Mail-it-in Friday: It's our 'Star Wars'-themed NFL extravaganza


This past Monday should have been like any other day.
I was home in the evening and settled down on the couch with some pistachios and a cold beverage to watch the Giants take on the Eagles. After sitting through 30 minutes of that stinkbomb (seriously, what an awful game), my world was brought to a halt by . . .
Wait for it . . .
"STAR WARS" TRAILER! GAAAAAAAAH!!! I've got it right below. Please watch it 30 times before we continue.
Done? OK, good. So, since December can't get here fast enough, I've dedicated this episode of Mail-it-in Friday to this cheesy topic: If Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are the Emperor Palpatine/Darth Vader of the NFL, who is Luke Skywalker?
Let's get to work!
ONE OBVIOUS CHOICE
It seems many of you think the answer is clear:
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX Eli Manning. Lol.
— Teng Vang (@teebvaaj) October 21, 2015
Eli Manning duh https://t.co/hNLqqXjVBt
— Aden™ (@AdenChiz) October 21, 2015
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX #FoxMailbag pic.twitter.com/KVn12YWDL1
— Christopher Grover (@cj_grover) October 21, 2015
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX This is pretty obvious one... Its Eli even though he sucks
— John Turner (@QBTurner7) October 21, 2015
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX Has to be Eli Manning right? beat em in 2 superbowls... #FoxMailbag
— mike jordan (@mjordan1000) October 21, 2015
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX has to be Eli. The only one to best Tom in the SB's
— SR (@Rigzard) October 21, 2015
Let's break this down. Eli Manning differs from Luke Skywalker in many ways. Eli was raised by his real parents in a stable home and never made out with a sibling (that we know of). He doesn't skip his chores to waste time with his friends at the Toshi station and never gets cocky.
Eli Manning has also never suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of his main rival. Luke Skywalker had his hand chopped off by Darth Vader before he was ultimately victorious.
However, there is one thing that can bond Eli and Luke together. If the Giants were to reach the Super Bowl and somehow beat the Patriots again, I can guarantee that Tom Brady (Darth) would pick up Bill Belichick (Emperor) by the neck and throw him down a giant shaft like so:
Let's face it, that's the only way this Patriots dynasty is going to end. It has to collapse from within. Maybe Eli is the man to do it.

WE PAUSE THESE PROCEEDINGS . . .
. . . For the nerdiest (and most awesome) conversation that has ever lived on FOXSports.com. It started innocently enough, when I posted this week's topic on Twitter and two dudes began to have a conversation.
I, of course, decided to respond and it was ON:
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 is. The force is strong with him. #FoxMailBag
— robberrones (@robberrones) October 21, 2015
@robberrones @RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 he's more like the Han solo. Too awesome to not have a bigger role than just one SB
— Angel Vasquez (@AngelVasquez_13) October 21, 2015
Then, things started going off the rails:
@AngelVasquez_13 @robberrones @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 I agree with Angel. I think he's way too handsome to be Luke haha
— Sid Saraf (@RealSidSaraf) October 21, 2015
@RealSidSaraf @robberrones @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 if you think about it the best character was Han but he didn't head to head Vader
— Angel Vasquez (@AngelVasquez_13) October 21, 2015
@AngelVasquez_13 @robberrones @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 He screwed with Vader in the Battle of Yavin. Set up Luke to hit the game-winner
— Sid Saraf (@RealSidSaraf) October 21, 2015
@RealSidSaraf @robberrones @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 exactly why Aaron Rodgers is Han solo unless he can beat him inn the largest stage.
— Angel Vasquez (@AngelVasquez_13) October 21, 2015
There was a quick pause for all three of us to recognize the silliness of the situation:
@AngelVasquez_13 @RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 Luke's the most powerful person in the galaxy. Fame fortune? A Jedi craves not this
— robberrones (@robberrones) October 21, 2015
@robberrones @RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 Vader was stronger. That is not up for discussion.
— Angel Vasquez (@AngelVasquez_13) October 21, 2015
@AngelVasquez_13 @RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 Vader's dead. Also not up for discussion.
— robberrones (@robberrones) October 21, 2015
@robberrones @RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 which means nothing about Luke's power. Anakin was generational. Luke was just his son.
— Angel Vasquez (@AngelVasquez_13) October 21, 2015
Then, it REALLY went off the rails.
@AngelVasquez_13 @RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 NERD FIGHT! pic.twitter.com/yymlk8Lkbx
— robberrones (@robberrones) October 21, 2015
@robberrones @AngelVasquez_13 @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 I'm still involved, so this is a three-way dance
— Sid Saraf (@RealSidSaraf) October 21, 2015
At that point, my only reponse was:
@RealSidSaraf @robberrones @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 all I'm saying is Luke's midichlorian count would be about average for a Jedi.
— Angel Vasquez (@AngelVasquez_13) October 21, 2015
@RealSidSaraf @AngelVasquez_13 @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 Anakin ceased to be Anakin and became Vader. So technically, he's not generational.
— robberrones (@robberrones) October 21, 2015
@robberrones @AngelVasquez_13 @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 Yeah, but he returned to Anakin Skywalker in ROTJ, so now I'm confused
— Sid Saraf (@RealSidSaraf) October 21, 2015
@RealSidSaraf @robberrones @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 he was always Anakin. He was just misguided.
— Angel Vasquez (@AngelVasquez_13) October 21, 2015
@robberrones @RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali didn't stop him from being as skilled
— Angel Vasquez (@AngelVasquez_13) October 21, 2015
@robberrones @RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX @AaronRodgers12 his midichlorian count didn't change. He was still just as powerful. Generational...
— Angel Vasquez (@AngelVasquez_13) October 21, 2015
Man, I freakin' love "Star Wars".

OK, BACK TO WORK
Toni,
Once that happens, you could really make the argument that Andrew Luck is Luke. However, there's one key difference here.
It's luck, he's gonna beat them one day, just like Luke Skywalker https://t.co/SHHuoWieEU
— Toni Chioreanu (@Toni_Chi18) October 21, 2015
Luke had Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda (did he have a last name? If not, why not?) guiding him to victory.
All Andrew has is Obi-Wan Pagano. Not exactly the same thing. Can you imagine if it was Chuck's voice in Luke's head while he was speeding down that trench in the Battle of Yavin?
Instead of saying "Use the force, Luke! Let go, Luke!" It would have been Chuck stammering, "Don't use logic, Luke! Snap the ball awkwardly, Luke!"
The Rebel Alliance would have been crushed before it started.
Johnny,
Que? Johnny Manziel? You mean this guy?
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX Johnny Manziel. Unfortunately he is being kept on the sideline by Obi-Wan Pettine.
— Johnny (@johnjeren) October 21, 2015
Johnny Manziel is what Luke Skywalker would have been had he never left Tatooine. He would have spent his time day-drinking and pushing his speeder at maximum velocity through the canyons.

That's no way to live.
Lorne,
The temptation to make an illustration of Roger Goodell as Jar Jar Binks was too strong to ignore. So, thanks to FOXSports.com photo genius Mike Plona, I was able to make it happen.
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX don't agree with the first premise but Roger Goodell has Jar Jar Binks nailed down!
— Lorne Grout (@runway29) October 21, 2015
Here he is:
Roger, you missed your calling.

Ris,
Not a bad argument. I don't buy it, but it's not a bad argument. I mainly included this tweet because "Ris Weaver" totally sounds like a "Star Wars" name. Probably a bounty hunter with force ability from the extended universe.
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX Stafford, obviously. Flashes of greatness but still honing his skills.
— Ris Weaver (@RisWeaver) October 21, 2015
G9D,
I keep forgetting that's Tony Romo's full name. He really should go by that all the time. Sounds like a poet. Or someone who would direct a Birdman-type flick.
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX Antonio Ramiro Romo
— G9D (@TonyRomoDaGod) October 21, 2015
I don't know if I would agree with the comparison as a whole, but Romo does currently share a likeness with Luke at the end of "Empire Strikes Back." You know, in the Millennium Falcon after his hand got cut off . . .
It's the sling that sells it.

Lud23,
As Luke?! No way. Just look at Landry:
Landry jones https://t.co/P8QCH7VDIP
— ☁️ (@p_lud23) October 21, 2015
If anyone, he looks like Biggs Darklighter. For his sake, I hope Landry has better luck on Sunday in his first career start than Biggs did:

Landry should come out OK. The Steelers are playing the Chiefs, after all. There's nothing to worry about.

Van Buren Boys,
OK, he's clearly kidding here, but it does bring up something funny.
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX Eric Mangini
— Van Buren Boys (@Van_B_Boys) October 21, 2015
I always thought Eric Mangini resembled a "Star Wars" character. Take a look at him:
Now check out Lobot, the Cloud City employee who rescues Leia, Lando and Chewie.

They both have the same expressionless faces. Creepy, right?

Austin,
I like the Cam Newton-Boba Fett comparison. They have similar color schemes when it comes to uniforms and if you're a Newton hater, you can make the argument that he was a "bounty hunter" in college. Definitely worked for money, amirite?
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX Aaron Rodgers. Cam Newton is the Boba Fett #FoxMailbag
— Austin Vaughn (@AVaughnTS) October 21, 2015
I know, I know. Nothing was proven about Cam's days at Auburn. Whatever, let's move on.
Scott,
Sure, why not. I like the way "Teddy Skywalker" sounds.
@RealSidSaraf @NFLonFOX #foxmailbag Teddy Bridgewater!
— Scott Hughes (@scotthughes_1) October 21, 2015
Ricki,
Are you giving me side-eye? And if so, why? Upset that I thought A-A-ron would make a better Han than Luke?
Aaron Rodgers ?? https://t.co/90UUNrQF0u
— Ricki (@RickiRoma) October 21, 2015
Don't be. Han is a better part. He gets the girl at the end. All Luke gets is a lifetime of being a Jedi. And let's face it, the Jedi Council was kind of a lightsaber-fest, if you catch my drift.
Mtchll,
Nope. No way. Rex Ryan is Admiral Motti.
That would be Rex...no doubt! https://t.co/55Dz5Qj4pA
— Mtchll Dlny (@PlynDraceCrdDlt) October 21, 2015
Who?
You know who. He's the first person in the "Star Wars" movies to feel the wrath of the Vader force choke after popping off at the mouth.
Makes perfect sense to me.

AND IN CONCLUSION
I could seriously go on all day with this topic, but I need to end it somewhere. And since this mailbag has a "Star Wars" theme, I'd like to call attention to this amazing tweet from the Baltimore Ravens:
Simply awesome. Alrighty folks, I think I've done enough damage for one week. See you next time!
Revenge of The Smith. READ: https://t.co/B25CxR5NbY pic.twitter.com/I9LDU8cPHW
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 22, 2015