Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucas McCain
Russ, I hear you. But, he had a platform that few people have to protest. He took advantage of that. To me, that's understandable. I doubt he fully realized the eventual backlash he would get. I think it is fair to say that he overestimated his value in the league. He's a barely above average QB who the owners are obviously not willing to sign due to his possible negative impact on their bottom line.
He will have a legacy though and you can't put a price on that. He stood up for what he believes in and I respect that. He already made his millions and he'll keep making millions with or without the NFL.
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There is a lot of truth in what you're saying Lucas...and yes, he did take advantage of his platform. He also suffered the consequences of it...that is if he really wanted to stay in the NFL. He's a smart enough guy that he had to realize there would be negative consequences.
His legacy was the point of the stunt he pulled. I don't believe he really wants to play in the NFL. I don't think he believes he still can. Not based on that workout and certainly not based on the fact that he basically kicked sand in the collective face of the NFL.
What he needs is to remain relevant and continue building that legacy of wronged NFL player turned social justice warrior. Right now he is making plenty of money on that. He had fallen out of the conversation and this was a way to get back in it and ensure the money stays rolling in for a little while longer. What happens when he turns 35 and still hasn't played a down? Will he still be relevant then? I think he'll be dropped like a hot potato in the next couple of years because his name won't mean anything in the NFL. He'll need a new angle.
I don't think he's much of a leader either. He's probably being advised by a team of handlers with their own agendas in mind. Nike for instance has a financial stake in him. It was good business for them to put him on that field. It keeps his name out there for them. He was convinced that it was good for his relevance to do it. It was a calculated maneuver to get his name back out there for both of them and a little bit of a fuck you to the NFL by him.
FTR I support his right to protest but not the way he or any of them went about it. The field is not the proper platform. The post game presser is not the proper platform. Those guys have days off during the season. They have personal time after their games. They have weeks and months during the off season. They represent their team on the field and in the press room a couple hundred hours a year. That leaves about 8500 hours of their time to do what they want. If they want to protest something I support their right to do it, ON THEIR TIME.
They have a huge platform just by their name and can garner plenty attention on that alone. If that gets them some time on Sportscenter or the evening news then more power to them.
What I don't want is to sit down to relax and escape my own problems for a few hours by watching a ball game and have to see or hear about their personal grievances ON MY TIME. I'm the consumer of what they are selling. I'm not buying social protests of any kind right or left. I'm buying entertainment the way I want to be entertained. I turned the NFL off for two years because of it. I'm glad to see the NFL pushing back a little.
I wouldn't go see a provider if I knew she was going to start whining about some kind of social justice campaign. Watching a ball game is no different.