So, this kinda escalated quickly. As part of his NFL-mandated talk with media, LeSean McCoy reiterated that he had nothing to apologize for with regards to his comments about Chip Kelly, and that he wouldn’t be looking to shake Kelly’s hand after the game. In Philadelphia, writers framed it as McCoy coming to peace with the trade and moving on. Nationally and in Buffalo however, the tone is a bit different. I get it – papers have to be printed, articles have to be written. But I want more – I want nuance. And I also wanna vent. So bear with me.
LeSean McCoy and Demarco Murray have media that are in their face that most of the retired players and personnel did not at the time they played. To just say “keep your mouth shut” and focus on the “team” when in the same breath we as fans, you as media want players to show their personalities to give a window into their lives is unfair.
BUFFALO:
I think the staff did a fair job – highlighting the discord while also dropping some tidbits the national side let go. For instance, Tyler Dunne noted that in his article, quoted below:
“I’m sure there’s people you don’t hate that you don’t speak to,” McCoy said. “I don’t see what the big thing is with talking to somebody. We have nothing to talk about. I’m with the Bills, he’s with the Eagles. We never had a great relationship, best friends, so there’s nothing to talk about it.
“For what? There’s no need for that.”
Why does McCoy have to talk to Kelly? To create a narrative that doesn’t exist? Because Chip Kelly gave a public offering of peace, McCoy has to accept it? I’m not inclined to agree.
I’m also going to fully disclose this isn’t just about football to me. And never will be to be honest. So you’ve been warned.
The last few months have been crazy in our country. So much has happened and so much is happening and football has been a great escape. But with every incident, there’s been a crack of that reality slipping in. In this case, I think back to the Dylann Roof case, and how the nation pushed…and pushed…and pushed to hear that the victims and their families had forgiveness for the man that killed their family just because they were black. Fast forward to a few weeks ago and post San Bernadino, it’s this push for vengeance when the *hint* of ISIS/ISIL involvement.
Now let’s get back to football and why I connect the two. With McCoy, he “must” forgive/shake Chip’s hand. When Rex came back to New York and beat the Jets, the articles were about his vindication and getting a measure of payback against the team that fired him. Where were the calls for Rex to let it go?
Other than the calls for Rex to shut up in general, I can’t recall many.
I would love for any media – national or local – that don’t want to cover a subject, to simply not do it. Don’t ask about it. Let’s see how that goes. Ask about anything else. But if as so many have lamented issues get blown up out of proportion, just…let it go.
I’m writing this because I see a concerted effort not just for McCoy, but all NFL players to fall in line to a system that neither respects them to be fully functioning adults with opinions nor in their twilight finds the time to honor them outside of public pomp. I’m writing this as a blogger, not in his basement (actually in my home office) wondering why a player’s cap hit is more important than an owner pocketing a metric crapload of money in profits. I’m writing this because I’m sick and tired of seeing players get knocked out in games and having their futures decided by people that are decidedly not working with a player’s best interest.
ESPN:
I listened to Herm Edwards’ rant on ESPN and I always appreciate the passion. However, it’s misplaced.
When Herm say’s “it’s not about you, it’s about the game of football” in response to media reports of McCoy and Murray’s “disgruntled” natures, he fails to note that Ed Werder, a colleague of his on ESPN broke the Murray story. He then does a great job explaining that if he weren’t getting paid to do “this”, he’d walk off the set.
But when Marshawn Lynch just talked so “I won’t get fined”, that was labeled as Lynch not conforming and not being a professional.
As a fan, I’m sure defending the team would be the natural assumption in all things Bills. But that’s not my style, nor will it be as long as Joe keeps the lights on around here.
To genuinely show anguish that these players “put their ego in front of the team”, why don’t we have #RBWinz stats in addition to the quarterback? Why don’t we talk about how the “team” suffers when you have to bounce from a Sunday game to a Thursday night game, just because there was a loophole in the CBA that allowed the owners to do so?
Was LeSean selfish when he played on a bad hamstring because his team needed him?
Was LeSean selfish when he came back and passed a concussion protocol (eye-roll) and helped to beat the Texans?
Why don’t we talk about how J.J. Watt can sell his brand on being grit-master extraordinaire, but McCoy can’t comment as to why he thought his power-mad head coach got rid of him? This isn’t McCoy going on an Insta-gram rant or a twitter rampage – this is a player answering pointed questions from his local media and via conference call his former home media. Where’s the selfishness?
Then, to have Trey Wingo (who I love) follow up and ask if McCoy’s voice was found because Rex allowed it? I apologize in advance, because this is going to take a minute…
Rex has made some crazy, ego-led decisions with the defense I haven’t gotten over, nor will I. But as head coach, to insinuate that the fact that he treats his players, these padded up concussion magnets for our entertainment as men gave Shady the temerity to speak up is both patronizing and asinine.
You want football questions, here you go Herm, courtesy the Buffalo Wins staff:
How does a coach that has 6 winning seasons in 21 years get to be 1) a head coach still; and 2) on the competition committee? At what point in his career has he shown he knows what competition is? And how can said coach (Jeff Fisher, spoiler alert) send out all of the players he received in the RGIII trade with Washington as captains and merely get a chuckle out of you guys as media. Isn’t that selfish?
Given the current climate politically and economically, how is it at all ethical for a team or teams to take public funding, hold a town ransom then bolt for L.A.? Is that selfish, or just good business?
How many failures of part-time officials will it take for the NFL to realize oversight above the current level is needed?
Is a player dropping dead on the field the only thing that’ll finally convince the NFL that their concussion protocol is laughable at best?
Oh – and to help you with the selfish angle – how many meltdowns do you have in you to explain how vets that suffered horrific injuries and CTE symptoms can be ignored by the ex-players who were lucky enough to get cushy TV gigs?
I eagerly await your coverage.
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