Full disclosure: I’m an A&M alum.

Manziel is now a system quarterback? I have to honestly question whether or not you have actually seen him play. It’s pretty tough to design a system where a QB can lead a league in both rushing and passing. How many other plug and play “system QBs” accumulated 3000 passing yards and 1000 rushing yards in the same season? (Answer, 5 total QBs and in more games than Manziel has played in). And don’t throw out the line about how it was against bad competition, as every single BCS teams plays some creampuffs and has weak sister conference games to pad their stats. Yet, only 5 other guys have had Manziel stats. One other point I’ll make is that even in the creampuff games and blowouts, Johnny has sat a total of 9 quarters. More than 2 whole games where he wasn’t even on the field to do even more stats padding.

It’s also tough to design a system where when the play breaks down you have the QB run around like a chicken with his head cut off to elude SEC defensive line men and throw accurately on the run or simply just run himself for the first down or TD. The guy is fast, seems to be covered in grease, and is damn good when plays break down.

All that’s to say, argue for Teo. He’s had a great year and every bit deserving of the Heisman. But don’t make bad arguments against your opponent simply because you want your guy to win.

Manti is going to win some combination of the Maxwell (best all-around player), Bednarik (defensive player of the year), Butkus (top linebacker) and the Lott (defensive player having the biggest impact) awards. The Irish are going to win the National Championship Game to put the icing on a perfect season and Manti and Tyler are going to be first round draft picks.

At the end of the day, that will be enough … at least for me.

Attribution of results is not so clear on defense; no one defensive player is the focus of every play; ther is no de facto leader. When one player is so illuminated by his personal dedication and sacrifice that his pursuit of excellence draws all of his teammates to perform beyond themselves again and again when it is most important, it is breath taking.

Shouldn’t the manifest leader of a defense get the same credit as the de facto leader of the offense?

Spot on, Bob. And, the allegation of his arrest and producing false identification *is* true. Here is the link to the story.

http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/1729957&usatref=sportsmod?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Cfeaturedtext%7CSports%7Cp

Sorry Steve, but simply put, sir, you just don’t get it. By your logic, the voters should just strike off-the-field performance from the voting and that is just plain foolish. When has Manti ever been arrested or lied to police? Chew on the above story for a bit and then let us know if you still feel the same for Manziel.

I missed adding that I agree with you… so don’t think that I am trying to say that you’re a fool. My point is that “anyone” who thinks that Te’o was not a game-altering force is ridiculous.

If you think that Te’o hasn’t altered games, then you’re thinking like a fool. How about his two interceptions and constant harassment of Denard Robinson during the Michigan game? How about his performance which effectively took Le’Veon Bell out of the MSU game? That is just two performances where he did alter the game’s outcome. His second half interception against Southern Cal was crucial. In a similar spotlight, Manziel wasn’t a factor against LSU or Florida. So, his ability to alter those games is out the window.

Point being, Manziel shined against lesser competition than Te’o.

Um, who are you including in Manziel’s “biggest games of the year” category? He was 1-2 (Alabama, LSU, and Florida). I mean, if you are going to provide a comparison, at least make sure that it is a factual comparison.

What resume building highlights? Against Alabama? That is one game. Compare that one game to what Te’o has done all season. Compare that one game to Te’o’s three seasons with 100+ tackles. Compare that kid, who was arrested and *jailed* for fighting to Te’o’s leadership performance both on and off the field. I can only hope that I can instill the kind of integrity in my daughter as Te’o’s mom and pop did with him. If they give Manziel the Heisman, then that award will forever be a joke as far as I’m concerned. Sorry Johnny, but I cannot think of a more undeserving recipient than you.

If you go by individual stats, a defensive player will never win the Heisman. The best defensive players in the country don’t always have the best individual stats. The best defensive players need to be measured by how they alter the game. The best cornerback may not have the most interceptions or tackles, but if he can shut down an opposing teams top receiver, and force the offense to look for other options, he is altering the opposing teams game plan. There is not a player in the country that altered games more than Te’o. He shut down opposing teams run game (15 yards rushing for Oklahoma!), but then when he forced the other team to pass, he was terriffic in coverage. If the Heisman is really to the most outstanding player, it should be go to Te’o.