‘This Take Is So Bad, It’s Impossible to Defend’ — Pro Bowl QB Calls Out Ex-ESPN Colleague Dan Orlovsky Amid Justin Herbert-Jalen Hurts Controversy
· Yahoo Sports
Dan Orlovsky’s comments about Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts have sparked a heated debate among NFL fans and analysts. During an appearance on ESPN’s “Unsportsmanlike,” Orlovsky addressed a question about why he seems to favor Herbert over Hurts.
Orlovsky pointed to Herbert’s size and arm strength as part of the reason. “I think why you’re a fan of Herbert is because that’s what it should look like. Your brain tells you that’s what it should look like,” Orlovsky said.
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The comments quickly drew criticism, with some people, including Robert Griffin III, questioning whether Orlovsky’s description of the quarterback “prototype” unfairly overlooks Hurts and other quarterbacks who have found success with different playing styles.
Robert Griffin III Pushes Back on Dan Orlovsky’s Take
Former Pro Bowl quarterback RG3 was among those who criticized Orlovsky’s comments. “Dan Orlovsky was [expletive] wrong for implying that Jalen Hurts isn’t ‘what it should look like’ at the quarterback position,” Griffin said.
Griffin argued that the quarterback position has changed significantly and that no single physical prototype defines it anymore.
“The main issue with Dan Orlovsky saying Justin Herbert is what it should look like at QB isn’t about Herbert’s talent as a player or that he doesn’t have any playoff wins,” Griffin wrote.
“The main issue is that the QB position has changed from what it used to be. It’s not just about playing from the pocket and being 6’4 anymore. That’s not the prototype now.”
He said playing from the pocket will always be an important part of quarterback play, but it is no longer the only blueprint for success. Griffin classified more than 20 of the NFL’s 32 starting quarterbacks as dual-threat or mobile quarterbacks.
“The last five Super Bowls have been won by dual-threat or mobile QBs. The analysis of the position has to change as the position changes,” Griffin added.
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For Griffin, Hurts is an example of what a successful modern quarterback can look like.
He also pointed to Brock Purdy, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Caleb Williams as examples of quarterbacks who succeed in different ways and do not all fit the same physical mold.
“As former colleagues, I know Dan works hard at his craft, but this take and opinion is so bad it’s impossible to defend. Even when you try to defend it, it sounds bad,” Griffin said.
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Griffin also argued that NFL fans deserve more discussion of how the quarterback position has changed, rather than a focus on whether a Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP like Hurts fits an older idea of what a quarterback should look like.
Orlovsky Pushes Back on Criticism
Orlovsky had defended himself, posting on X to address the earlier backlash directly: “I quite literally never said that. Stop making stuff up.”
He also expressed frustration over the severe reaction, noting he never anticipated being labeled a racist over a standard stylistic breakdown of pocket passers versus dual-threat skill sets.
The disagreement ultimately comes down to how analysts should evaluate quarterbacks in today’s NFL, with Griffin arguing that success can come in many different physical styles while Orlovsky highlights Herbert’s size and arm talent.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.