The 2008-2009 season has been an interesting one to say the least—a roller coaster of ups and downs.
We’ve seen the best QB in the league knocked out for the rest of the season in Week One. We’ve watched in awe as the Miami Dolphins upset the New England Patriots. We listened as Brett Favre retired, unretired, signed with the Jets and threw a career high six touchdown passes in one game.
We even get to watch the reigning Super Bowl Champs enter Week Five undefeated.
The thing that has surprised me most, however, is how hard the league has begun to crack down on it’s players. Last year it seemed the NFL was more reminiscent of The Longest Yard then it was Invincible. Though the Bengals are still riddled with criminals (and apparently adding more), the rest of the league seems to be finally laying down the law.
What does that mean for us fans you ask?
It means for the first time in a long while we don’t have to look down on our favorite sport or the men in charge of it. Finally, something is being done to stop bad behavior. Teams are coming first, before individual players and that’s how it should’ve always been.
Steve Smith acted up during the preseason by punching teammate Ken Lucas in the eye and what happened? He was suspended for two games. You might ask, what are they thinking suspending their star wide reciever for two games? They were thinking team first. The outcome—the Panthers started the season 2-0.
Defensive tackle Ed Johnson got caught speeding and was arrested for possession of marijuana. The Colts waived him only one game into the season.
Now we come to the most glamorized issue. The suspension of Plaxico Burress, star wide receiver of the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. Apparently, Mr. Burress thought himself above team rules just because he caught the game-winning TD in the Super Bowl. Guess what Plaxico? You don’t get to skip practice just because you’re a star. Not in Coughlin-land.
The Giants docked Burress two paychecks and suspended him from tomorrow’s game against Seattle. Know why? Because when you play for New York, team comes first (isn’t that right Jeremy Shockey?).
Our final example is good ol’ Tommie Harris, who apparently missed treatments on his injured right knee. Why did he miss treatments? We may never know. It seems as though Lovie Smith doesn’t buy his excuse though.
If Harris is going to put his team in the best position to win by treating himself, Chicago would rather he didn’t play. He was suspended for tomorrow’s game against Detroit. I doubt they’ll need him anyway.
It’s about time the commissioner isn’t the only one handing out suspensions. Kudos to the coaching staff and owners of the above NFL teams for putting their teams first and by extension, their fans. We applaud your sound judgment and sense of honor.
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3 months ago
Well for me since I love the Boys, we have a way of trying to deal with the problem instead of suspension. Love the Shockey attack, it is a very good article.
from 3 months ago
Thanks James! Sometimes just trying to deal with it isn't enough, you gotta bring these guys back down to earth.
3 months ago
Woah, slow your roll. Don't go making assumptions about Plax. Yes, he did skip that practice. But don't assume it's because he caught the game winning TD pass in the Super Bowl. And should Coughlin punish Plax for all of the practices he missed last year? Because he didn't participate in quite a few because of that nagging injury he had. Plax is a good player with heart. He played every game and every down that he could with that injury. Oh and what happened? I'm not sure, but I think they won the Super Bowl. You think they could have done that without Plax?
And don't take unwarranted pot shots at Shockey. The guy missed his team's entire playoff run and championship game. And if you don't think he doesn't feel rotten about it, you're wrong. It's not his fault that he feels bad about not being able to help his team. And he deserved to be upset after the Giants staff made him sit in the box for the Championship game.
This is a far too aggressive article. While I'll willingly concede that the NFL needs to take a harder stand on players who are doing illegal things, you're going way out on a limb. Why was there nothing on Marvin Harrison? Did you so readily forget bullet casings matching the type of ammo to his gun at the scene of the shooting there was? Then again, I'm pretty sure .50 cal pistol bullets are common and everybody has them, right?
So you're going to yank on Plax and Shockey for "not being team players" when there are actual crimes to write about? Sorry, but what you're denouncing Plax and Shockey for aren't crimes. How about some of the other eleven guys who got suspended? Travis Henry, Luke Petitgout, Adrian Awason, Tony Gonzalez, Mario Haggan, Dexter Reid, or others? Nevermind, I forgot you'd rather focus on people who aren't team players.
So should I call the cops for you on TO and Chad Ocho Cinco? Or do you have 911 on speed dial for just such the occasion? Because we have to take back the NFL! From the guys who aren't team players! In fact, anyone with "character issues" or an ego is never being drafted again! In fact, to play in the NFL, you have to have no emotion! WOO, who's with me!
Please, grow up.
from 3 months ago
Brett for the most part you're right except on Shockey. He's a jackass, plain and simple. Before he got hurt in December when the Giants were in the middle of a playoff run he told the coaches that he wanted to be more involved in the playbook. Selfish? Hell yeah it was.
Shockey cried his way out of New York. If the giants really wanted to get rid of him, then he would've been gone on draft day. Reese waited it out hoping that Shockey's bitter feelings would simmer down but they never did, hence the trade a week before camp started.
And another thing about sitting in the box for the Super Bowl. Ever hear of Derrick Ward and Mathias Kiwanuka? Those two guys had the same injuries as Shockey. You know where they sat? In the stands. Shockey got to sit in the owner's suite for the game. In any other circumstance that's considered special treatment.
Shockey's behavior can't be defended in the slightest. He's a jerk.
from 3 months ago
Yeah, Shockey could have definitely handled it better. I think it was more of a sting to him though because he was replaced by a rookie. But he wanted to be on the sidelines, and once they said they'd prefer him to be in the owner's box and "not be a distraction," he probably figured his tenure was over. I think he was hurting by those, and he acted rather selfishly and unprofessionally in his response. You're right on that.
3 months ago
Good article. I like the overall premise.
3 months ago
Good article. God it's funny how many examples you could find.
3 months ago
It was team policy to keep an injured player off... of all people Shockey wouldn't be an exception. Also he was one month removed from a broken fibula. God forbid Jacobs gets chased out of bounds running full speed and Shockey on cruthces is the one that has to break his impact. His career would be over.
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