feeling wanted, or not
The Jacksonville Jaguars have a very good player at safety named Donovan Darius. He plays hard, he's active in the community, he's a good family guy, he stays out of trouble, he's a poster guy for what you want in a NFL player in your town, except for one thing. For the past 2 years he has not had a long term contract and as of yet doesn't have one for the upcoming season. Without going too deep into the particulars of Restricted Free Agency and Franchise Players, the result has been he has been labeled the team's Franchise Player for the last 2 years, and therefore paid the average of the top 5 players at his position, and will, unless some deal gets done, be paid that again this year. While this process is making him a rich man, it's also making him angry. The fact that he has no long term contract with the team does two things. It sends a message to him that the organization doesn't think him valuable enough to lock up long term, and it leaves him in a far more tenuous situation security-wise. No long term contract means no signing bonus (and we're talking millions of dollars), and if he gets injured, nothing says the team has to keep him around after the present season. He'd have no leg to stand on, even if that isn't the part of him that gets injured.
His reaction to all this, as I have stated, has been anger and bitterness. He's said he doesn't want to play in Jacksonville anymore. He has no respect for the organization and feels no pride in wearing the Jaguars uniform. He has actively persued a trade with several teams, including the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins, talking with each of their respective local media people and proclaiming his desire to play there. This has not exactly endeared him to the fans here who, up until all this, have loved the guy. It's not fun listening to one of the guys you like on your football team, spurn your town and your team.
The Seattle Seahawks have a running back named Shaun Alexander. He's a Pro Bowl caliber guy and very unhappy in his present situation. The Seahawks won't sign him to a long term contract and have labeled him their franchise player. As such, like Darius, he will be paid the average of the top 5 players in the league at his position in the upcopming season. Like Darius, this will not exactly leave him destitute. Like Darius, he's pissed. Like Darius, he has let it be known he doesn't want to play in Seattle anymore. Like Darius, that sentiment isn't making him popular in Seattle sports fan circles.
Yes, as usual, I'm meandering, but with a direction in mind, if not in practice.
The Jaguars have a problem at running back. Their starter, Fred Taylor, is coming off an injury from last season. While the Jaguars are publicly saying he'll be back 100% for the start of the season, everybody is wondering what is really happening behind closed doors. Fred hasn't been seen doing the things he's known for on the practice fields as of yet. The rumor now is the Jaguars are talking to the Seahawks about a trade for....Shaun Alexander. Granted, it's all rumor and might not have a shread of truth to it, but why would you want this guy? He's the same kind of disgruntled you have in another player, just with his anger pointed in another direction. Do we need that kind of attitude in our locker room? I don't think so, but then again, I don't get paid by the Jaguars to make those kinds of decisions. They're just using my money to pay those who are.
His reaction to all this, as I have stated, has been anger and bitterness. He's said he doesn't want to play in Jacksonville anymore. He has no respect for the organization and feels no pride in wearing the Jaguars uniform. He has actively persued a trade with several teams, including the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins, talking with each of their respective local media people and proclaiming his desire to play there. This has not exactly endeared him to the fans here who, up until all this, have loved the guy. It's not fun listening to one of the guys you like on your football team, spurn your town and your team.
The Seattle Seahawks have a running back named Shaun Alexander. He's a Pro Bowl caliber guy and very unhappy in his present situation. The Seahawks won't sign him to a long term contract and have labeled him their franchise player. As such, like Darius, he will be paid the average of the top 5 players in the league at his position in the upcopming season. Like Darius, this will not exactly leave him destitute. Like Darius, he's pissed. Like Darius, he has let it be known he doesn't want to play in Seattle anymore. Like Darius, that sentiment isn't making him popular in Seattle sports fan circles.
Yes, as usual, I'm meandering, but with a direction in mind, if not in practice.
The Jaguars have a problem at running back. Their starter, Fred Taylor, is coming off an injury from last season. While the Jaguars are publicly saying he'll be back 100% for the start of the season, everybody is wondering what is really happening behind closed doors. Fred hasn't been seen doing the things he's known for on the practice fields as of yet. The rumor now is the Jaguars are talking to the Seahawks about a trade for....Shaun Alexander. Granted, it's all rumor and might not have a shread of truth to it, but why would you want this guy? He's the same kind of disgruntled you have in another player, just with his anger pointed in another direction. Do we need that kind of attitude in our locker room? I don't think so, but then again, I don't get paid by the Jaguars to make those kinds of decisions. They're just using my money to pay those who are.
John put this out here at 1:38 PM
1 Comments:
I wouldn't want someone like him to be on my team neither.
It's one thing about feeling like you don't feel appreciated by not getting what you want/worth.
But it's another thing to whinge about it to everyone. This negative attitude definately will get transferred to other team members.
Post a Comment
<< Home