A few years ago bad NFL teams were being urged by their fans to ‘suck for Luck’, the stand-out Stanford quarterback who wound up going No. 1 overall in 2012.
This year supporters of two and three win teams have suggested they should ‘suck for the Duck”.
That Duck being 2014 Heisman Trophy winner and Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.
We were barely into October when a group of Tennessee Titans’ fans began lobbying for the 2015 draft. Already frustrated by their team’s quarterback play, they started campaigning for the team to tank the rest of the season in order to draft early enough to select the talented Mariota.
For the record, tanking this season with that in mind may be a waste of time, with the quarterback undecided if he will declare for the draft or head back to Oregon for one more season.
To their credit the Titans players nixed any tanking talk as “ludicrous”.
Tanking is an ugly word – let’s call it ‘potentially beneficial losing’ or PBL.
But the possibility of PBL must be on their minds again as the Titans (2-12) prepare to play the Jaguars, another 2-12 team, in Jacksonville on Thursday Night Football, a game watched by few that will have a major influence on the selection order at the top of the 2015 draft.
Both teams will no doubt be doing their best to win against a division rival in a nothing game, but the overwhelming consensus is that both the Titans and Jaguars would benefit much more in the long run from losing on Thursday night.
Win one game and likely be ordinary again next year or lose the game and maybe be good for the next 10 years. It seems like a no brainer, right? But tanking, sorry PBL, is a phenomenon that seemingly doesn’t exist in the NFL. It’s widely talked about in the NBA, where the Philadelphia 76ers have made it an art form in recent seasons, but bad NFL teams refuse to willingly lose.
However, morals, standards and things of that nature aside, there are a number of reasons tanking is advantageous for bad teams.
There is no draft lottery system, like there is in the NBA, and the worst team always owns the first overall pick.
The season is only 17 weeks long and its not as if a team has to play 80 something bad games and play every second night all over the country in order to eventually improve. The strength of the college football competition and the talent pool means top draft picks routinely join the league as impact players from day one.
While one basketball player can impact a team much quicker than a football player, American Football is structured so that the quarterback is considerably more important than any other position. You can finish 1-15 and then draft a good quarterback and a make the playoffs the next year.
There is no such thing as a sure thing – the Oakland Raiders are the best testament to that fact. But teams would still rather hold their fate in their own hands than hope a player falls to them.
I’m not suggesting a team should deliberately lose right out of the gate or shoot for an imperfect season. But if it doesn’t work out through the first 12 games, what is the benefit of winning the last four? What is the difference between a team finishing 2-14 or 5-11? A better draft pick. That’s about it.
No one is going to remember the record, they will just recall the team being awful that year. And perhaps – if they are lucky – it will be the last time they are bad for a while. It’s certainly admirable that the Jets (3-11), Raiders (2-12), Titans (2-12), Jaguars (2-12), Buccaneers (2-12) and Redskins (3-13) are still trying to win.
But I think they should be racing for the bottom. It’s time for someone to step up and ‘suck for the Duck’. Come on, give these fans something to root for.
mushi
Roar Guru
Seriously you'd tank for a QB that can't progress his reads at a college level yet and then put him into a relatively toothless pro offence with a bad blocking line. Why not just book his hotel room for the 2015 busts. L.
Dooggy
Guest
He should not join the draft. Stay in college. All the bottom teams are dead weights, type of teams that will never make it.
Sam Rigney
Expert
Haha not match fixing. Just don't put your best guys out there.
Reegs82
Guest
Being a Colts fan I also love the photo. Colts v Jags 2011, best game EVER lost
Reegs82
Guest
I cant see Mariota being the number 1 pick and think mannion will be drafted higher. I think the Bears are done with Cutler and will be a good chance for Mariota in about the 9th or 10th pick.
Chop
Guest
So you're an advocate for match fixing? Suggesting any professional player who's job depends on their performances seems ridiculous to me. Especially in the NFL you can go from superstar to waiver wire very quickly. I think NFL players (and generally most team playing sports people) have enough respect for themselves and their team mates to put in 100% effort because they may not benefit by getting next years #1 draft pick if they've been cut.
Sam Rigney
Expert
If I were the Jets I would tank for Mariota. Redskins too.
Aussie Bokkie
Guest
Tanking is immoral, there's no question about it. But I can see the benefit in it being administered. Mariotta is an absolute freakish quarterback with so much upside, and would drastically improve any struggling offence. The Jags, Titans and Raiders have their quarterbacks of the future and the Jets need to put faith in Geno. That leaves the Redskins. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
SAVAGE
Guest
i don't believe that tanking for the number 1 QB pick would be beneficial, you're better off having a journeyman and building an offence around him.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
NFL is so different to the NBA when it comes to tanking. NFL players have such a small window to earn cash, that they need to play at the highest level possible to get another contract. From a players point of view, it's not worth tanking. As for coaches, well that's a totally different story. Make your game plan simple, put in a QB who you just need to "see" how they perform, and you can suck pretty well.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I just said "dramatically improve improvement". Awesome.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
True. The other factor is the size of rosters. Getting one elite level player in the NFL doesn't guarantee success, due to the amount of positions on offence and defence. In the NBA, landing one player can actually dramatically improve (though not guarantee) improvement.
mushi
Roar Guru
Problem is the length thing goes both ways. Easier to tank but less information on the prospect you are tanking for.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
The Colts hit the jackpot with Luck, he was the real deal coming into the NFL. The same can't be said of Mariota, he is supremely gifted however agree he is not in the vicinity of Luck in terms of Pro ready. I wouldn't be tanking for Mariota.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Considering the length of season, tanking seems a little more palatable for fans in the NFL. However, in the NBA - with 41 homes games - that's a lot of pain and suffering to put fans through. It's also a significant enough amount of playing time for players to develop bad habits and a losing mentality.
mushi
Roar Guru
As you say “there is no such thing as a sure thing”. Talent evaluation for the NFL draft is just so hit and miss as you’ve got fewer data points (due to short seasons) and so much noise in terms of variations in opponents and the contribution of the rest of the team. Even then I can’t see Mariota being a good enough prospect to tank for, he’s not remotely in the vicinity of Luck and given the current tendency to start young QB’s (and roll the dice with their careers) I think it’s a bit of a dice roll. Scouts inc have given him a 95 grade at present, that would put him sixth in 2010, seventh in 2011, seventh in 2012, third in 2013 and fifth last year.
Realist 1975
Guest
I personally applaud the teams that slide away from tanking. As a supporter I would rather they played with heart and dignity as opposed to lying down and losing in a technical fashion. Tanking should be punished via suspensions and fines as you are basically forfeiting a game and more importantly wasting fans precious time and money. Understand the reason is for draft picks but lets not forget that some top draft picks have been duds or disappointments and some higher numbered draft players have turned out quite ok. With contact sports all picks are a lottery given potential injuries etc as is not a guarantee for winning or leading to (in this case) a Super Bowl championship.