Playing a team sport can be frustrating at times, especially when you're teammates aren't pulling their weight. In those situations, its usually best to keep your thoughts to yourself or share them within the confines of the locker room. There's a time and a place for candor and when you're down and frustrated, that's probably not it. Just ask Hope Solo what happens when you're a little too honest about those who wear the same uniform as you.
Case in point, Curtis Brinkley:
"The offensive line has to put (helmets) on people," Brinkley said. "I'm tired of saying, 'Hey, look man, this is the situation,' because it is what it is. People on the offensive line, receivers, running backs, we have to put faces on other people's faces. Nothing's going to happen with the running game if you got people in the backfield if they're not blocking. It starts up front. We gotta get the job done."
Granted, Curtis may be right. But I would ask him, what is to be gained from publicly slagging your teammates, especially the ones whose existence is to make you look good? Does he honestly believe that now that he's talked openly about their inability to play well, the linemen will band together to improve their game and improve Curtis' stats?
Kinda reminds me of Peyton Manning's "I'm trying to be a good teammate here" rant a few years ago (I assumed the NFL would have destroyed all records of cause it NEVER HAPPENED. You got that? Peyton Manning is infallible!) Chances are, Curtis feels like he's not doing the best job he can do and he's lashing out on easy targets rather than looking introspectively. He's also seeing another running back get some of his carries and he's hearing calls for a second replacement to get in the game. It's human nature, we can all understand how it must feel and the urge to deflect. Again though, unless you're quitting on your teammates under false pretenses to go work at NBC where you'll then make fun of and chide said teammates from afar in order to hawk your wares, it's bad form. (Apparently if you're doing that, its journalistic integrity)
This is one of those situations where Greg Robinson needs to step in and not only put the kibosh on it but also get Curtis' head back on right. But since it took Greg five games to finally step up and take responsibility himself, I don't know if he'll be the one to preach responsibility to his players.
Case in point, Curtis Brinkley:
"The offensive line has to put (helmets) on people," Brinkley said. "I'm tired of saying, 'Hey, look man, this is the situation,' because it is what it is. People on the offensive line, receivers, running backs, we have to put faces on other people's faces. Nothing's going to happen with the running game if you got people in the backfield if they're not blocking. It starts up front. We gotta get the job done."
Granted, Curtis may be right. But I would ask him, what is to be gained from publicly slagging your teammates, especially the ones whose existence is to make you look good? Does he honestly believe that now that he's talked openly about their inability to play well, the linemen will band together to improve their game and improve Curtis' stats? Kinda reminds me of Peyton Manning's "I'm trying to be a good teammate here" rant a few years ago (I assumed the NFL would have destroyed all records of cause it NEVER HAPPENED. You got that? Peyton Manning is infallible!) Chances are, Curtis feels like he's not doing the best job he can do and he's lashing out on easy targets rather than looking introspectively. He's also seeing another running back get some of his carries and he's hearing calls for a second replacement to get in the game. It's human nature, we can all understand how it must feel and the urge to deflect. Again though, unless you're quitting on your teammates under false pretenses to go work at NBC where you'll then make fun of and chide said teammates from afar in order to hawk your wares, it's bad form. (Apparently if you're doing that, its journalistic integrity)
This is one of those situations where Greg Robinson needs to step in and not only put the kibosh on it but also get Curtis' head back on right. But since it took Greg five games to finally step up and take responsibility himself, I don't know if he'll be the one to preach responsibility to his players.