Thursday, June 21, 2012
Changes in the NFL? Thoughts?
I came across this interesting article from the NY Times this morning.
While I do think the safety and health of the players is the most important thing, how will this be affecting the game?
Thoughts...
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/sports/football/with-fears-about-safety-football-faces-uncertain-evolution.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
Sunday, January 29, 2012
When Is Retirement Actually Retirement?
I realized I haven't gotten around to posting anything new in a while and I have no one or anything to blame but myself. On the bright side, I have a new post today.
A few months ago, Bryant Gumbel did a wrap up of the year in sports and the stories they covered this year. While I found all of them to be interesting, one sticks out very clearly in my mind as the Superbowl is coming up next weekend and the 2011 NFL season will come to a close very shortly.
Tiki Barber as well as a couple other retired players want to come back out of retirement and play for the NFL again. Barber's last three seasons that he played were some of his most successful, yet none of the teams in the NFL were jumping at the chance to pick him up. He has been working his ass off for the past four years to get picked up by a team. This has never been done by a running back before and he wanted to prove it to himself. "The game never needs you because there's always someone else...but right now I need the game". Unfortunately though, we as fans are not always so welcoming to people who leave the league at anytime. Plaxico Burress was another example of someone they interviewed on returning back to the NFL. Although he did his time in jail, he was allowed to return back to the NFL and continue playing.
First off, why was someone who committed a crime welcomed back more readily than someone who took time off to better himself? Michael Vick has had the same thing happen to him. Sure, he served his time and yeah I think he should be allowed to play, but why doesn't Tiki Barber deserve the same chance that these guys do? We are supposed to look up to athletes and they are some of our role models, yet it seems we only reward the athletes who "learn" from their mistakes. Why can't we give the guys a chance who haven't made any mistakes? Barber has been training and is arguably back in better shape that he was before. Sure, he is older and hasn't played a few years, but what is the worst that could happen by adding him to the roster? If he doesn't play up to his potential, he is dropped or he doesn't start. This happens all the time in the NFL with guys that are supposed to be promising. Tom Brady wouldn't have even gotten his chance to shine if it hadn't had been for Bledsoe's injury. The depth chart can always change if things don't work out. Why not take a chance on Barber? His numbers only got better with his age. In his final season playing before retirement he was even selected to play in the pro-bowl. Now, I'm not saying he will be a superstar and will pick up right where he left off, but I don't think he should not at least have a chance with one season to prove that he isn't done.
Also, as a final note, for anyone who is looking for a great tv show to start watching (even though it is no longer on the air), I highly suggest watching Friday Night Lights. It's a great show and I actually feel like I learned a lot not only about how the recruiting process works, but also about the dynamics of coaching in general. It made me appreciate the talents of the coaches I have seen and even those who make it to the Big Leagues and aren't as successful. It takes a tremendous amount of knowledge and skill to coach a football team.
A few months ago, Bryant Gumbel did a wrap up of the year in sports and the stories they covered this year. While I found all of them to be interesting, one sticks out very clearly in my mind as the Superbowl is coming up next weekend and the 2011 NFL season will come to a close very shortly.
Tiki Barber as well as a couple other retired players want to come back out of retirement and play for the NFL again. Barber's last three seasons that he played were some of his most successful, yet none of the teams in the NFL were jumping at the chance to pick him up. He has been working his ass off for the past four years to get picked up by a team. This has never been done by a running back before and he wanted to prove it to himself. "The game never needs you because there's always someone else...but right now I need the game". Unfortunately though, we as fans are not always so welcoming to people who leave the league at anytime. Plaxico Burress was another example of someone they interviewed on returning back to the NFL. Although he did his time in jail, he was allowed to return back to the NFL and continue playing.
First off, why was someone who committed a crime welcomed back more readily than someone who took time off to better himself? Michael Vick has had the same thing happen to him. Sure, he served his time and yeah I think he should be allowed to play, but why doesn't Tiki Barber deserve the same chance that these guys do? We are supposed to look up to athletes and they are some of our role models, yet it seems we only reward the athletes who "learn" from their mistakes. Why can't we give the guys a chance who haven't made any mistakes? Barber has been training and is arguably back in better shape that he was before. Sure, he is older and hasn't played a few years, but what is the worst that could happen by adding him to the roster? If he doesn't play up to his potential, he is dropped or he doesn't start. This happens all the time in the NFL with guys that are supposed to be promising. Tom Brady wouldn't have even gotten his chance to shine if it hadn't had been for Bledsoe's injury. The depth chart can always change if things don't work out. Why not take a chance on Barber? His numbers only got better with his age. In his final season playing before retirement he was even selected to play in the pro-bowl. Now, I'm not saying he will be a superstar and will pick up right where he left off, but I don't think he should not at least have a chance with one season to prove that he isn't done.
Also, as a final note, for anyone who is looking for a great tv show to start watching (even though it is no longer on the air), I highly suggest watching Friday Night Lights. It's a great show and I actually feel like I learned a lot not only about how the recruiting process works, but also about the dynamics of coaching in general. It made me appreciate the talents of the coaches I have seen and even those who make it to the Big Leagues and aren't as successful. It takes a tremendous amount of knowledge and skill to coach a football team.
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