The Best and Worst of 2008

This is a simple post.  Really simple.  The list should pretty much speak for itself.  The best and worst of 2008.  I use the same criteria I've been using the past few posts.  CMI, and, more specifically, standard deviation of a player's CMI relative to the mean.  30 players attempted enough passes in 2008 to make the list.  

The Best 3:

3.  Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Why no team has picked him up is a complete mystery to me - the man can still play, even though his durability is certainly a question.  Completed nearly 65% of his passes, and less than 1.6% of his passes were intercepted.

2.  Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts - Do we even need to say anything? Coming off off-season knee surgery, Mr. Consistency now holds the highest current active streak of games started consecutively - 176 games. He completed almost 67% of his passes.

1.  Chad Pennington, Miami Dolphins - Let go by the Jets so that they could welcome Brett Favre (that worked out well for the Jets, didn't it?) and subsequently picked up by the Dolphins. Had a terrific season, completing more than 67% of his passes, and less than 1.5% of his passes were intercepted.

In previous posts on my blog, I have spent time discussing each of the above 3 players.

The Worst 3:

28.  Tyler Thigpen, Kansas City Chiefs - Won't show up at the bottom of the list in 2009.  Why?  Matt Cassel (#10 in 2008).  The Chiefs made a deal with the New England Patriots to get Cassel (and Mike Vrabel) for a 2nd round pick in the upcoming draft.  In 2008, Thigpen, replacing Damon Huard, completed fewer than 55% of his passes.

29.  Gus Frerotte, Minnesota Vikings - Replaced an ineffective Tarvaris Jackson in the 3rd game of the season, started 11 games, and then was himself replaced by Jackson against the Lions.  Completed less than 60% of his passes, and at almost 5.0%, was one of only three quarterbacks whose interception percentage exceeded 3.0% - the other two being Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers (3.2%), and Brett Favre of the Jets (4.2%).

30.  Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns - Barely completed 50% of his passes, then got hurt.  Was replaced by Brady Quinn.  Is it Quinn's time in 2009?

Here's the entire list.

My next post - a pre-season ranking for 2009