Football camps
*Retirement. Most of us look forward to this aspect of our lives. Many will put in 40 years, or more, in a career and look ahead to when they can enjoy the fruits of their labors. Then, there are those fortunate enough to be able to retire early and can still enjoy the good life. Those of us who are considered regulars (regular, common people) think that everyone feels the way we do.
Well, guess again. The world is a lot different today than it was 20, 30, even 40 years ago. No one spends 40 years at one job anymore. The world has changed. Today, an individual can hold, on average, 10 different jobs during the course of their career. Yet, we still have to put our time in before we are able to retire comfortably and with no money worries. And that is becoming even tougher to do.
Why do I bring this up in a sports column? Most of our leisure time is spent watching some kind of sporting event. Either as a casual fan, or as a sports junkie (like me). The average career lifespan of an athlete is roughly five years. Stars and superstars can get 10, 12, 15, and if they really push it, 18 to 20 years out of their careers. That isn’t much time. Athletes retire at a time when many of us are just getting into the prime of our working lives. We can’t relate to that (although some of us wish we could).
Brett Favre is 40 years old and has one more year on his contract with the Vikings. He has a competitive fire that other athletes like him have. It never goes away. That’s why those like Michael Jordan have such a hard time walking away. They can never find an outlet for their competitive fires like those on the field or on the court. Favre doesn’t really training camp. Most players don’t. Training camp is more for rookies and free agents trying to make the team. Favre is a future Hall of Famer.
Most of us are saying “Hey, why can’t he just walk away?” Well, it isn’t that easy. Would you like to be told you’re done playing when, in your heart, you know you aren’t? Do you want to be kicked out the door when you know you still have something to contribute? We all feel we have something of value to contribute, no matter what that may be. To be told you are no longer useful to us would be hard to take. That’s why it’s so hard for these guys to walk off the field. Those competitive fires never go away.
*One week into Steelers practice by the time this week’s issue comes out. The story lines are obvious. Ben Roethlisberger’s situation is front page news, although there are those of us who have now put it in the past. His personal situation is his business. He is not absolved of anything that happened that night in Georgia. However, we have only heard one side of the story. Basically, He has been under a gag order for legal reasons. We have yet to hear his side of the story. All we know is that he has been suspended for the first four to six games of the season.
He was warmly received by those in attendance on the first public practice of camp on Saturday. Many of those in attendance are also those who may not be able to get to games, for one reason or another, and this is really the only chance they have to see their favorite players. The real test is going to come when he steps onto the field for the first time in front of 65,000 screaming, drunk fans, many of whom will have no idea where they’re at because of the condition they’ll likely be in.
His reception at that time is going to be the gauge, the barometer, as to how he will really be received. It might not be right or fair, but it is going to be very brutal and (somewhat) honest. He is going to have to be prepared for that, or at least try to be. In the interim, he will have to prepare himself mentally as well as physically to get ready for what will be left of his 2010 season. Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon will have gotten the majority of the work, most likely, to prepare for the upcoming season.
*Jeff Reed and LaMarr Woodley, both with contract situations, are taking opposite approaches. Woodley has been vocal before camp started; however, he has changed his tune since camp began and been a team player. Reed has been very bold, outspoken, and critical. One might say that Reed, given his past legal issues, should keep his mouth shut. That would be a no-brainer.
Woodley is a very valuable member of the defense and he is going to end up staying. Reed might get his, too, if he keeps his mouth shut and goes about his business. The thing to remember is that a) this is an uncapped year, meaning owners can spend at will, yet most haven’t, given the current situation in the league with a lockout looming next year, and b) since there is a solid chance of a lockout, owners are going to pay what they can and let it stand as that. They are not going to spend an arm and a leg when the CBA is up for discussion and renewal.
A smart franchise is going to do business the right way and not risk its business long term. Any player in a situation where Reed and Woodley are will wait this out, go about their business, and do the right thing. Woodley won’t be going anywhere, anyway, for another couple of years because free agents, now, have to wait six years for that status. It says here the Steelers will lock him up when the time comes and keep him in the fold. You do not let a talent like Woodley go. But the future, right now, is too cloudy for the league. Many have been told to take care of, and save, their money in the event a lockout takes place. That would be very smart and prudent. Plan for tomorrow, yet live for today.
*This weekend will kickoff the NFL preseason. Saturday will mark the enshrinement of the class of 2010 into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Seven inductees will be going into the Hall, based on their playing career (not coaching career, take note Steelers fans). The list of seven inductees includes Russ Grimm from Southmoreland High School, University of Pittsburgh, winner of three Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins, another with the Steelers as offensive line coach, and now coaching in Arizona with Ken Whisenhunt and the Cardinals.
Rickey Jackson, linebacker, also from Pitt and the New Orleans Saints; Dick LeBeau, who played for the Detroit Lions and has had numerous coaching stops, including two with the Steelers. Floyd Little, running back for the Denver Broncos back in the 1960s and 70s; John Randle, defensive tackle for Minnesota and Seattle; Jerry Rice, wide receiver for San Francisco, Oakland, and Seattle, and Emmitt Smith, running back for Dallas and Arizona.
The crowd will likely be the largest for Rice and Smith, due to their celebrity and playing for two of the league’s glamour teams, Dallas and San Francisco. Mike Tomlin has announced the Steelers are going to bus to Canton to be there for LeBeau and be a part of the induction and enshrinement ceremony. A class act for a very classy man, who is very beloved by his players, demonstrated by how they play for him.
Sunday night, the Hall of Fame game will take place at Fawcett Stadium, next door to the Hall, between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys. We’ll get our first look at what some think might be a favorite in the AFC North, what with the addition of Terrell Owens to the Bengal roster, and a possible Super Bowl favorite in Dallas. Kickoff is 8:00 p.m. on NBC.
Well, guess again. The world is a lot different today than it was 20, 30, even 40 years ago. No one spends 40 years at one job anymore. The world has changed. Today, an individual can hold, on average, 10 different jobs during the course of their career. Yet, we still have to put our time in before we are able to retire comfortably and with no money worries. And that is becoming even tougher to do.
Why do I bring this up in a sports column? Most of our leisure time is spent watching some kind of sporting event. Either as a casual fan, or as a sports junkie (like me). The average career lifespan of an athlete is roughly five years. Stars and superstars can get 10, 12, 15, and if they really push it, 18 to 20 years out of their careers. That isn’t much time. Athletes retire at a time when many of us are just getting into the prime of our working lives. We can’t relate to that (although some of us wish we could).
Brett Favre is 40 years old and has one more year on his contract with the Vikings. He has a competitive fire that other athletes like him have. It never goes away. That’s why those like Michael Jordan have such a hard time walking away. They can never find an outlet for their competitive fires like those on the field or on the court. Favre doesn’t really training camp. Most players don’t. Training camp is more for rookies and free agents trying to make the team. Favre is a future Hall of Famer.
Most of us are saying “Hey, why can’t he just walk away?” Well, it isn’t that easy. Would you like to be told you’re done playing when, in your heart, you know you aren’t? Do you want to be kicked out the door when you know you still have something to contribute? We all feel we have something of value to contribute, no matter what that may be. To be told you are no longer useful to us would be hard to take. That’s why it’s so hard for these guys to walk off the field. Those competitive fires never go away.
*One week into Steelers practice by the time this week’s issue comes out. The story lines are obvious. Ben Roethlisberger’s situation is front page news, although there are those of us who have now put it in the past. His personal situation is his business. He is not absolved of anything that happened that night in Georgia. However, we have only heard one side of the story. Basically, He has been under a gag order for legal reasons. We have yet to hear his side of the story. All we know is that he has been suspended for the first four to six games of the season.
He was warmly received by those in attendance on the first public practice of camp on Saturday. Many of those in attendance are also those who may not be able to get to games, for one reason or another, and this is really the only chance they have to see their favorite players. The real test is going to come when he steps onto the field for the first time in front of 65,000 screaming, drunk fans, many of whom will have no idea where they’re at because of the condition they’ll likely be in.
His reception at that time is going to be the gauge, the barometer, as to how he will really be received. It might not be right or fair, but it is going to be very brutal and (somewhat) honest. He is going to have to be prepared for that, or at least try to be. In the interim, he will have to prepare himself mentally as well as physically to get ready for what will be left of his 2010 season. Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon will have gotten the majority of the work, most likely, to prepare for the upcoming season.
*Jeff Reed and LaMarr Woodley, both with contract situations, are taking opposite approaches. Woodley has been vocal before camp started; however, he has changed his tune since camp began and been a team player. Reed has been very bold, outspoken, and critical. One might say that Reed, given his past legal issues, should keep his mouth shut. That would be a no-brainer.
Woodley is a very valuable member of the defense and he is going to end up staying. Reed might get his, too, if he keeps his mouth shut and goes about his business. The thing to remember is that a) this is an uncapped year, meaning owners can spend at will, yet most haven’t, given the current situation in the league with a lockout looming next year, and b) since there is a solid chance of a lockout, owners are going to pay what they can and let it stand as that. They are not going to spend an arm and a leg when the CBA is up for discussion and renewal.
A smart franchise is going to do business the right way and not risk its business long term. Any player in a situation where Reed and Woodley are will wait this out, go about their business, and do the right thing. Woodley won’t be going anywhere, anyway, for another couple of years because free agents, now, have to wait six years for that status. It says here the Steelers will lock him up when the time comes and keep him in the fold. You do not let a talent like Woodley go. But the future, right now, is too cloudy for the league. Many have been told to take care of, and save, their money in the event a lockout takes place. That would be very smart and prudent. Plan for tomorrow, yet live for today.
*This weekend will kickoff the NFL preseason. Saturday will mark the enshrinement of the class of 2010 into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Seven inductees will be going into the Hall, based on their playing career (not coaching career, take note Steelers fans). The list of seven inductees includes Russ Grimm from Southmoreland High School, University of Pittsburgh, winner of three Super Bowls with the Washington Redskins, another with the Steelers as offensive line coach, and now coaching in Arizona with Ken Whisenhunt and the Cardinals.
Rickey Jackson, linebacker, also from Pitt and the New Orleans Saints; Dick LeBeau, who played for the Detroit Lions and has had numerous coaching stops, including two with the Steelers. Floyd Little, running back for the Denver Broncos back in the 1960s and 70s; John Randle, defensive tackle for Minnesota and Seattle; Jerry Rice, wide receiver for San Francisco, Oakland, and Seattle, and Emmitt Smith, running back for Dallas and Arizona.
The crowd will likely be the largest for Rice and Smith, due to their celebrity and playing for two of the league’s glamour teams, Dallas and San Francisco. Mike Tomlin has announced the Steelers are going to bus to Canton to be there for LeBeau and be a part of the induction and enshrinement ceremony. A class act for a very classy man, who is very beloved by his players, demonstrated by how they play for him.
Sunday night, the Hall of Fame game will take place at Fawcett Stadium, next door to the Hall, between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys. We’ll get our first look at what some think might be a favorite in the AFC North, what with the addition of Terrell Owens to the Bengal roster, and a possible Super Bowl favorite in Dallas. Kickoff is 8:00 p.m. on NBC.
Comments