Four Down Territory: Pregame Warm Ups

Welcome!

You might have heard this but if not let me be the first to tell you:

The NFL is back!

A lot has happened since the final whistle blew at the Super Bowl. There was free agency, the draft, contact extensions, holdouts, and many issues that are bigger than football unfolded. Don’t worry though, I’m here to catch you up on the biggest storylines heading into the 2019-2020 NFL season.

Here. We. Go.

Early Retirements

Since the emergence of CTE in football players the NFL has taken steps to help curve the most dangerous game on earth. New rules, techniques, and equipment have been introduced to prevent head trauma and serious injury.

That’s great and all but football still causes both short and long term health issues and players are starting to take action.

In 2015 Chris Borland, at the ripe age of 24, retired from football after his rookie year for the 49ers. He made waves as a rookie and was primed to be a starter going into his sophomore season.

Why retire when your career is ascending?

Borland stated that concerns of long-term head trauma lead to him hanging his cleats earlier than most expected.

The move made waves but not enough to move the needle or start a trend.

Enter Rob Gronkowski and Andrew Luck.

Gronk, arguably the greatest tight end ever, called it a career back in March at age 29. He’s 30 now for all you fact checkers but he was still in his twenties when he announced that he was going to head out. Recently he stated that the constant pain, and him losing the joy for the game, as the reason he stopped.

Gronk holding back tears expressing a similar pain and lack of joy as Andrew Luck did last weekend.

Happy they are sharing this and also setting an example by prioritizing their joy, happiness and well-being. pic.twitter.com/YBNEPP6oAy

— Drea Blackwell (@KSBWDrea) August 27, 2019

Some, including me, thought he would eventually come back but after listening to him speak it’s clear that he’s done. There’s only so much pain a man can take.

Also, I don’t know what’s more Gronk than getting into the CBD game. Put me down for two packs of Gronk Gummies now, please.

Then there’s Andrew Luck; who abruptly retired after the Colts third preseason game. Let’s look over the debacle of the news breaking during the game and Luck having to face a home town crowd that booed him as he left the field for the final time (y’all Colts fans are trash) and listen to his reasoning for leaving.

Andrew Luck announces he will retire. The constant cycle of injury, pain and rehab has taken the joy out of the game. #Colts pic.twitter.com/ebqcRpSJVE

— Taylor Tannebaum (@TaylorTannebaum) August 25, 2019

Notice a trend? Pain and loss of joy.

Players, especially great ones, have seen what this game can do to the mind and body over the course of time. Junior Seau, and many others, have committed suicide because their brains were mush and they couldn’t take it anymore.

Which leads to the obvious; knowing the long term health dangers of football why would any sane professional play when their body is in a constant state of pain?

These two instances aren’t a blip on the radar but the start of a new wave of NFL player; one that’s going to leave money on the table for a better quality of life. However that may look in their eyes.

And who are we to blame them?

Domestic Violence

It’s no secret that the NFL has trouble punishing those suspected of domestic violence. Time and time again they’ve botched the handling of their investigations and, willingly or not, have displayed a pattern of behavior that not only silences women but make them targets for players and the public.

That sounds harsh but the severity of their inaction can’t be understated.

Let’s go to the most recent example: Tyreek Hill. The Chief’s star receiver was accused of not only hitting his wife but breaking the arm of his 3-year-old child. Here is a brief timeline of events.

• On March 15^th there were whispers at the Kansas City star that there were two police reports that occurred at Hill’s residence over the past few weeks. One report was for battery and the second one was for child abuse. Hill and his fiancée, Crystal Espinal, were listed on both reports.

 

• On April 15^th Hill attends the start of the Chief’s offseason program. The organization did not make a statement regarding the incident.

 

• Hill and Espinal temporarily lost custody of their son on April 18^th. The Chiefs made a statement essentially saying they’ll wait for more facts before making a decision.

 

• On April 24^th Kansas City District Attorney Steve Howe closes the case against Hill due to lack of evidence but was adamant that a crime had taken place. A quote from his press conference:

 

“We are deeply troubled by this situation and are concerned about the health and welfare of the child in question.” “We believe that a crime has occurred. However, the evidence in this case does not conclusively establish who committed the crime against this child. Criminal cases must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt by admissible evidence, not speculation, rumor or hearsay.”

 

• One day later, April 25^th the night of the NFL draft, KCTV-5 released a recording taken by Crystal of a conversation that she and Hill had while walking through the Dubai International Airport. The quotes taken from this interaction are frightening. Both parties accuse each other of physical violence. At one point Crystal can be heard saying that their son is, “terrified of you.” Hill didn’t mince words in his retort; “You need to be terrified of me too, bitch.” “That’s why you can’t keep a fucking man.” After the first round the Chiefs held a press conference in which they displayed their concern and barred Hill from team activities until further notice.

 

• On April 26^th the criminal case against Hill had been reopened.

 

• On May 2^nd ESPN published a letter from Hill’s lawyer. Hill denies any wrongdoing but does take responsibility for his “terrified” comment. His lawyer also claims that the recorded conversation does not match up with previous interactions throughout the past few months between Hill and Crystal.

 

• On May 22^nd at the spring meetings, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell states that the league will stay clear until the investigation is over.

 

• On June 7^th Hill and Crystal were cleared of the criminal investigation.

 

• On June 26^th the NFL met with hill for eight hours to discuss the events that had taken place.

 

• On July 19^th the NFL says Hill did not violate the personal conduct policy and will not be suspended. He could attend tem activities immediately.

One of the key phrases throughout that timeline is Roger Goodell claiming that Hill did not violate the personal conduct policy. For those who don’t know: the NFL has a policy that states how players should conduct themselves. If a player is perceived to “break” that policy then the NFL has a right to punish them. The technical term is “conduct detrimental to the league.” That’s just a fancy way of saying that you made us look bad so we’re punishing you. Law enforcement does not need to find a player guilty of a crime to be suspended for violating the personal conduct policy. If a recording of you threatening your fiancée isn’t enough to violate the personal conduct policy then there is an entire line of players who have been suspended for a lot less with less evidence who need to talk to the commissioner about lost wages.

It’s mind boggling because the NFL has all of the leverage fan wise.

NFL fans, compared to any other fan is sports, are more loyal to the team than any player.

The NBA, on the other hand, is run by star power. People pay to see LeBron James play, not the Los Angeles Lakers. Fans want to see James Harden score 40+, not the Houston Rockets. There’s a reason people have a Kevin Durant jersey from OKC, Golden State, and now Brooklyn. Stars sell tickets, not teams.

That dynamic is so important to keep in mind. If Goodell had suspended Hill then fans from KC would have griped and moaned but they would still buy tickets to games, show up in Chiefs jerseys, eat food in the stadium, wash it down with Bud Lite, and root their team on. Fans would still purchase their Sunday ticket package and tailgate.

They know they’re going to get your money anyway so why are they so afraid to make a stand?

 

The Believeland Browns

Don’t look now but the  Browns have put together a good team.

This offseason Cleveland went all in and ripped the Giants off for Olivier Vernon and Odell Beckham Jr. and his fresh new haircut that had fathers around the country rushing their kids to the barbershop, traded up for Greedy Williams in the NFL draft, and named Freddie Kitchens as their head coach after firing Hue Jackson and Todd Haley.

To be short; they actually look like a functional organization.

The Browns have gone all in for now while still building for the future. They’ve also adopted

the philosophy that the easiest way to win a Super Bowl is to put elite talent around a young quarterback. Baker Mayfield has quite the arsenal surrounding him coming into his second year.

• Odell Beckham Jr.
• Jarvis Landry
• David Njoku
• Demetrius Harris
• Nick Chubb
• Kareem Hunt (another player accused of domestic violence that the NFL dragged their feet on. He has been suspended for eight games after footage surfaced of him hitting a woman in a hotel.)

On the defensive side of the ball Cleveland looks to be one of the tops in the league and boy do they have the talent to do it. Myles Garrett is thisclose to breaking out and becoming one of the best defensive ends in the league.

For the first time in a long time the AFC North isn’t a two team race. The Steelers and Ravens project to be good but Cleveland is in prime position to win the division for the first time in THIRTY YEARS! (I’d like to take this time to say that I am thirty years old and it’s wild to reflect and realize that the Browns have been bad my entire life. I would say my heart goes out the Cleveland fans but y’all are out here cheering for losing. Can’t be me.)

The NFL’s Social Justice Swing and Miss

Let’s not ever forget that Colin Kaepernick is being blackballed by the NFL for speaking out against racism and police brutality in this country. It’s not because he can’t play or hates the police or whatever lie you tell yourself to gloss over that fact. Stating anything is false and is giving the NFL a free pass. An action that’s cowardice for all parties involved.

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…

The NFL and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation agreed to a deal that, honestly, is shady at best.

The long version: Jay-Z is going to have a concert with Rapsody, Meek Mill, and Meghan Trainer to kick off the season. Songs about social justice will be produced and used in NFL ads monthly and will be released on all streaming platforms. Roc Nation will also create a clothing line to help raise awareness. Proceeds from these projects will go to organizations to help communities that are disenfranchised.

The Wikipedia summary: Jay-Z used the leverage Colin Kaepernick built against the NFL to sell some t-shirts and music.

Since Kaepernick took a knee in 2016 the NFL has done its best to appear “woke.” Jerry Jones took a stab at it with this disastrous piss poor attempt to show “unity” back in 2017.

https://twitter.com/215Today/status/912504493358686208

 

A coalition of players, including Malcolm Jenkins and Anquan Boldin, met with NFL owners to see if there could be a resolution. They struck a deal that claimed owners would donate $89 million to causes that are important to the African American community. It sounded great at first but once the details started trickling out the more sour this deal felt. One part of the deal is that the NFL would stop participating in their breast cancer awareness program and shift that money to the coalition.

In other words; they didn’t donate anything, they just shifted the money to another cause.

Jay-Z is now in bed with NFL owners to the point where he’s starting to sound like one:

https://twitter.com/mymixtapez/status/1168683558904352768

 

That’s rich coming from a guy who made his money from drug dealing. As disappointing as it is seeing Jay-Z sell Colin down the river it shouldn’t be surprising. Jigga is a billionaire and you don’t make that kind of money by not putting the all-mighty dollar first.

Yes, he’s done amazing things for the community but one can acknowledge his triumphs as well as his missteps.

It’s just that this misstep is massive and will wipe out all the good he’s done.

Running Backs Chasing the Bag

Two elite running backs are in the midst of a holdout right now: Melvin Gordon and Ezekiel Elliott (Update: Zeke got PAID by signing a 6 year, $90 million contract with $50 million guaranteed) Both believe they have outperformed their deals and want to cash in now while still in their prime. It’s easy to understand their gripe after watching what happened to Le’Veon Bell last year. Running backs have been devalued and forgotten about over the last decade due to the growth of pass-first offenses.

With that, running backs are also asked to do more than ever before. They have to be powerful, agile, graceful, pass catchers, pass blockers, and three-down backs all while getting less money and thrown aside the moment they ask for more.

The career length for running backs are extremely short so it’s important to get that big contract before you’re out of juice. Unfortunately, running backs can go up to seven years in the league without getting the big payout. First round picks (Melvin and Ezekial) have a four year contract that included a fifth year team option. They can also be franchised tagged two years before a team has to commit to them long term. Sure, the franchise tag pays a running back the average salary of the top five earners at their position but there’s no long-term security.

There’s an unwritten rule in the NFL and history has backed this up. A running back starts to turn for the worse once they turn 30. The average age for an NFL player is 21/22 years old. If you add the 5 year rookie contract and two franchise tenders then a running back will be 28/29 when they can “cash in.” No NFL team is going to back up the Brinks truck for a running back that, theoretically, going to drop in production soon.

And there lies the struggle. Running backs will never see their big payday so they must holdout until ownership gives in. The only problem is that if their backup has similar production then they’ve lost all leverage.

I, for one, will never get upset at a player for getting every cent they can.

Here’s a selection from sister Cardi B breaking this thing down.

The Oakland (Las Vegas?) Raiders

HBO and Hard Knocks got it right; the Raiders were the right team to put under a microscope during training camp. They are the most interesting team in the league, outside of Cleveland, in regards to potential drama.

We all know about the Antonio Brown helmet saga and, if I’m Gruden, then that’s the perfect distraction for the cameras instead of what’s really going on with that team.

HBO covered briefly in their first episode but the Raiders employ a man by the name of Richie Incognito. If that name is ringing a bell let me take a moment to tell you why. Richie was at the heart of the Miami bullying scandal where he repeatedly used racial slurs against teammate, Jonathan Martin. Incognito also has a history of dirty play and, in 2018, threatened to shoot funeral home employees while making arrangements for his late father.

A story that HBO had four weeks to tell but unfortunately chose not to.

The Raiders also employ what many will say is the dirtiest player in the league. Vontaze Burfict has quite the history of doing things that are frowned on in any sport. To drive the point home here’s a eight minute video of Vontaze doing dirty stuff.

One item that HBO did cover, unknowingly, is the relationship between head coach Jon Gruden and starting quarterback Derek Carr. Anyone that knows Gruden understands that he really isn’t a fan of his quarterbacks and his interactions with Carr just confirm that fact. Derek is trying his hardest to be buddy-buddy with his coach but it’s easy to tell that Gruden just doesn’t care. Don’t be shocked if Carr is in another uniform next year. You know what; book it. Derek Carr will be on another team this time next year.

2021 NFL Lockout

This story is on the horizon but will dominate the cycle once we get closer to the end of the season. The 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement, CBA for short, ends at the end of this season. If you thought the tension between the NFL Player’s Association (the player’s union aka NFLPA) and the owners had subsided since their clash in 2011 then are you in for some drama.

Here are the big conflict areas.

• The owners want to add two more regular season games while adding another bye week. So much for player safety.
• Players want fully-guaranteed contracts. This will cost owners more money, of course.
• Marijuana
• Player safety (see the conflict with adding two more games?)

There are many more topics but those are going to be the main two you’re going to hear about. In 2011 the owners won the stare down and odds are they’re going to win again.

The NFLPA needs to come up with a plan and communicate that clearly with players. They also need to start telling players to save their money; a message that should have went out last year or the year before. The problem is that the players start to fold once those checks don’t start coming in. Owners made their fortune in other ventures so they have the means to sweat it out.

There are 1,700 players and only 32 owners. The 32 owners pay the salaries of those 1,700 players so it’s safe to say that owners have access to more resources than the players. I’ll put it like this.

The NFLPA lawyers come to the courthouse in BMWs and Mercedes. Very nice vehicles, don’t get me wrong but the lawyers that represent owners pull up in Bently trucks. It’s just a level that the NFLPA can’t compete with.

Until the NFLPA can gets everyone on the same page all they can hope for are scraps from the owner’s table.

Don’t forget to keep it locked at Goingfor2.com for all the latest fantasy, analysis, podcasts, and just good trash talk throughout the season.

As always, thanks for reading.

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