As human beings, we all screw up from time to time. BUT, that being said, I have noticed over the past few decades (watching high school, college, AND pro football) that players seem to have their heads in la la land more and more. Typically, I have chalked it up to coaching errors ... because, when I was a player, I distinctly remember our coaches consistently beating the snot out of us for egregiously stupid errors on the field. Things like: (1) completely unnecessary blocks in the back that are 30 yards away from your teammate who is running back a punt or a kickoff, (2) kick returners who run up to the 10 or 20 yard line to catch a kickoff millimeters before it goes out of bounds (and thus prevent your offense from starting with the ball on the 35 yard line), (3) running backwards 20, 25, 30, etc. yards in an almost ALWAYS futile attempt to beat the entire defense to the other side of the field, (4) delivering a hit without wrapping up and arrogantly expecting that the runner will simply, automatically go down, (5) with seconds remaining on the play clock (or even in the game), being slow to get off the snap, (6) dancing and taunting after a score that earns an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, etc.
Of course, it is becoming more and more obvious that there is another factor at play, as well ... players who are more interested in showboating and trash talking than they are in their team and simply allowing their performance on the field to speak for them.
The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted. ~ D.H. Lawrence |
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