2010 NFL Training Camp and Preseason Thread

[OILFAN #81]

Looking forward to getting Gonzo back in the recieving core this year. Another weapon for Peyton to get the ball to. Really looking forward to Hughes as well behind Freeney and Mathis. Another option should one get injured.

Manning will get his max contract soon, leaving Mathis and Wayne needing to re-work deals.

I can't wait for 7 weeks from today!

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Carry your pads, why? You can't carry them yourself?

Because it's the way things work. Rookies carry pads, pick up tabs, basically are the teams' bitch. It's the way of the world. Dez pulling this makes it seem like he thinks he's above his station. Talent notwithstanding, you shut up and play your role.

[Machiavelli]

Whatever. I'm not going to condemn the kid becuase he refused to give into Roy Williams' hazing.

[KTown]

I totally agree, carry the damn pads for the vets. Everyone else has done it. You're a rookie and you are going to have to earn the respect.

Its just a hazing process, its part of every sport, each sport has its differences. If you ever watch Hard Knocks they show it to you and you see guys such as Todd Heap (Who is a great TE) carry Shannon Sharpes pads back in the day.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Probably Roy Williams last camp as a Cowboy. I'm surprised they didn't cut him loose this offseason.

If Crayton wasn't terrible last year he probly would have been cut

I think he actually has a good year for the Cowboys this year, in terms of the defensive coverage he is going to be the 4th option after Austin, Witten and Bryant and with Austin and Bryant being much more wide guys he can work more from the slot

I think he is an excellent slot possession receiver that was being forced in to the role of a wideout


looking forward to Hard Knocks especially this year as well because the Jets are such a cocky team, should be more entertaining than last year with the Bengals

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Whatever. I'm not going to condemn the kid becuase he refused to give into Roy Williams' hazing.

If it wasn't Williams, it would've been somebody else. It smells of a sense of entitlement. Not a good way to start your career.

Read in article in ESPN the magazine today while waiting for my haircut, and this jumped out at me courtesy of Aaron Rodgers:

Rodgers has followed several self-imposed rules of NFL engagement: 1) behave yourself, play the game, be on time, keep your mouth shut and be a good teammate, because "your reputation in this league is important; everybody talks," he says;

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5380493

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

looking forward to Hard Knocks especially this year as well because the Jets are such a cocky team, should be more entertaining than last year with the Bengals

The Jets should be a rather entertaining team for hard knocks just based on Rex Ryan.

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Whatever. I'm not going to condemn the kid becuase he refused to give into Roy Williams' hazing.

If that's the worst hazing he gets, then he should consider himself lucky

[Montana Moe]

Rodgers is great. If my team didn't have the best QB in the league, (yeah, I said it!) I'd love to have Rodgers.

As for the Williams/Bryant thing, I look at Williams like the character Ben Affleck plays in Dazed and Confused. Trying to prove his relevance by belittling the rookie. All while his peers think of him as a bit of a joke.

I have a feeling that if Bryant was told to carry Demarcus Ware's pads, he would have complied.

Bryant's going to be tied to a goalpost some time soon.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Rodgers is great. If my team didn't have the best QB in the league, (yeah, I said it!) I'd love to have Rodgers.

As for the Williams/Bryant thing, I look at Williams like the character Ben Affleck plays in Dazed and Confused. Trying to prove his relevance by belittling the rookie. All while his peers think of him as a bit of a joke.

I have a feeling that if Bryant was told to carry Demarcus Ware's pads, he would have complied.

Bryant's going to be tied to a goalpost some time soon.

You're a Colts fan??

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

You're a Colts fan??

What? Mel Kiper told us all that Russell was the best QB that he has ever seen. What team is he playing for???

(sorry, Cant stand that guy Russell and Kiper both. Kiper spews his garbage and gets the guy a #1 pick when he should of been a 2nd rounder)

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

If it wasn't Williams, it would've been somebody else. It smells of a sense of entitlement. Not a good way to start your career.

Read in article in ESPN the magazine today while waiting for my haircut, and this jumped out at me courtesy of Aaron Rodgers:

Rodgers has followed several self-imposed rules of NFL engagement: 1) behave yourself, play the game, be on time, keep your mouth shut and be a good teammate, because "your reputation in this league is important; everybody talks," he says;

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5380493

How completely overblown. No one is going to look back on Bryant's career (if he has one), and say "oh, but remember the time he wouldn't carry some over-the-hill player's sweaty pads?"

Please....that so-called tradition is ridiculous anyways. Good for Dez for sticking up for himself.

The fact that it's Roy Williams is just icing on the cake.

[transplant99]

Mach....I get what you are saying, but there is a reason these "hazing" rituals exist.

Its not about being belittled or, in fact, anything personal at all. It's all about team bonding and with the young guys, showing them in small ways that everyone is there for everyone else. Trying to build a true team concept if you will. Not sure even i agree that it is all that effective, but when someone refuses to include themselves, it points to a "me-first" line of thinking.

That is nothing short of unacceptable in a team game that so relies on everyone doing what they need to do in order for everyone else to succeed.

With Bryant's past, his problems with the NCAA last year, and seeing him slide so far this past draft....this is already a red flag IMO. He can have all the talent in the world and it won't matter if he doesn't buy into the team concept at the NFL level. In college he and others like him can get away with it, because they are the "man". Right now though Bryant is a small fish in a big ass lake who needs to prove himself to everyone. This aint a good start.

[Montana Moe]

Chris Mortensen suggested that perhaps Bryant was told not to carry Williams' pads by a coach, exec, other vet, etc.

That wouldn't surprise me as a tactic to get Williams fired up and motivated for the competition between the two. Ideally, that could elevate both of their games, if Williams has it in him.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Chris Mortensen suggested that perhaps Bryant was told not to carry Williams' pads by a coach, exec, other vet, etc.

That wouldn't surprise me as a tactic to get Williams fired up and motivated for the competition between the two. Ideally, that could elevate both of their games, if Williams has it in him.

If that's the case, they should not have put Bryant in the position where he had to explain the action. Idiots. He is getting pounded on talk radio today, which would be a shame if it wasn't his fault.

[Jesse834]

Terrence Cody has agreed to a 3 year deal with the Ravens.
Sergio Kindle is going to miss the entire training camp with a fractured skull after falling down stairs at his friends house in Texas.

[ResAlien]

Dammit Broncos get Thomas and Tebow signed for TC this week.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Mach....I get what you are saying, but there is a reason these "hazing" rituals exist.

Its not about being belittled or, in fact, anything personal at all. It's all about team bonding and with the young guys, showing them in small ways that everyone is there for everyone else. Trying to build a true team concept if you will. Not sure even i agree that it is all that effective, but when someone refuses to include themselves, it points to a "me-first" line of thinking.

That is nothing short of unacceptable in a team game that so relies on everyone doing what they need to do in order for everyone else to succeed.

With Bryant's past, his problems with the NCAA last year, and seeing him slide so far this past draft....this is already a red flag IMO. He can have all the talent in the world and it won't matter if he doesn't buy into the team concept at the NFL level. In college he and others like him can get away with it, because they are the "man". Right now though Bryant is a small fish in a big ass lake who needs to prove himself to everyone. This aint a good start.

And, as someone else has already stated, this is pretty minor when it comes to hazing (and obviously, if someone else told him not to do this, the situation becomes totally different).

I would agree if it was something horrible or degrading, but this is hardly that.

[transplant99]

ESPN has their preseason rankings out..at least i think these are new. (Just fodder for discusion)

http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings?year=2010&week=0

[mykalberta]

Bill Simmons (ESPN) and Mike Lombardi with a great podcast this week with an NFL preview.