5 NFL Players that need to SHUT UP!
You know that moment when you just want to look someone dead in the eye and, with the most serious and cold look that you possess, utter those two magical words?
“Shut up.”
The truth of the matter is sometimes people do just need to be quiet, and please spare me the comments telling me to shut up because I can see coming them from a mile away.
“Shut up”
There, I did it for you.
Anyhow, it seems like athletes are the most prone to saying stupid things, and the increasing popularity of social media outlets that won’t censor them, like Twitter, has just increased the epidemic.
The NFL is full of players who just need to shut up, be it because of stupid quotes, tweets or just being extremely annoying or shady.
Here are 5 NFL stars that just need to put a sock in it.
CHAD OCHOCINCO
First, let me start off by saying that I actually really do like Chad Ochocinco. Of all the players, he’s the only one that runs his mouth, but doesn’t get into trouble for doing stuff off the field. He is really just a big kid.
However, even big kids need to know when to reel it in a little bit. His mouth is the main reason why I think that QB Carson Palmer wants out of Cincinnati. It’s a shame too, because they could’ve really been quite the duo.
So shut up Chad.
TERRELL OWENS
Has he quieted down over the past 2 seasons? Yes. Does it matter? No. Somehow someway, I just know that Owens is gonna run his mouth again.
Can you blame him though? His agent is Drew Rosenhaus, and quite frankly I don’t know who’s mouth irritates me more, Drew’s or Terrell’s.
To the both of them, I say “shut up!”
ALBERT HAYNESWORTH
It’s guys like this that make me happy that the NFL went through the lockout of its players. You see, one of the sticking points of the NFL is that they are tired of throwing away millions of dollars to rookies that haven’t proven themselves on the field.
This new deal, which should come into place sometime this week, now says if you want Peyton Manning money then you have to earn it. Haynesworth has slacked off now for the past 2 seasons and is really getting under my skin.
Haynesworth, please stop throwing your coach under the bus, collecting millions of dollars while showing up to mini camp late and out of shape, and just shut up!
RASHARD MENDENHALL
This is one of those, I’d rather just show you moments. After news came in about the death of Osama Bin Laden, he tweeted;
“What kind of person celebrates death? It’s amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We’ve only heard one side…”
Which is fine, most of us with a brain felt the same way he did, until he started getting all conspiracy theorist on us, and went on to say;
“I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style.”
Yea. Shut up Rashard. Just shut up.
JAMES HARRISON
Harrison’s latest comments came in a Men’s Journal article that will be released in August.
If you haven’t seen these quotes, let me fill you in on some of the gems you are missing out on.
“My rep is James Harrison, mean son of a bitch who loves hitting the hell out of people,” he says. “But up until last year, there was no word of me being dirty—till Roger Goodell, who’s a crook and a puppet, said I was the dirtiest player in the league. If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn’t do it. I hate him and will never respect him.”
Not to mention, he threw Big Ben under the bus by saying he’s not anywhere near the type of quarterback that Peyton manning is and he knows it.
For the record James, you were known as a dirty player way before Roger Goodell ever said anything about the matter. I’ve never disliked a guy more both as a player and as a person in my entire life. He is the person you think of whenever you have to tell a child “There is no I in TEAM.”
He always is out to save his own neck, doesn’t care about his teammates and would throw any one of them under the bus, like he already has, to save his own skin. He doesn’t deserve to play a team sport like football. Personally, I’d love to see him become an MMA fighter just to see his teeth get knocked out by some other guy. Maybe Brock Lesnar can do the honors.
James Harrison, do us all a favor and SHUT UP!
5 Things that will happen as a result of the NFL/ NBA Lockout
Aw snap, here it is. It’s time to get ready for the possibility of an entire winter without NFL or NBA games. Why? Well it seems to be for the same reasons on both sides.
For those of you that aren’t sure what’s going on, allow me to clarify. Both the NBA and NFL have players unions that want to attain more money for the players benefit (such as higher salaries).
However, these players unions come into direct conflict with the Leagues themselves because they’d like to use that same pool of money for the League’s benefit (such as putting on more games, advertising, commercials, stadium costs, etc…)
The bottom line is this; the general public, as fans, don’t care. They just want to see a game come this fall. One thing is for sure though. If there are no games this fall there will be serious hell to pay. Here’s how.
5. ROOKIES WON’T GET THEIR SHOT AT MAKING IT BIG
The college football stars that are making it to the NFL are basically starting from scratch. Even 1st round draft picks are seen as players that still have to prove themselves on the field. The only way they can do that is by actually getting out there.
If there are no games this year, players will lose their conditioning, strength, and will get “rusty” so to speak. This will really affect players drafted after the 3rd and 4th rounds, and could possibly miss their shot at the big time.
4. PLAYERS WILL GET DAY JOBS
Fashion and Football
On April 26, 2011, the good folks at TR Luxury kicked off a slew of events to celebrate this year’s Pre-Draft festivities. Hosted by Defensive Lineman Raheem Brock of the Seattle Seahawks, Bruce Johnson of the New York Giants and Rashawn Jackson of the Carolina Panthers, this high-profile event served as the after work spot for Gotham City’s elite as Top Draft Picks mingled under one roof to the sounds of DJ Yung Blu. Here we see the host of the event, Raheem Brock getting a quick photo op with R&B singer Olivia
Have you ever sat down for a night and watched the NFL Draft? Well if you have, you would realize that those guys are really sharp dressers am I right? So then it’s safe to say that the majority of draft picks learn how to be really well dressed. I mean, you would too if you were attending a Fashion and Football event that was held at Maserati of Manhattan. Here’s a look at some of the soon to be NFL stars dressed at their finest.
Draftee, Julio Jones
My next stop was at the Samsung Experience Center located in the heart of NYC Columbus Circle. Again, football’s finest was in attendance as New York City was host to the upcoming NFL Draft. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, most of the big name stars had come and gone.
However, I was not disappointed as I soon discovered that I was in a sports fans paradise. Some of the most noteworthy pieces were up for auction at the event, and all proceeds from the auction would benefit the Jarvis Green foundation.
If you couldn’t tell by looking at this piece, this is a 1969 NY Jets team signed helmet with some of the aforementioned signatures shown. Other noteworthy signatures on the other side of this helmet include Winston Hill, Don Maynard, and of course the immortal “Broadway” Joe Namath. This helmet is a true fanatic’s gold crown as just about every member of that team played a role in winning that trophy, including the most famous defensive line ever, otherwise known as the New York Sack Exchange.
A Super Bowl 42 team signed helmet
If you’re a native New Yorker, then you must have known what it was like watching Super Bowl XLII when the New York Giants faced off against the undefeated New England Patriots.
It seemed as if the Patriots winning the SuperBowl was just a foregone conclusion and that the New York Giants was just another obstacle in the way. And then it happened; the best defensive effort throughout four quarters of football led by Michael Strahan, and the most incredible catch by David Tyree that anyone has ever seen, otherwise known as the catch heard round the world.
Speaking of class, this next piece comes from nothing less than a true class act; Vince Lombardi. This man was considered a god among men. He was also the greatest leader of men that any sports team has arguably ever seen. His success stemmed from an incredible ability to coach and his gift of gab which was second to none. Below is quite possibly the greatest speech ever given to a group of men on a football field.
"Running a football team is no different than running any other kind of organization - an army, a political party or a business. The principles are the same. The object is to win - to beat the other guy. Maybe that sounds hard or cruel. I don't think it is. It is reality of life that men are competitive and the most competitive games draw the most competitive men. That's why they are there - to compete. To know the rules and objectives when they get in the game. The object is to win fairly, squarely, by the rules - but to win. And in truth, I've never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn't appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat. I don't say these things because I believe in the "brute" nature of man or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, I believe in human decency, but I firmly belive that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."
There was also a signed copy of what is known as the mantra of the Notre Dame football team, autographed by one of the winningest coaches in Notre Dame football history, Lou Holtz, along with various other pieces being auctioned off…
A Jackie Robinson Mural up for auction
All in all class and elegance was definitely on display last week. Whether it was the impeccably dressed NFL stars and draft picks at their finest, or the timeless (and priceless) sports memorabilia items which were on display, “fashion” and “football” surely made their mark on New York City last week. Personally, I feel we could all take cues from events like these and savor moments which give us an opportunity to look and feel our best.
For more on TR Luxury’s party, read my review for The AUDRA Catalog here and for a detailed report on all the auction items, click here.
5 ways life will change if there’s no NFL this year.
Are you guys confused over what’s goin on with all the labor disputes between the NFL Players Union and the NFL? Me too. There’s also two sides to the story here so allow me to briefly explain both.
What the players are saying…
This entire thing has been summed up by the media (incorrectly) by saying that it’s all about millionaires versus billionaires. That’s only half right. While there are some millionaires throughout the league, I would say at least 70 percent of players in the league don’t make anywhere near a million dollars. Also, most people don’t realize that the average career of an NFL player is less than 4 years. Because of this, Players are fighting for better contracts and a better retirement plan but the NFL doesn’t want to fully give in, and it looks like there’s no resolution in sight. That means by midnight tonight, the NFL will lock out it’s players from the league, which could mean no football in 2011.
What the fans are saying…
WE DON’T CARE!!! WE JUST WANT TO WATCH A FOOTBALL GAME!!!
So unless something drastic happens between now and midnight, and if the NFL and the NFLPA don’t extend their talks, there’s a strong chance that there won’t be any football in September. This could cause any number of ripple effects, and people are already speculating, but here are my 5 reasons how a season stoppage could affect you, the fan.
- World Series games will be the new TV ratings champ.
Lets face it. Football can be seen by millions of viewers on at least 4 national TV networks (CBS, NBC, FOX, and ESPN). When the season starts in September all of these games gets a high volume of viewers, especially because it’s the beginning of the season. This causes baseball to take a hit in ratings because there are only 2 national TV networks that give these games national airtime. Without the NFL bullying every single channel, World Series games wouldn’t have to start at 8pm on the east coast and could even start at an earlier time on Sundays.
- Fans stop caring about the NFL
Fans generally feel like the NFL owes them something, and they’re right. After all, a diehard fan could spend hundreds of dollars a year going to games, and taking their kids to games. With a stoppage, fans could feel betrayed and will simply not care about the NFL the way they used to
- Sunday Night Football takes on a whole new meaning
Don’t ask me how I know this, but the Premiership Soccer League starts their season at the same time the NFL does. If you ask me, this is partly why soccer never really took off in the U.S. Oh, and don’t give me any lip service about having MLS soccer here in America because compared to the Premiership, they’re all amateurs. If I’m going to be forced to watch soccer, I want to watch the best.
- The Replacements?
- Hey, I’m not saying it will happen, but it’s a thought. The only thing that could top this idea is if there’s a quarterback out there named Shane Falco.
- and the number 1 way that life without baseball could change…
- Baseball regains it’s title as “the national pastime” again.
- I’m not just talking about the World Series either. With no football, fans will immerse themselves in everything baseball. Think about it, there will be a hell of a lot more baseball fantasy leagues, bars will overflow with patrons come playoff time, and the MLB will experience quite a boom in revenue. The glory days of baseball might very well be back it could seem.
- Until next time, this has been YourMVP.
So what’s th best sports movie of all time?
Hey what’s up guys and gals, YourMVP here with a very important question for all you movie viewers out there. I was just wondering, What’s the best sports movie of all time? I know which one mine is but I want to get a feel for what everyone else thinks out there.
But before I give you my personal favorite of all time, I want to give you my top 5, ending with my own personal favorite at number 1. If you disagree with me or think that I left a movie out of this list, tell me damn it! This post is meant to get you thinking about that kind of thing. So without further ado, at number 5 I give you…
5. Rookie of the Year
I bet all you parents out there hated this movie. Not because it isn’t good, but because for an entire summer, kids all over America were hoping to break their arms in hopes that it would turn them into a major league pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. This movie has all the makings of a classic. A little comedy, a little drama, and even a small hint of romance for the female audience.
4. Bloodsport
This one was hard to pick because I couldn’t decide whether bloodsport was better than Van Damme’s “Kickboxer.” Bloodsport gets the edge because of JC’s number of crazy “fight me” faces. But really, there’s no loser here when you consider that it’s 2 hours of wishing you were an American kick boxer in some foreign country having to fight a foreign dude on steroids.
3. The Waterboy
If it’s one thing than Adam Sandler does better than being funny as hell, it’s making a sports movie that’s equally as funny. Most of his movies actually turned out really good like Happy Gilmore, and The Longest Yard. But the all time greatest Adam Sandler sports movie is The Waterboy. I mean you just can’t get any better than seeing a half retarded waterboy power bomb another linebacker.
2. Million Dollar Baby
This movie isn’t so much number 2 on my list is it is number 1A. Here’s the kicker, before this movie I had never seen a Clint Eastwood movie in my entire life. Not even Dirty Harry. Ever. All it took was one inspiring performance by Eastwood as a trainer who is reluctant to take on a female boxer (complimented by Morgan Freeman by the way), and one incredibly believable performance by Hilary Swank as a boxer to make this movie epic. Yes, I just used the “E” word.
1.Hoosiers
Hoosiers is the greatest sports movie of all time. This movie wins hands down. There is no debate if you ask me. When other sports movie directors think of making a movie, it takes cues from this movie. Seriously there’s a blueprint here.
- The new coach that does things his way or the highway
- The star player that is reluctant to jump on board
- The group of misfits that no one believes in
- The Pre-game speech
- The iconic moment…”Coach…I’ll make it”
I mean c’mon! If there’s a better movie out there I dare you to clue me in please!
I will be waiting patiently for the day that a movie can top this level of sports greatness. In the mean time, keep an eye out for all those good movies guys and gals
Until next time, This has been YourMVP.
2010/ 2011 NFL Conference Championship game predictions.
See my vlog about last weeks playoff games and this weeks upcoming games, as well as watch what I had to say about:
- The Jets being the underdog…still.
- The Bears strengths
- Why the Packers would be “fools”
- Why Darelle Revis is STILL worth all that money!
MikesViewPoint: Now on YouTube!
And now I am very pleased to bring you guys the first ever MikesViewPoint YouTube channel. For those of you that have a short attention span, or would rather look at a video than read articles, I have just the thing for you. Hear my opinions on just about everything that has to do with sports topics, from MMA to the NBA, and from MLB to NHL. Heck I even might throw in some popular upcoming Tennis matchups for the upcoming Australian Open, which begins on Sunday for all you tennis fans.
Oh and don’t forget, coming soon MikesViewPoint will have it’s own Facebook page!!!
A big shout out goes to all my fans, as well as fans that have been there since the beginning like @TheTinyTieRant, and @sourpatchftw to name a few.
Without further ado, enjoy my YouTube videos. Happy viewing.
How to fire up your football team 101
This speech right here gives me the chills and I’ve watched it about 4 times already. Lance Guidry knows how to fire up his team before taking the field. What makes this even more special is that if any team ever needed a pep talk it’s this one. Guidry was appointed the interim coach for the rest of the year after their former coach left Miami of Ohio to be the new head coach at Pitt. So Lance Guidry had to put more fight into his team and show them that SOMEONE still believed in them. Honestly, you can make movies out of this right here.
YourMVP vlog1: Wild Card Weekend Preview
Allow me to introduce to you my new project in 2011…Sports vlogging. Hope you guys enjoy viewing as much as I enjoyed making them.
Without further ado, I give you my first Vlog. See what my NFL Playoff picks are for:
Saints vs. Seahawks
Jets vs. Colts
Ravens vs. Chiefs
Packers vs. Eagles
Hit Me Baby One More Time
No, it’s not time for another Britney Spears song, I’m referring to the recent outbreak of “vicious” hits going around in the NFL. Last week, it seemed like players were being carted off the field in every game due to these hits. The NFL has decided to crack down on repeat offenders, and even first time offenders of these hits in an effort to protect these defenseless players. How exactly are they going to stop this? by fining players huge sums of money or even by suspending these players without pay. As Ray Anderson (executive VP of football operations) puts it, “you are on notice.” Here’s the video that was sent to each and every NFL player this past week.
These newly imposed rules have NFL players on 2 different sides of the fence. You are either in agreement with this, or you heavily oppose it. Which side am I on you ask? I’m for it. Here’s why
YourMVP’s thoughts:
There seems to be a bit of confusion when speaking about an “illegal hit.” What exactly is it? What constitutes a dirty hit on a player? The video tries to explain that an illegal hit is any kind of hit where the helmet is used as a weapon, or if you launch yourself and hit a player with your helmet, arm, or elbow to the other player’s head or neck area. However, I think the video only got it half right. The penalties should not be focused on dirty hits so much as they should be focused on dirty players. There is a clear difference.
As a former football player I can tell you that everybody who plays this game is aware that there is a risk factor involved. Any play, any game can result in serious injury. I have suffered through a torn ACL and a sprained ankle so I’ve experienced the danger firsthand. And taking a big hit is something that you naturally accept as part of the game. However what I refuse to accept as part of the game is when you have to deal with a player that has a reputation for making a dirty hit. And by dirty hit, I mean leading with the helmet or elbow for any reason. When you launch yourself toward another player with bad intentions, you make a conscious decision to hurt the other guy badly. There are times when you just can’t help yourself, I get it. Every once in a while illegal hits happen and it’s just something you have to accept as part of the game, and these players should be punished but not harsly. But you absolutely MUST be more harsh if the same player is committing the same offense on different players. It’s not soft football, it’s safe football. However, I do feel that this is a step in the right direction. Let’s see how it pans out in week 7 as players are basically going back to the drawing board and re-learning how to tackle.
and as always, this has been YourMVP.
Image source: masslive.com
Video source: youtube.com
The NFL’s top 5 sleeper teams. Watch for these guys in 2010
So here it is, The NFL’s kickoff weekend is almost here and with about 2 weeks to go before the 2010 NFL season officially kicks off, everyone is busy making a big deal over the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings. With all due respect to Brett Favre and Drew Brees’s teams, rather than go down the usual road and predict which teams always get there, I figured I’d try to make some sense of which teams are flying under the radar and will have a breakout season in 2010. By a breakout season, I mean a season in which said teams will have a season twice as better as they had last year. So without further ado, I give you my top 5.
5. The Cincinnati Bengals.
Quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals, Carson Palmer
Nobody’s saying that the Bengals are all that bad, but no one is giving them much of a shot to go deep in the playoffs either. As a matter of fact, some guys don’t even have the Bengals in the Playoffs! I’ve always said that Carson Palmer is one of the top 5 quarterbacks in the league. Problem is, he’s always had an underachieving wide receiver core. Chad Ochocinco was always too busy either coming up with fancy endzone dances or tweeting about them. However, this year they actually have threats to every phase of their offense. If you don’t want to throw it Chad’s way, you still have Terrell Owens, and Antonio Bryant as deep threats. If by some miracle none of these WR’s are open, you can always run the ball with Cedric Benson, who is still a top 10 running back.
The X- Factor; Can Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens not be a distraction and prove to be as explosive as everyone is expecting them to be?
4. The San Fransisco 49ers.
Head coach Mike Singletary, reviewing the offensive plays for his wide receiver.
There is one reason and one reason only why the San Fransisco 49ers will have a great season…Well two if you count quarterback Alex Smith. As with all sleeper teams, you need a capable quarterback and I really think that Alex Smith is someone who is getting the system and can be the best quarterback to run the 49ers offense since Steve Young. However, a good quarterback needs a good system, and a great quarterback needs a great coach. Enter Mike Singletary. This guy was one of the most feared defensive middle linebackers in the 80′s and he brings that tenacity, hard work, and fear to a young 49ers team. Perhaps the greatest compliment that you can make to a coach is to prove to him that players will go to war for you, but also that great players will do great things not because of talent, but because of fear of letting you down as a coach.
The X Factor; Can running back Frank Gore give them enough room to breathe by being able to run the ball effectively in 2010?
3. The Miami Dolphins
Chad Henne, Quarterback out of Michigan who proved himself in 2009 with the Dolphins.
So why the Miami Dolphins you ask? It seems as if in 2010, this Miami Dolphins team is Chad Henne’s team and Chad Henne’s team alone. In 2009, Henne was in a quarterback battle with Chad Pennington, and at some points, it seemed as if the rest of the Dolphins team didn’t know who was their leader. In a division where there is little room for error, direction by an experienced quarterback is everything. And in 2010, Henne has the experience that it takes to lead their team to a winning season, and possibly even the playoffs. I have them winning 9 games in 2010, but will that be enough to beat out a tough division that has The Patriots and The Jets in it.
The X Factor; The Dolphins love to run the Wildcat offense, but the name of the game here is their division. Here is what the AFC east division looked like in 2009. The Patriots and the Jets see the Wildcat enough times a year that they can have it figured out by mid-season.
2. The St. Louis Rams.
Sam Bradford. Drafted number 1 overall in the 2010 draft by the St. Louis Rams
I reaaallly want to see this guy do well in 2010. Perhaps I’m jumping the gun here, or jumping on the bandwagon by saying that the Rams are going to have a breakout season. Personally, I’d love to see the Rams return to the days of Kurt Warner and the Rams of the 90′s where they were unstoppable behind QB Kurt Warner, running back Marshall Faulk and head coach Dick Vermeil. However, Sam Bradford has no choice but to play immediately in 2010, and I can’t even remember the QB’s name for the 2009 season. When you think of it, as long as they do better than their 1 win and 15 loss season last year, aren’t they already better with Bradford?
The X Factor; The St. Louis Rams paid big money to see this guy play football…but can he outshine the other highly acclaimed quarterbacks drafted in 2010 like Tim Tebow, Jimmy Clausen, and Colt McCoy?
1. The Oakland Raiders
One of the Oakland Raiders' best WR's, Darrius Heyward-Bey
YourMVP’s thoughts;
Yes, you heard me right, I said it. The Oakland Raiders will have the best breakout season in 2010. The biggest reason is due to the Raiders getting rid of JaMarcus Russell, who was paid Millions of dollars and couldn’t live up to the hype from his days at LSU. The Oakland Raiders have replaced Russel with former Washington Redskins QB Jason Campbell.
Former Redskins QB Jason Campbell, and now the newest quarterback of the Oakland Raiders
Campbell may not have the strongest arm, and might not be in my top 5 QB’s in the league, but he is a work horse. I will take him time after time over a guy like JaMarcus Russell who underachieved his entire career (and is now in legal trouble for abusing prescription drugs) and now is out of a job because of it. Jason Campbell brings a lot of experience and more importantly, the knowledge of showing his team how to squeeze out tough victories. I predict that The Oakland Raiders will come up with an exciting 8 wins in 2010, led by Jason Campbell and head Coach Tom Cable. The Raiders will use this season and set the table for better winning seasons to come.
The X Factor; If the Raiders are going to come anywhere near 8 wins, they will need their defense to perform among the top 5 defensive teams in the league in 2010.
There you have it, I hope I made some sense of the NFL sleeper teams for 2010.
Until next post, this has been YourMVP.
Darrelle Revis: Show Me The Money!!
Last year, there was only one man in the entire NFL that was able to stop Randy Moss, Terrelle Owens, Chad Ochocinco, Steve Smith, and Ted Ginn Jr. to name a few. That man was cornerback Darrelle Revis. Corners and wide receivers don’t really have many similarities to each other. Both are fast, and both have good hands but that’s where the similarities end. Cornerback is the hardest position to play in football because if they misjudge a receiver’s route they’ll usually end up on Sportscenter. On the wrong side of a highlight reel. Every time. Needless to say, there’s a lot of corners that always end up on Sportscenter, but not Darrelle Revis.
So what exactly does Revis do that makes him so good? Simple, he lines up in front of the biggest, fastest, baddest receivers in the league and says “You’re not catching anything today. You’re on Revis Island!” Don’t believe me? Take a look at the stats for yourself.
According to mtrmedia.com, here is a weekly breakdown of what the top receivers in the league did in 2009 when matched up against Revis. On the left is the name of the victim and on the right is their result after 4 quarters of football.
Week 2: Randy Moss = 24 yards, 0 touchdowns
Week 6: Terrell Owens = 13 yards, 0 touchdowns
Week 8: Ted Ginn Jr. = 0 yards, 0 touchdowns
Week 11: Steve Smith (CAR) = 5 yards, 0 touchdowns
Week 16: Chad Ochocinco = 0 yards, 0 touchdowns
Case in point, no one really had a good day when they had to face Darrelle Revis last year. 2009 isn’t just considered the best year that Darrelle Revis had, but it is also considered by myself and many football experts to be the best year that any corner has ever had in the history of the NFL. Despite these stats, there is a very high probability that the best corner in the league won’t play in 2010.
Darrelle Revis coming from behind and intercepting a pass that lands in front of Randy Moss.
So, what gives? Simply put, the best corner in the league also has one of the worst contracts in the league. Darrelle Revis wants to be the highest paid corner in the NFL in 2010. Currently Nnamdi Asomuga of the Oakland Raiders has the biggest contract which brings me to…
Mike’sViewPoint:
As a former athlete, I take pride in putting my team first before any individual accomplishment. Normally, I would absolutely hate it when a player holds out for as long as he can and then cries and whines the whole time about being paid. Then again, none of the players that initiate these holdouts have ever stopped the best receivers in the league. Revis makes them look silly out there. I say pay the man his money. And if you ask me, the issue here is not that Revis isn’t the highest paid player in the league. Rather, it is the fact that he is so laughably underpaid when you compare his stats and skills to Asomuga’s.
There is an X factor here also. Unlike the MLB, NBA, or NHL, the NFL is the only league that protects their money with fancy terms like “signing bonuses” which is another way of saying guaranteed money. Darrelle Revis’ contract is for 6 years, 30 million dollars. However, only 11 million dollars is in his signing bonus. Compare that to Nnamdi Asomuga, that has a signing bonus of 28.5 million dollars in guaranteed money, and now you can see why Darrelle is crying foul.
Take a look at that wide receiver stat line again, ladies and gents. Arguably the top 5 receivers in the NFL just combined for 42 total yards and zero touchdowns. …Let that sink in for a second… In a league where the best receivers command double coverage, or 2 defenders on 1 receiver, having Revis on your team means you have an extra defender to put anywhere else you want on the field. How did the Jets use him in 2009? Jets coach Rex Ryan let Revis do what he does best and then the rest of the defense blitzed the quarterback. Still not convinced that this man is worth every penny he demands? take a look at this.
Oh yeah, here is one last stat for those of you that think the Darrelle Revis isn’t worth all that guaranteed cash. Nnamdi Asomouga has compiled 11 interceptions in 7 years. That’s a pretty decent line until you see that Darrelle Revis has 14 interceptions in just 3 years. That’s more interceptions in half the time!
To play? Or not to play? If you were Revis would you make such demands? Will he hold out for the entire 2010 season? Only money will tell.
Until next post, this has been YourMVP.
Contract information source: Sportsillustrated.cnn.com
Image source: jockism.com
Statistics source: Espn.com (Asomouga)
