Bob Glauber's NFL Hot Reads: Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III reminiscent of Peyton Manning, Ryan Leaf
QB Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts looks on while playing against the New England Patriots during the first quarter of an NFL game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 16, 2014 in Indianapolis. Credit: Getty Images / Joe Robbins
Shades of 1998
with Luck, Griffin
The great debate leading up to the 1998 draft was whether the Colts would take Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf, a decision that turned out to have monumental repercussions for both quarterbacks and both teams. Manning became a future Hall of Famer with Indianapolis and now Denver. Leaf was a colossal bust with the Chargers, who traded up to the No. 2 spot to get him.
Though it's still early in the process for the latest 1-2 comparison between Andrew Luck of the Colts and Robert Griffin III of Washington, it's starting to look frighteningly similar. Luck, taken first overall by the Colts in 2012, continues to produce passing records. Griffin, who looked like a breakout star as a rookie in 2012, is on the bench.
Luck has led the Colts to 30 regular-season wins, and a victory over the Browns would surpass Cincinnati's Andy Dalton for sole possession of fifth place among Super Bowl-era starting quarterbacks in their first three seasons.
Luck also leads the NFL with 4,011 passing yards and has a league-best 10 games with at least 300 passing yards.
Griffin? Right now, he's on the bench after coach Jay Gruden replaced him with Colt McCoy. Reports this past week suggest that Gruden wants to move on from Griffin, although it's uncertain whether team owner Daniel Snyder and general manager Bruce Allen share that sentiment. Either way, the coach or the quarterback -- or maybe both -- could be gone in 2015.
Belichick a big
Revis fan
To the surprise of no one, Patriots coach Bill Belichick couldn't be happier with the play of former Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, who signed a two-year, $32-million deal with New England in the offseason.
"He's done a good job for us. He's a good player and I've enjoyed working with him, absolutely," Belichick said. "He's very professional, works hard, does his job, understands team concepts and team defense and plays within them. He does a good job . . . He's outstanding. He's had a great career."
It's uncertain whether Revis will remain with the Pats beyond this year, given that his $20-million salary in 2015 is considered prohibitively expensive. But there's a chance the deal could be reworked, especially if Revis helps the Pats get to a sixth Super Bowl under Belichick.
Rodgers on hot streak
We all know Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is in the midst of yet another brilliant season. Especially at home. Consider: He has gone more than two years -- two years! -- since his last interception at Lambeau Field. Rodgers' last pick at home was Dec. 2, 2012. He now has gone 360 straight passing attempts without an interception and has thrown 31 TD passes in that span.
Rodgers added to that streak with last week's stirring win over the Patriots that put the Packers alone in first place in the NFC North. He doesn't want to stop there.
"We're happy about the win ," he said, "but we have some big goals. Everything is still in front of us."
The ultimate goal for Rodgers: a second Super Bowl title on Feb. 1 in Phoenix. A rematch with the Patriots, perhaps?
Johnson eyes No. 1,000
Texans receiver Andre Johnson is eight catches away from becoming only the 10th player in NFL history to produce 1,000 career receptions. And if he gets there Sunday, he will tie former Colts receiver Marvin Harrison for the fewest games needed to reach the milestone.
One area in which Johnson won't threaten any records, though, is touchdowns. He has only two this season, one behind defensive end J.J. Watt, who plays tight end in goal-line situations. Johnson has been one of the NFL's most productive receivers in terms of yardage but has never scored more than nine TDs in a single season.
Bob Glauber retired in 2022 after covering the NFL for nearly 40 years. He was selected in 2021 for the Bill Nunn Career Achievement Award by the Pro Football Writers of America, and is a three-time winner of the New York State Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. President of the PFWA for the 2018-20 seasons, he is the author of “The Forgotten First” and “Guts and Genius.”
