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EastRam
Question. Do people that have watched the NFL for 40 years have an educated opinion?
Or do they have to break down film?
You know the fans that have watched 4 generations of NFL QB's. Do those fans have to breakdown film or does the 40 years of watching the NFL qualify as credentials?
What are the qualifications of an NFL expert?
I think the 40 year "real" fan that has watched all the great and scrub QB's that have graced an NFL field are just as qualified to distinguish between a pocket passer and Fran Tarkenton
Opinion of course.
It depends on what they try to parlay that information into.
If they are giving a general opinion about something to do with the game then yeah. But they if the discussion is about something specific, then no. In this case the discussion was about Russell Wilson. It was a very narrow discussion. Someone suggested one thing, then someone suggested something else and used the opinion of someone who spends a lot of time watching, studying, and breaking down film. That person was ripped a new one for some reason.
So, in this case, if the subject was about some part of Wilson's game and one person who "watched 40 years", and the things you mention said "A-B-C"
And someone like Cian Fahey, who breaks down films, charts throws, etc said "X-Y-Z" then there is not even a question that the "X-Y-Z" answer has far more credibility.
I think TV watching, beer drinking NFL fans are fine for general things, but when they come up against someone who makes a passion out of something they lose, big-time.
And for the record I don't know Cian, never met, never spoken, emailed or Twittered him. I hear, based on some Tweets I follow, that he's kind of a jerk, that he has a thin skin... but that's neither her nor there. All I know is his stuff is well researched and he's a smart guy.