MIKE TANIER has been writing Football Outsiders Almanac chapters for so long that he feels like Ringo making yet another special guest appearance during a Paul McCartney show. Mike recently wrapped up a six-year run as the NFL Lead Columnist for Bleacher Report; his popular Monday Morning Digest feature will presumably be replaced by TikTok videos, cartoon GIFs of Lamar Jackson, and long apologies. A father of two with almost 20 years of experience as an NFL writer, Mike is proof positive that we all get by with a little help from our friends. You can find his work at Fansided.com, Pro Football Network, the New York Times, and here at Football Outsiders.
Mike Tanier breaks down the mysteries of Justin Fields, Andy Dalton, Nick Foles, and the secret science of the Bears quarterback competition. Then, go around the league with the Skeptic's Guide to the Start of Training Camp.
In this "Issue Zero" of the rebooted Walkthrough, Mike Tanier explores the dysfunctional Aaron Rodgers/Green Bay Packers relationship as only he can, handicaps the Comeback Player of the Year field, and (after nearly falling for an Internet hoax) speculates on what type of high school coach Adam Gase would be.
Quarterback controversies! Labor disputes! Cranky coaches! Lefty passers! Tiny hands! Our final Legends of DVOA installment looks at the two-decade career of Dave Krieg, a streaky passer who always seemed to have one foot in the playoffs and the other on the bench.
When it comes to Eli Manning's candidacy, your opinion does not matter. Mike Tanier's doesn't either. Find out whose opinion matters in this final installment of our Hall of Fame debate series.
Charlie Garner played a minor role in some major controversies, from an all-time Super Bowl blunder to one of the most regrettable post-game quotes in NFL history. He was also among the best running backs of his era on a per-carry basis. Mike Tanier looks back on the rise of Jon Gruden, the fall of Rich Kotite, and the career of an outstanding but enigmatic individual.
Julian Edelman won't reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Richard Seymour probably will. What about candidates such as Vince Wilfork? And will the Brady/Belichick Patriots produce as many Hall of Famers as the Lombardi Packers or Steel Curtain Steelers? Mike Tanier doesn't think so, and doesn't think that's such a bad thing.
From getting drafted by the Tennessee Oilers to missing out on the Music City Miracle to playing for the Ravens between their Super Bowl runs, Derrick Mason had a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yet DVOA reveals that he was one of the best receivers of his era. Join us as we look back fondly on the days when Steve McNair was MVP, Jeff Fisher wasn't a punchline, and the Titans were nearly champions.
Frank Gore ranks third on the all-time rushing list and played for some outstanding (as well as some miserable) San Francisco 49ers teams, but is his long career enough to push him into the Hall of Fame despite never leading the league in rushing or earning All-Pro notice? Part 4 of Mike Tanier's series explores whether a decade-plus of being a very good running back really equates with greatness.
Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Ted Ginn, and other New Orleans Saints deep threats of the last two decades were sometimes written off as disappointments, but DVOA tells a very different story about Drew Brees' Bombers.
Julius Peppers is a Hall of Fame shoo-in. But what about Jared Allen, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Terrell Suggs, and DeMarcus Ware? In the latest chapter of our Hall of Fame Debates series, Mike Tanier looks at a looming logjam among the top edge rushers of the last two decades.
