Well said. So here's my perspective.

1. What a great story it would have been if Jared Goff had gone from "bust" to Superbowl winning QB in only two years. Alas, that did not happen. Just for the record, I was posting about mid-season that I wasn't sure that either he or the young HC were quite ready YET to accomplish that. Wow, did they get close, though!

2. Goff was a 1st overall pick. It's fair for there to be very high expectations for him. I guess reasonable people will disagree about the time frame and expectation level, though. As I asked in a post early last season, when talking about Goff, it's helpful to ask "compared to what?". Perfection? That will make him appear wanting. Hall of Fame QB's? Same deal. How many QB's picked high in the last 10, 15 years have been disappointing to their teams? Quite a few. How about comparing him to other QB's his age? Or from his draft class or near it? Where do we normally expect QB's to rank in the league by year 3 or 4?

3. My number one expectation for Jared Goff is that he keep learning and improving. So far, so good, on that front. From what he says and does, my perception is that he takes responsibility for his mistakes, and it's not just lip service. He truly wants to get better, and keeps working at it. The question may simply be when does he hit a ceiling that no amount of work or desire can overcome? I don't know. Haven't seen it yet, though.

4. I think that some observers and fans judge Goff more on what he isn't than what he is. They want him to have both his own strengths AND those of other QB's. But it's very unusual to have the whole package. Only a few great ones in NFL history have it. He may never be the improvisor in the pocket that Rodgers, or young QB's like Mahomes and Wentz are. But he can be deadly accurate at times, and make some really great throws. He can give you a lead that never even requires late game heroics. OR, he can go back and forth with Mahomes and just keep scoring and scoring until he comes out on top with the final TD being a fantastic throw down the sideline. Yes, but Saguaro, he doesn't do it consistently!! Hmm...24 year old QB shows flashes and has some great games but isn't consistent - that surprises you? You thought consistency would come first with a young QB?

5. There is an idea out there that Goff is an ordinary QB being coached by an extraordinary HC. That maybe McVay could take many other QB's and get the same results, because McVay! I'm a huge McVay fan, but I don't think that gives Goff enough credit. Somebody has to make the reads and the throws. I also have seen several people post or write as though Goff's whole postseason was poor. He played poorly in the Superbowl. No argument. But he did ok against Dallas. And I think what he did in NO was terrific, even if the stats don't reflect it. Bucked some strong headwinds there, and made some clutch plays. Peyton Manning agrees with me.

6. Goff is going to get paid. I guess people can opine that they wouldn't do it, or that they wouldn't pay more than $X, or whatever, but all of that is purely hypothetical, because Jared Goff is going to get paid! I could say "if the Rams won't pay him, someone else will", but even that is ridiculous. The Rams didn't spend all this time looking for a QB, only to let Goff slip away because he's not perfect. He's going to get paid, and the Rams are going to pay him. Not only that, but I bet it's an easy negotiation, with no drama.

7. All that being said, I'm glad they got Bortles. I hope he has a great preseason. I feel much better about him than I ever did Mannion. Unless Goff gets injured, we probably won't see much of him in the regular season. But he IS a former 1st round pick. There's some quality for McVay to work with there. If Goff went down, and Bortles had to lead the team, it would be intriguing to see what he could do.

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Ramily!