For me, this is much more than an ESPN analyst/commentator not holding Stafford in high regard.
There are controversial opinions and bad takes but they at least warrant some serious discussion.
If Graziano and Tannenbaum don't think that highly of Stafford (think he is over-rated, should not have been named MVP, don't believe he is a Hall of Famer) ... those are Opinions and Takes ... maybe they are sincere, maybe they are made mostly to generate debate on ESPN.
Does Not Matter. They are Opinions and Takes I personally disagree with but they have some merit; and, therefore, they can be discussed and argued. In my Original Post, I should not have even mentioned them ... Dumb Opinions ... Bad Takes ... annoying but So What
It was Graziano's first statement that enraged me; and was the focus for my initiating this thread.
Stafford played GREAT against Seattle in those Brutal Losses. He was one of the best players on-the-field.
The quote was How could Stafford be rated so high (#3 in a silly top-10 QB list) when ...
'He lost the two biggest games of the season'
That's NOT an Dumb Opinion or Bad Take because it's not an Opinion or a Take.
It's an absurd comment that ANY knowledgeable football fan should object to.
It reduces the MOST improtant position on an NFL team (Quarterback), to the ONLY position that matters; and that's something only the weakest minded of fans think or believe.
In those two games, Stafford threw for
830 yards, with 6 TDs, 0 interceptions and the Rams put-up 64 points against arguably the best defense in the NFL in 2025.
By-the-way, in those same two games, Puka Nacua totalled
21 receptions, 390 yards and 3 TDs. It would have been just as absurd if Graziano said
"Nacua lost the two biggest games of the season"
Those two Rams' players were nothing short of Brilliant against that defense in those horrible losses.
The Rams lost because their Defense failed, their Special Teams were horrible and the officiating was bordeline corrupt on the ridiculous two-point conversion.
In my opinion / my take ... which Can Be Argued ... Dan Graziano has lost all his credibility ... today, tomorrow and going forward. He will always be THAT GUY to me. The Guy that said something I can not forget.
The last time I felt this way was when Mike Lombardi was on the Rich Eisen Show in 2017 (nine years ago). The topic was Jared Goff coming-off a disappointin seven-game rookie season. Lombardi was clearly not a fan, and said Goff lacked the qualities to be a good NFL QB. That was Lombardi's opinion ... his take on Goff.
I did not like it or agree with it. But if it had stopped there ... OK ... So What ... It did NOT stop there.
Rich Eisen asked the reasonable follow-up question...
'You can tell that after just 7 games?'
Mike Lombardi responded ...
'I can tell that after just 7 passes.'
For the past nine years, I have had nothing but contempt for Mike Lombardi. For me, since then, he has been THAT GUY ... who made that ridiculous comment that I can not forget ... Zero Credibility.
Like I put in my Thread Title ... "Hate is a Strong Word" ... I don't hate many people but there are exceptions.
It's a lot like Love ... another strong word ... I don't Love many people ... my wife, my sisters a couple friends
... and of course @Loyal.