Keyshawn Needs Analysis…Or At Least Analysis Lessons

By: Stephen Rhodes

During the NFL regular season, I obviously listen to the analysts as most of them have involved with the pro game in some capacity. However, there is the occasional loose cannon who sometimes makes a mockery of the job. And yes, I am referring to a quasi-high-profile analyst: ESPN analyst Keyshawn Johnson.

Don’t get me wrong here. Keyshawn was a heck of a player when his mouth wasn’t tripping him up; after all, there was a reason he was often called “Meshawn.” However, he, for reasons known only to him and God, decided to declare that the Indianapolis Colts are the “worst 14-0 team ever.” And he says this on-air, so this isn’t a brand new revelation, last time I checked.

I am just curious, Keyshawn: Just how does an undefeated team become the “worst” at anything? That’s like saying former President Jimmy Carter and President Barack Obama are the worst Nobel Peace Prize recipients ever – although there is a case for the aforementioned two getting that attached to them, but I digress. It’s like also saying that filet mignon is the worst cut of beef. That Beyonce is the ugliest member of Destiny’s Child. I think you know what I mean.

See, the thing is that there’s only been three NFL teams that have gone 14-0. The 1972 Miami Dolphins, the 2007 New England Patriots and now the 2009 version of the Indianapolis Colts. And don’t buy into the argument that the aforementioned teams’ margin of victory figures into things. But for those of you who are stat freaks, here’s the inside skinny. The Dolphins in ‘72 won by an average of 15 points. The 2007 Patriots? 18 point winning margin. Meanwhile, the Colts have won all of their games by a “paltry” 10 points.

My contention is that it doesn’t matter one iota as to by how many points an NFL team wins a game by – it is the final result that matters. No style points here – just give me substance. While there are two more games for the Colts to realize the perfect regular season, none of that matters of they don’t get the ultimate prize: a NFL championship at the Super Bowl. In other words, the ring’s the thing.

And I think it looks like Keyshawn has an ax to grind. Remember when he was miked as a Buccaneers WR during the game in which Peyton Manning engineered that amazing comeback back in 2003? Keyshawn said that the reason that WR Marvin Harrison had so many catches was that he caught 5-yard passes. That rant worked out for you, didn’t it, Keyshawn? Just remember that analysis is not a point of view. It’s based on actual fact. So my advice to Keyshawn is this. If you have to talk about undefeated teams, try other angles in your analysis. Because there is no such thing as a “worst undefeated team”.

By the way, I think it is a safe assumption that Harrison will get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame before Johnson does.