FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Having grew up with great coaches and teams like Lombardi and the Packers, Shula and the Dolphins, Landry and the Cowboys, The Bear and 'Bama, It saddens me to see this once honorable sport catering to the likes of Ocho Cinco, Larry Johnson, Pacman Jones, and others of that ilk.

Football used to be a TEAM sport played by humble men who realized how fortunate they were to be playing the game and making good money doing it. We occassionally saw a wildcat like Joe Namath come along with a brash mouth or loud ways, but they basically stayed in check thanks to their coaching staff.

Football coaches used to be revered almost and obeyed always. To question your coach or worse yet "yell" at him was a sure ticket home and you were blackballed from the league.

We have been in the "ME" version of the NFL for fifteen years now. Deion, T.O., Keyshawn, and others started the trend of players to be individuals instead of a member of a team. The media ate it up at first because it was such a departure from the norm and it actually fueled others to step out their into their own limelight.

Players became ego driven and careless of their actions and words. This has led to the NFL landscape we see today. More arrests and drug violations than you can shake a stick at and a sharp downturn in the grace and honor that used to accompany the title of "Professional Football Player".  The might as well start a talk show the likes of Jerry Springer or such. It would be about equivalent to their actions and show their true lack of taste, honor, and the abundance of the "ME ME ME" they choose instead of team pursuits.

Just because we have millions invested in someone because they have tremendous physical talent does not mean the coach should turn a blind eye or ignore their transgressions be it verbal, political, or legal.

I think it is time we put an end to the "Player's Coach" school of thought. We should get back to Football Coaches! Tony Dungy, Tom Coughlin, Bill Parcells, and their kind kept this thing in check and benched a player when they broke the "rules".

If you need examples of "players" who exemplify this total lack of ethics, team spirit, and utter disregard for their "role model" position, you do not have to look hard. Larry Johnson, Chad Johnson, Pacman Jones, Terrell Owens, and the list goes on and on.

In the old days, the player's contracts had a code of conduct that would cost the player if they broke the clause. With the high prices and super agents at the helm now, these rules have gone by the wayside. I always thought the Commissioner of the NFL ran things, but apparently we allow these braggarts and their agents to dictate things now and it is showing with the continued unravelling of the honorable flag that was the once proud NFL.

I am still proud of what is good about the NFL. Despite their trying, these few bad apples cannot outweigh the good in this league. I wonder how long that will be the case though if we do not do something to stop it now.