ESPN talking head Dan Orlovsky was really impressed with University of Alabama quarterback Bryce Young’s dissection of the University of Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
Young completed 26 of 44 passes for 421 yards, and three touchdowns in a 41-24 Crimson Tide win over the Bulldogs.
Orlovsky said on ESPN “Get Up!” That Young reminded him of three-time MVP and four-time All-Pro Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
.@danorlovsky7 says Bryce Young would go No. 1 in the 2022 NFL Draft if he was eligible.
"Bryce Young reminds me a lot of Aaron Rodgers. … He WILL be the number one pick in the draft in two years, but he would be one this year." pic.twitter.com/GeyTzIzWUh
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 6, 2021
Fellow talking head and former NFL player Domonique Foxworth didn’t quite buy into Orlovsky’s comparison.
.@Foxworth24 couldn't believe @danorlovsky7 compared Bryce Young to Aaron Rodgers.
"I dunked one time in a pickup basketball game. Do I remind you of Michael Jordan?"
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 7, 2021
This is a standard talking head show maneuver. One person says something controversial and it is then played the next day when that person isn’t there for the response from another talking head. Then the two get into a back-and-forth for a few days.
Orlovsky’s known to have bold takes as it relates to NFL quarterbacks, being a former one himself. On an MSG Network NFL draft show in 2018 he tried to convince yours truly that Lamar Jackson would not be a good NFL quarterback.
Watch me, @MadelynBurke @danorlovsky7 and @MattHamilton25 talk #NFLDraft for @MSGNetworks I think we came up with a consensus 😂
Check out People Talking Draft: Full Show (4/23) https://t.co/kk9MiX3rI7 pic.twitter.com/NmS6bucOWI
— Jarod Hector (@jshector) April 24, 2018
In video that is now deleted, probably because Orlovsky was wrong, the former Lions QB predicted Baker Mayfield would be the better NFL QB. We see how that turned out. Sorry Dan. LOL.
In all seriousness, seeing what Bryce Young did in the SEC Championship and all season has likely clinched the Heisman Trophy for the sophomore signal caller. There were moments in that game and all season where he made throws and did things that were incredible and maybe reminded you of NFL quarterbacks.
The problem of course when you compare anyone to a an all-timer, is the human brain naturally makes a correlation and then it becomes Bryce Young is the next Aaron Rodgers.
We have no idea what Bryce Young will be in the NFL. So much can happen between now and 2023. How about we see how he finished his sophomore season first?
But that’s the nature of sports. It’s prognostication and hot takes. That’s what fans need and like.
But this was great television. For the entire three minute segment, Foxworthy is fixing his face in disgust over the Aaron Rodgers comparison. He mumbles Aaron Rodgers under his breath several times and maintains a puzzled look.
It’s fantastic, if you like that sort of thing.
Foxworth’s assertion minus the theatrics is valid though. Young is very good and had a great college season so far. He still has the CFP to get through.
Let’s see if he can come back next season and do it again, and improve in the areas he needs to improve in.
The NFL has existed for over 100 years. In the history of this game there are hundreds of quarterbacks to choose from when making comparisons. All-time greats shouldn’t be the benchmark we set for college sophomores.
There is a cognitive bias known as the anchoring effect. That is when an individual’s decisions are influenced by a particular reference point or “anchor.” In this case Aaron Rodgers is the anchor, and because someone on ESPN made the comparison it is likely to hold subconsciously in your mind.
So let’s say Young is drafted No. 1 and goes on to have a career equal to Phillip Rivers, Matthew Stafford, Michael Vick or Cam Newton, he’ll be seen as a dissapointment.
All because some talking head made a comparison to Aaron Rodgers.
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