Well, we’re counting down to the final days going into training camps. I know if you’re as anxious as I am, you’re waiting for camps to open up to get a preview of the way your team can potentially look in season.
Now granted, the cities of Miami, Cleveland, Chicago and New York are not concerned at all with football right now thanks to LeBron. However, there are still some things going on in the NFL that can be some early pre-cursors for things to come this season.
In this industry, the media can be a great tool. Former and some current coaches use the media to talk to their players. Saying critical things that you know will end up in big print the following day can be just the right amount of agitating to get your players aggressive again.
However, the media can be the worst thing when it comes to exposure of a problem. See Big Ben and the Steelers’ locker room for a cited example of this. Ben’s problems surrounding his legal trouble might have died down in the media currently, but this is only a wake in the storm until training camp hits. Ben’s suspension shows the league is reaching its limit of tolerating his off-the-field actions.
The league had to act out to show it won’t tolerate unprofessional actions from its top stars, and it responded in proper fashion. I think Ben got off with a lesser suspension than what could have been. If he’s smart, he will avoid the public eye and focus on making his apology on the field when he’s allowed back under center. At this point with 2 strikes against him, his words lost credibility when he forced that girl into the bathroom. Speak through touchdowns and victories, not press appearances.
Speaking of QB’s in repeated trouble, Mike Vick, what were you thinking? Now, he was blessed enough to even receive a 2nd chance after the whole dog-fighting incident. Not too often do you hear of players serving time and coming back to play again (Keep hope, Plax.). Typically, that would tell you to leave it alone and its time to take a fresh take on your life to assess your priorities.
Now instead, Mike hosts a party open to the general public selling tickets which results in one of his co-defendants (who he’s not even supposed to be around) getting shot by an identified, but remaining anonymous, shooter. I will be surprised if Commissioner Goodell doesn’t have any direct involvement with repercussions since Vick’s troubled past. I don’t believe he will throw the book at him, but Vick made a bad decision. He doesn’t have that many good graces left with people, so I can see a 1 or 2 game suspension coming out of this to remind him that he’s not infallible.
Word of advice Mike…If you could see yourself doing it in 2004, it’s probably not a good idea to do it now.
Keeping the theme of QB’s in succession, this wouldn’t be sports article if it didn’t mention a certain #4 who’s decision is still supposedly sitting in limbo. While there might not be any specific claim that he’s coming back, I think the off-season surgery, practicing with the Oak Grove High School players, and saying he wants a 2nd crack at the Saints for the pounding he took in the NFC Championship game are all some pretty obvious signs.
Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana spoke a while ago on this long before any of these things took place and he had the smartest rationalization on the waffling that Favre does over the past couple seasons. He spoke about the rigors of training camp, the temperatures and much rougher situations for the veteran. He summarized that a lot of Favre’s “indecision” happens to coincide with the training camp schedule.
I think Joe Cool’s dead on with this one. It is wrong of Favre to openly say he doesn’t need to attend training camp, but he’s also now in his 40’s. He can’t take the punishment that training camp breaks you in with every season in his later years. I’m sure after training camps have started and there might be a couple weeks left, Favre will suddenly decide that he’s ready to play next year. Care to wager against it?
While Jets Tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson is smiling about his new contract, Marcus McNeill is smiling even larger. The Chargers Tackle is in the middle of a holdout that he’s spoken about being prepared to last well into the season, regardless of fines. Now McNeill has been a bit banged up, but he’s kept Phil Rivers’sblindside pretty well protected these past few years and does deserve proper compensation. I think the Jets just forced the Chargers’ hand in this situation and I can’t see them not signing McNeill before the season starts. In the background somewhere, Tomlinson has to be snickering about all of this.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
