Oregon QB Marcus Mariota: Johnny Manziel plays 'backyard football'

Backhanded compliment? No, it's just the way the sports hacks chose to write it up.

Pretty damn good backyard football player.

It's funny since the entire Oregon offense is backyard football - but I guess that's his 'calling' there.

What will bring Johnny down is hubris.

I don't know. It sounded good this morning.

I sincerely hope that the only reason this young man is in the news this year is for his performance on the football field.

"We could all score more points and break records if we got to do whatever we wanted. That's not real football, though."

Isn't the backyard where most of us learned to play the game anyway?

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 08:42 AM ET  02.22 by DearbornSparty

I sincerely hope that the only reason this young man is in the news this year is for his performance on the football field.

Johnny Football wll be under the microscope for the rest of his CFB career. He's already been criticized for his on-line coursework.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:07 AM ET  02.22 by GrandTheftHarley

Isn't the backyard where most of us learned to play the game anyway?

You had a backyard? Lucky!

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 09:07 AM ET  02.22 by GrandTheftHarley

Isn't the backyard where most of us learned to play the game anyway?

Yes, and in the parks, though sneaking out onto the unoccupied HS football field was always the best.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 09:10 AM ET  02.22 by AD505

You had a backyard? Lucky!

We lived in a hole in the street!

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:02 AM ET  02.22 by Deep Creek

Pretty damn good backyard football player.

Hia, DC! Darned good to see you. Belated condolences to you in regards to your folks. All else pales to insignificance when family matters come to the fore.

Fairly little known fact- Mariota committed to Oregon before he was even a starter in HS. He only played his senior year at Saint Louis HS. How is that for talent evaluation?

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 09:21 AM ET  02.22 by Joe Kidd #1

We lived in a hole in the street!

Eh? Complete with manhole cover for a roof?

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 09:23 AM ET  02.22 by GrandTheftHarley

Eh? Complete with manhole cover for a roof?

Due to this living arrangement, they survived a tornado unharmed. The family members unselfish acts to aid those stricken gained notice in the community. An opportunity arose for the family to start a business. It prospered, and their circumstances changed for the better. Though their first-ever-for-the-community earth home was a curiosity, the family's reputation only grew. The younger generation excelled in learning and matriculated at the University of Alabama.

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 08:07 AM ET  02.22 by dugout68

It's funny since the entire Oregon offense is backyard football - but I guess that's his 'calling' there.

"Oregon offense is backyard football"??? I like that comparison!!! Oregon is a fun team to watch!!!

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 09:23 AM ET  02.22 by J.DA

Fairly little known fact- Mariota committed to Oregon before he was even a starter in HS. He only played his senior year at Saint Louis HS. How is that for talent evaluation?

jada, thanks the info, I didn't know that!!

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 09:33 AM ET  02.22 by Tin Man

Due to this living arrangement, they survived a tornado unharmed. The family members unselfish acts to aid those stricken gained notice in the community. An opportunity arose for the family to start a business. It prospered, and their circumstances changed for the better. Though their first-ever-for-the-community earth home was a curiosity, the family's reputation only grew. The younger generation excelled in learning and matriculated at the University of Alabama.

Of course. Elementary, my dear Watson.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 08:49 AM ET  02.22 by Cranky

"We could all score more points and break records if we got to do whatever we wanted. That's not real football, though."

LMFAO, what kind of comment is this??? Please enlighten us and tell us, "what is real football"??? :-)

QUOTE(#19):

Originally posted 09:39 AM ET  02.22 by The Oldtimer

"what is real football"?

Attributed to General Neyland is the notion that real football is defensive football, or, as he is alleged to have said, "If you do not allow the other team to score, you only need score once to win the game."

I'm glad that I matriculated when Condredge Holloway was QB and Air Volunteers was fresh and new.