game will serve the fan better."

Namath says with stadiums now holding 80,000 fans and more, players can’t hear the quarterbacks’ calls because of crowd noise. As a result, linemen are too often called for offsides penalties, which slow the game’s tempo. "I think these players need to have a hearing device in their helmets so we don’t see the game stop with these lousy little penalties," he says.

Namath assesses today’s quarterbacks

Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts): "Peyton Manning comes to mind first, just to see his command of the entire situation. You watch efficiency, man. Of course, Peyton is one of a kind. He is better than anyone who has had a chance to develop with an offense. Peyton is confronted with more mentally than any quarterbacks have been in the past, and he’s doing better than anybody analyzing it, anticipating it and dealing with it than anyone in the past."

Steve McNair (Tennessee Titans): "I’ve got nothing but great admiration for Steve McNair. I’ve watched him from his college days on up."

Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers): "We all enjoy watching Brett Favre, no matter who they are playing against, just for his athleticism."

Michael Vick (Atlanta Falcons): "Michael Vick is a special animal in that he is so quick. He is fast and fluid and so graceful. To me, he is just marvelous to watch, but a little frustrating in comparison to Manning, in a sense.

Trent Dilfer (Seattle Seahawks): "I like watching him, knowing his limitations and all. Watching him work and play, this is a guy you want on your team. There’s his attitude, his leadership in practice week in and week out. He’s a champion."

Tom Brady (New England Patriots): "I almost forgot the best, who is up there in New England. I enjoy watching him because I still like his movement. I have an eye for an athlete’s comfort level by his movement and his eyes."

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