NFL training camps are in full swing, the first preseason game is Sunday, and the regular season kicks off Sept. 9. I, for one, cannot wait until Week 1. But in the meantime, we have some interesting stories from camp.
Albert Haynesworth: First the defensive tackle complains about the Redskins switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense (boo hoo), then he shows up to training camp out of shape. He has yet to pass the team's conditioning test, and thus, is not allowed to practice. He had to run two 300-yard shuttles, with a three-and-a-half-minute break in between, in times of 70 and 73 seconds, respectively. I would love to try this test, in which Haynesworth was required to run 25 yards and back six times before the break, then do it again. Granted, Hayesworth has about 200 pounds on me (he's listed at 350, but if he's out of shape, my guess is he's carrying some extra pounds), but he's also two years younger and, oh yeah, he signed a $100 million contract last year. If I had $100 million as motivation, I'd damn sure be able to pass this test.
But it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that Haynesworth has an attitude problem. Before he became one of the best defensive tackles in the league, he was a punk with the Titans who once stepped on a guy's head, sans helmet, after a play.
Darrelle Revis: The Jets cornerback, arguably the best cornerback in the NFL, is holding out of camp for a better contract. I'm always a little torn on these issues. On one hand, he has a contract that he signed, live up to it. On the other, his rookie contract isn't close to market value for an elite corner. He's supposed to make $1 million this year. By comparison, Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha signed a deal that pays him an average of about $15 million a year. I'd like to say Revis should show up at work and trust that the Jets will do the right thing. But NFL teams don't always do right by their players.
T.Ocho: I've never been a big Terrell Owens fan, but I think he's found a good fit with fellow wacky wideout Chad Ochocinco in Cincinnati. The Bengals won the AFC North last season, and adding T.O. should make the Bengals better. It'll be interesting to watch that team this year. What's the over/under on excessive touchdown celebration penalties and fines for the two of them? I'll set it at 9.5 penalties, 5.5 fines and take the over on penalties, the under on fines.
And finally ...
Brett Favre: Will he just man up and admit that he's coming back for another season with the Vikings? The answer is no, he won't for a while. But seriously, we all know he's going to play, but we also know he has no interest in training camp. The Vikings are clearly OK with that, so he might as well just stop the guessing games. "Yes, I'm coming back to the Vikings. But I'm not showing up until ..."
I'm quite certain Favre will play again. I'm also pretty sure there's no way he and Minnesota are having the season they had last year. Absolutely nothing went wrong, Favre had a career year and the Vikings were one play away from going to the Super Bowl. There's no way that good fortune will continue into a second season. The Vikes will be good, but they're not winning the NFC North (you know who I'm picking there) and they won't get a sniff of the Super Bowl. So fine, Brett, come on back. But don't make the mistake of thinking 2010 will be a repeat of 2009.
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7 comments:
To say NFL teams don't always do right by their players is a vast understatement.
Yes, he should live up to his contract. But should a player underperform, said player, no matter what his contract states, could be cut and put out on the street.
That never seemed fair to me. All the power is with the teams, and none with the players, which is why you see these issues arise year in and year out.
I just read a story about a female reporter named Lindsay Czarniak, who covers the Redskins. She attempted this conditioning test and failed. She completed the first 300-yard run in 68 seconds (Haynesworth was a 71), but she couldn't beat the 73-second limit on the second on after a 3.5-minute break.
I'm thinking this isn't as easy as it seems. And besides, I want my 300-plus-pound nose tackle to clog the middle, not run down the field making tackles.
"To say NFL teams don't always do right by their players is a vast understatement"
really?......listen to what you just wrote....if a player UNDERPERFORMS, said player could be cut......well, boo-hoo, cry me a river....if a player is "underperforming" that badly then he should be cut. It's not a charity league.....that's the problem with baseball. You have some guys who can barely hit their weight yet they are makeing gazillions of dollars.
Apparently you don't understand the meaning of a contract. Say it with me ... contract. If a team signs you to a contract, that means both sides agree to the terms of that contract. Like in baseball.
Look, I agree with you that these guys shouldn't be making the money they're making, but that decision is not up to you or me. That's decision belongs to the front office, which should honor said contract.
"It's not official, but the Minneapolis Star-Tribune - citing National Football League sources - is reporting this morning that quarterback Brett Favre has begun informing Minneapolis Vikings personnel that he has decided to retire"
How does was one begin informing their employer they are retiring?
He isn't retiring, Chilly just hasn't flown down to cut his grass, sweep his floors, wash his car and bring him back in a private jet complete with a parade.
and apparently you don't know the difference between guaranteed contracts and NON guaranteed contracts......contracts in baseball are guaranteed.....whatever Scotty.....
Isn't non-guaranteed contract an oxymoron?
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