Just because a guy says something doesn't mean it should be news. The coverage of James Harrison's threat to retire was laughable. How did that even make SportsCenter? It's like a little kid getting upset playing a board game, flipping the board off the table and then exclaiming, "I'm never playing this game again!" A day later, he's ready to play. Had Harrison actually retired because he can't play without trying to hurt people, good riddance.
Though Harrison's "retirement" didn't come out through Twitter (I doubt he can use Twitter because he probably can't use a computer without trying to smash the keyboard), the overreaction by other players has taught us a good lesson: just because someone tweets it doesn't mean it needs to be reported.
In terms of the league's decision to more strongly enforce existing rules, if you can't play the game without trying to hurt people, then don't play the game. It's possible to separate man from ball without trying to separate man from head. Helmets are for protection, not weapons. Hit as hard as you want below the shoulders, but no respectable coach has ever taught a player to go for the head.
The NFL isn't going to eliminate the big, legal hits that fans seem to love. They're smarter than that. They're just trying to get rid of the vicious, unnecessary hits that leave players lying motionless on the ground. They're just trying to prevent the time when one of those players never gets up.
Note: This is coming from a guy who was a 5'10" 140 pound WR in high school.
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Straight Cash, Homey
Almost out of nowhere Randy Moss is once again a Minnesota Viking. The suddenness of the trade left people wondering what went wrong. What did Randy do that made the Patriots trade him so quickly? Was it because of an argument with the quarterbacks coach? Did Moss and head coach Bill Belichick have a confrontation in the locker room? The speculation flew.
Though he was lying, Belichick came out and said there were no discipline problems with Moss and it was "in the best interest of the team" to trade him. So, what were the best interests of the team? Why did the Patriots basically trade away their chances of winning the Super Bowl? It's actually simple and the words of Moss himself probably say it best: "Straight cash, homey."
It's fun to speculate and try to come up with reasons why Moss got traded, but any reason that doesn't have to do with money isn't the real one. Moss was a commodity, as all professional athletes are, and he knew that. He made it clear he wanted to get paid and the Patriots knew they weren't going to pay him.
The trade was a simple financial transaction. It had nothing to do with helping the Patriots win more games this season. It had everything to do with dumping a commodity before it lost all value. The "best interest" of the team probably has a rate of about 2%.
When it comes to the NFL wins and losses matter, but profit is the bottom line. Winning isn't everything...money is.
Though he was lying, Belichick came out and said there were no discipline problems with Moss and it was "in the best interest of the team" to trade him. So, what were the best interests of the team? Why did the Patriots basically trade away their chances of winning the Super Bowl? It's actually simple and the words of Moss himself probably say it best: "Straight cash, homey."
It's fun to speculate and try to come up with reasons why Moss got traded, but any reason that doesn't have to do with money isn't the real one. Moss was a commodity, as all professional athletes are, and he knew that. He made it clear he wanted to get paid and the Patriots knew they weren't going to pay him.
The trade was a simple financial transaction. It had nothing to do with helping the Patriots win more games this season. It had everything to do with dumping a commodity before it lost all value. The "best interest" of the team probably has a rate of about 2%.
When it comes to the NFL wins and losses matter, but profit is the bottom line. Winning isn't everything...money is.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Deeds Undone
Andy Reid has decided to go for the jugular against Jacksonville this week and make Michael Vick his top dog. Reid explained that Kevin Kolb is not in the doghouse, but rather Vick just seemed to "electrify the team." It's hard to disagree. The team seemed hungrier when Vick was leading the pack.
"He played with a ferocity that can only be taught," Reid said. "He just grabbed the opportunity and wouldn't let go."
"I just wanted to go out there and show the team what I can do," Vick said. "I knew that I was on a short leash and any mistakes could kill my chances to be a starter."
As for Kolb, he'll just have to lick his wounds and hope that he can eventually have his day. "It's not like I'm getting taken out back and shot," he said. "I've still got a future as a starting quarterback in this league."
Even with Kolb's potential, Vick's stellar play backed the Eagles into a corner. The decision they made to go with Vick proves, once again, that when it comes to being an NFL quarterback, it's a dog eat dog world.
"He played with a ferocity that can only be taught," Reid said. "He just grabbed the opportunity and wouldn't let go."
"I just wanted to go out there and show the team what I can do," Vick said. "I knew that I was on a short leash and any mistakes could kill my chances to be a starter."
As for Kolb, he'll just have to lick his wounds and hope that he can eventually have his day. "It's not like I'm getting taken out back and shot," he said. "I've still got a future as a starting quarterback in this league."
Even with Kolb's potential, Vick's stellar play backed the Eagles into a corner. The decision they made to go with Vick proves, once again, that when it comes to being an NFL quarterback, it's a dog eat dog world.
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