If you're like me, then you really have a hard time tolerating ESPN at times. At times, it seems like they focus on just the Patriots, Cowboys, and Brett Favre - and nothing else. But that doesn't mean they don't have at least some excellent analysts/reporters. One of my favorites is Chris Mortensen.
So when I came across the following ESPN "list ranker" poll, I just had to try to get some explanation. The poll asks readers to rank the top 20 quarterbacks in the NFL from 1 through 20. It includes names like Kyle Orton, Trent Edwards, and David Garrard. One name is doesn't include is the 2008 MVP runner-up: Dolphins QB Chad Pennington.
Needless to say, I was enraged here. So I decided to use the power of Twitter to see if I could get some reaction. And indeed I did.
The conversation started with me tweeting at Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) and Adam Schefter (@Adam_Schefter). All I simply said was, "Seriously, u wonder why so many people hate on ESPN? Pennington isn't among the top 20 QBs?" I also added the link to the rankings so they knew what I was talking about.
While I haven't heard back from Schefter, Mortensen has tweeted back multiple times. Here's how the brief Twitter conversation went:
Mortensen: "You are 100 percent correct. I just looked at list. Chad Pennington has earned his way. No excuse for this. They don't ask me."
Mortensen: "In fact, I'm embarrassed Pennington was left off the list now that I read all those names."
Matty: "Appreciate your honesty here. Who makes up these things? Kyle Orton and Trent Edwards over Pennington - the MVP runner-up?"
Mortensen: "Among others. Don't know. Some "panel" of editors and writers, I guess."
And this is something I'll never understand. ESPN has at their disposal credible football minds like Chris Mortensen, Adam Schefter, John Clayton, and Ron Jaworski. Perhaps they should ask them when putting together a list like this. Or, to simplify the process, why not just go look at last season's NFL league leaders and include at least the top 15 QBs in passing yards or passer rating? At least then, you probably won't leave off the runner-up in the 2008 MVP voting.
But a "thank you" goes out to Chris Mortensen. Rather than just spew the "company line," he was open and honest about his feelings on this "oversight."