Bravo to Sports Illustrated for stirring the pot with this AJ McCarron cover. "King Crimson" as SI prefers to call McCarron which I have never heard of or thought of asks a simple question: "Is it time to think about AJ as one of the best ever?"
Simple answer: NO. Hell no.
With the exception of the LSU game last year in which he led a spirited 4th quarter comeback and one could argue he was horrible for the first three quarters but managed to get the ball into TJ Yeldon's hands at the right time "King Crimson" has never had to put a team on his back. Never once.
What makes McCarron so good is not his arm, his legs, or even his decision making. It's his supporting cast. He literally has NFL ELITE talent all around him. I'm not talking decent NFL prospects who could maybe make it in the NFL. He literally has 5 offensive linemen who will all play significant minutes in the NFL who protect him. I witnessed in person McCarron destroy Notre Dame last year in the BCS Championship. Yes he made some great passes but he hardly got touched thanks to what is probably the greatest offensive line ever in college and Eddie Lacy running over and around ND defenders.
I'm not here to shit all over McCarron. The kid is a good quarterback. But he is not one of the best ever. He will probably get his third National Title ring this January which is in itself an amazing accomplishment but let's stop right away with the greatest talk. Nick Saban can be talked about as one of the best ever.
No one even bothers bringing up McCarron's name when it comes to the Heisman Trophy. Which the last time I checked is suppose to go to the "most outstanding player in the country." Why is McCarron not mentioned? Because it's not worth the argument.
Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston are younger with less talent around them and they still blow away McCarron when it comes to elite quarterback talent. Right now I wouldn't even put McCarron in my top 5 QB's in the nation despite him being a senior and his resume of two titles. Oregon's Marcus Mariota and Baylor's Bryce Petty are having better seasons and getting more Heisman pub. Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater and Fresno's Derek Carr are better talents than McCarron. Just because McCarron plays on some great teams like a Gino Torretta, a Chris Weinke, a Ken Dorsey, or even a Matt Leinart does not make him a "best ever" worthy player.
But let's not continue to shit all over the McCarron name. It's not worth it. Because the only thing best in his family is his mom's rack. And no one, I mean no one, can argue about Dee Dee Bonner's greatness.
