Bucs Should Channel Jackie Robinson
April 17th, 2012
Yeah, Joe’s a football guy through and through. NFL Network, SiriusXM NFL Radio, this here site on the interwebs… there simply is not a day that goes by that Joe does not consume NFL content in some form. And Joe’s not even going to discuss his sometimes unhealthy addiction to college football, either.
But that doesn’t mean he believes other sports are poison.
Joe’s a baseball guy too and even has MLB Extra Innings available on his computer and Droid RAZR Maxx.
Sunday was Jackie Robinson Day, a day where — at the demands of Bud “Bad Haircut” Selig — there is an awful, pandering gimmick where every player of every team must wear Robinson’s No. 42.
(Imagine if, one game a year, every NFL player was required to wear Marion Motley’s No. 76. That would be pretty asinine, no?)
If Selig really wanted to honor Robinson, he’d invoke a Rooney Rule-type of program in baseball to ensure men and women of color have front office jobs. But of course, style always trumps substance in Selig’s world — “Hey, we care about Jackie Robinson’s heritage: Every player has to wear his number once a year.”
Anyway, Robinson was truly a remarkable man. For all the absolute s(p)it that man had to tolerate on a daily basis for years, and turn the other cheek, Joe knows of no better of a man.
If ever there was a man of character, it was Robinson.
This brings Joe to Adam Dell, columnist for the Bradenton Herald. He wrote recently how the Bucs should channel Robinson’s qualities and totally clean house after next week’s NFL draft.
There have been quite a few reports that the low-character guys were among the most popular people in the Bucs locker room last year.
Schiano is trying to eradicate the cancer from his clubhouse.
Dell goes on to name names of who should walk the plank, no matter their talent. Dell is of the mind that the players he names (click the link above) will do more to undermine new Bucs coach Greg Schiano than to help get the Bucs to winning ways.
Dell lauds Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik for throwing oft-suspended Tanard Jackson overboard. But, Dell suggests, he and Schiano shouldn’t stop there.
It’s what Jackie Robinson would do, Dell believes.
April 17th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
It’s what anyone with a brain would do.
April 17th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
I think we can agree the majority of us wanted Morris fired after that disaster of a season last year. With that said everything starts at the top first it was the coaches and now its going to start being some of the players. Like it or not we have to stick by it since we wanted change now we have to embrace it and look at it as the greater good for our Buc future.
April 17th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
“I think we can agree the majority of us wanted Morris fired after that disaster of a season last year.”
Except two guys locally who worked in sports radio, one of which is unemployed now.
April 17th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
I love it how all these people at posting about bad apples on this team as if they were in the locker room. How these players ruined the chemistry of an extremely young team, and then to use they legacy of Jackie Robinson to substantiate their argument, really. Obinson had to prove his value to his team before they wold even consider having his back. Talk to the players, they will tell you what kind of locker room guy they are, about team chemistry, at some point you have to let these players, as leaders emerge, govern who will be on this team, hats how Sapp, Brooks., etc. did it. Hey coach, such and such not giving it their all?
April 17th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
At one point Winslow was one of my favorites until I realized he never practiced. No wonder Josh threw so many interceptions when he was targeting Winslow. What started as a way to help save Kellen for game day spread to a full epidemic of missed practices for sore bones from what I could tell. Of course Kellen was screaming and flailing to keep “Rah” at the end of the season and said it would kill the team if “Rah” was fired. Glad to know that is behind them. I suspect Winslow soon shall be as well.
April 17th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
lol As if the Rooney rule is anything but extremely disrespectful.
April 17th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
From what I’ve heard the new Bucs offense wont feature the tight end much more than as a blocker. Something we all know Kellen Winslow doesn’t do. I was hoping the Bucs would drop him but it doesnt look like it’ll happen anymore.
April 17th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
If you read between the lines of Schianos quote he wants guys that love football, we could very well see a bunch of players get cut after the draft. God I cant wait for this season to get started!!!!
April 17th, 2012 at 2:25 pm
@Joe
Baseball has had black managers since Frank Robinson in the 70’s. The Dodgers are run by a woman, and Ken Williams has been GM for the White Sox going on 10 years now. The NFL was the one league out of step with the nation, that’s why the NFL is the only league with the Rooney rule.
April 17th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Let me amend that, the Dodgers were run by a woman under McCourt.
April 17th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
@ Joe,
Every MLB player wearring #42 is a great tribute to Jackie Robinson.
Boo on you for being a hater.
It would be asinine to wear #76 in the NFL bc NUMBERS MATTER.
Certain positions are limited to certain numbers, where in baseball any # for any player.
April 17th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
Looking forward to this team further ridding itself of violent thugs and malcontents.
April 17th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
I like the article and it puts up a great point that I know has already been mentioned before. But if we can get a 3rd or even 4th for KW2 then I say go right ahead.
Also, I was a huge supporter before we drafted him and still am…but if we can get a 2nd or even a late 1st for Mike Williams then I would say yes. Star WRs are at a premium and I don’t think he will like being our “#2”. Before he becomes a problem I would look at moving him.
We could then draft Justin Blackmon with our 1st pick. And get a LB and CB with our original 2nd round pick and either the 1st or 2nd Williams would bring. We would be much improved.
That is the only scenario playing out that i would want to draft Blackmon. He is going to be a true freak out their ala Megatron. And he has 0 baggage or character concern. He will be great for the community and even better for the team and “Josh”.
April 17th, 2012 at 6:29 pm
I clicked on that link and when I read that ‘article’ it seemed like I was reading pages from JoeBucsfan.com.
Whomever wrote that article provided absolutely nothing new and nothing of value. I wonder if that person actually bothered in interview a single Bucs player before they ‘penned’ that piece of junk?
April 17th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
@Joe I personally think that the Rooney Rules is an insult to any person of color – PERIOD. Just like affirmative action is offensive as well.
Does that mean that prejudice doesn’t exist? OF COURSE IT DOES.
Making people interview candidates just because of their skin color is NOT the way to overcome prejudice. All that does is make people ‘feel’ better about their innate attitudes and reinforces those who are prejudiced in the first place.
Honor people with deeds; not legislation or mandates.
April 17th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
My problem with this writer is that I don’t think he knows the players at all. Just like the fans don’t really know them. Some of the most despicable human beings on the Buccaneer super bowl team were these so called high character guys. I had personal interactions with them. They were sleaze bags with great agents who believed in the value of public relations professionals. So don’t believe everything you read.
A person who tests positive for weed is not of low character, he may be using the safest method of pain relief available with the fewest side effects. It’s also legal in 14 states and the list is growing. When people learn that Hemp not only helps terminal cancer patients, administered properly, injested as Hemp oil, it cures cancer. You shouldn’t have to move to Mexico to cure a simple but fatal disease.
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Run+from+the+cure+The+Ricky+Simpson+Story&mid=A55C626EC5DD17CDD6A1A55C626EC5DD17CDD6A1&view=detail&FORM=VIRE1
The NFL is run by people who are out of touch with reality. The concussion-dementia problem is about to bring down this multi-billion dollar enterprise. There are 1,100 lawsuits pending right now, that’s just the beginning. Do you deal with the problem or do you change the game to two hand touch?
The only cure for Lou Gehrigs disease, which is caused by concussions is human growth hormone. Which the NFL just outlawed. In a few short years, they will be supplying the drug, free of charge, to all players past and present. It’s the only solution.