Brains Over Braun
July 10th, 2021
Uses his head.
Who said football isn’t a thinking man’s game?
Joe remembers a back-and-forth with a journalism professor in college. This was a guy — though he was an excellent teacher — who believed sports was almost the toy section of the newspaper. Interesting and fun, yes — but what about the Contras?
The same professor jokingly mocked Joe for quickly glancing at the front page of a newspaper before ripping out the sports section.
Newspapers, you know, those environmentally-unfriendly things that got your hands black? That 19th-century news delivery service that once upon a time littered everyone’s front lawn in the morning and you had to hurry to get it before the neighbor’s dog p!ssed on it or tried to eat it?
This professor was a big critical thinking kind of guy and he didn’t believe that existed in sports, which drove Joe nuts. So Joe and said professor got into it once. Joe explained sports is nothing but constant critical thinking with an immediate deadline. “It’s second-and-five. Should we pass? Where? To whom? Should we run? Who gets the ball? Who’s playing soft on defense?”
Joe gave other examples with baseball and basketball. Joe’s professor returned a blank stare and said, “I never thought about it that way — you’ve got a good point.”
You see? Critical thinking!
Anyway, preparation can make all the difference in the world. It sometimes can give a player an edge who may not be as athletically gifted.
Take Bucs safety Antoine Winfield. Joe doesn’t think Winfield is a top-five safety yet. He has shown he could be. So in Jeremy Fowler’s BSPN series of top position players based on intel from NFL suits, Winfield is not listed.
But Winfield is named as a guy to watch and look out for in the future.
“He’s got an edge to him, good instincts. He can play down or in the open field. Really instinctive player and plays so freakin’ hard.” — NFC offensive coach
Winfield is just a friggin’ smart baller. Think about it: Have you noticed, as a rookie, how many times he was caught out of position? Not damn much.
In fact, Joe cannot recall one play where Winfield got roasted badly or was caught with his pants down. The guy is always around the ball.
Of course, Winfield makes it clear he does lots of film work and has a weekly film crunch session with his dad, the former Pro Bowl corner.
Winfield may not be as gifted as Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James (cue angels singing). But Winfield is so smart he’s always in position to make plays.
July 10th, 2021 at 11:08 am
Deuces.
Also the kid was a rookie. He probably shouldn’t be too 5 at his position. It’s a freak of nature Tristan Wirfs who is, and that’s EXTREMELY rare.
But man I jumped off the couch screaming when we picked Winfield Jr. and am glad to see him off to such a great start. Cannot wait to see how he improves this year. I think this dude is going to be a pro bowler.
July 10th, 2021 at 11:38 am
Todd Bowles is a master at utilizing safeties. He specializes on short, smart and fast safeties. Winfield is Bowles prototype S and I would be surprised if he was not voted as a pro bowl this season.
July 10th, 2021 at 11:41 am
Newspapers, you know, those environmentally-unfriendly things that got your hands black? That 19th-century news delivery service that once upon a time littered everyone’s front lawn in the morning and you had to hurry to get it before the neighbor’s dog p!ssed on it or tried to eat it?
That is so well written, Joe!
July 10th, 2021 at 11:43 am
Bonzai:
Thank you.
July 10th, 2021 at 11:55 am
Who said football isn’t a thinking man’s game?
________
Umm…….. JayMiss?
😀
July 10th, 2021 at 12:01 pm
Wirfs getting respect over on the four letter!
July 10th, 2021 at 12:22 pm
“… teacher — who believed sports was almost the toy section of the newspaper.”
.
.
LOL
He’s kind of right. But everyone likes toys! That’s why they sell.
July 10th, 2021 at 12:25 pm
I’ll take Winfield over either of those other two, personally.
James can’t even stay healthy.
July 10th, 2021 at 12:30 pm
Anyway, preparation can make all the difference in the world. It sometimes can give a player an edge who may not be as athletically gifted – Is there any better example of this than Tom Brady?
July 10th, 2021 at 12:32 pm
A prof admitting he was wrong??? Gotta call bs on that
July 10th, 2021 at 12:42 pm
Not sure which receiver it was but he did get beat out of position against chargers in deep pass.
But not many indeed. And he can hit.
Remember that hit he put on AJ Dillon in nfc champ game against packers?
He is a big boy too. Flipped him like a rag doll
Hope he can be next john lynch type cause he can make plays / ints and knock a guys head off for being a tad undersized
July 10th, 2021 at 12:55 pm
Growing up with an NFL father who was a DB certainly helped.
July 10th, 2021 at 1:03 pm
Newspapers served their purpose at the time…….I paid my way through USF by being a District Mgr for the Times…..in other words….I had a bunch of kids throwing papers…..pretty popular back then.
July 10th, 2021 at 1:17 pm
Beeej Says:
July 10th, 2021 at 12:32 pm
A prof admitting he was wrong??? Gotta call bs on that
************************************************************
AND a “journalism” professor to boot!
I’m with you on this one Beeej!
Maybe Joe’s remembering a daydream or something? 😉
July 10th, 2021 at 1:22 pm
It’s called having an open mind, which is what critical thinking is. Once upon a time, that was considered a valuable and sought-after trait in journalism. Once upon a time.
July 10th, 2021 at 1:32 pm
Sorry Joe,
An over generalization on my part regarding the state of “journalism” today, especially in the mainstream.
Completely unfair to those (such as yourself x2) who do take ethical journalism seriously.
Mea culpa for lumping all into one boat. I shall have to assume that your professor DID have an open mind AND was able to admit a fault.
July 10th, 2021 at 1:37 pm
Nah, man. No harm, no foul. Fully understand. Never took it that way at all.
The way folks who call themselves “journalists” in 2021 behave/act/pander/indoctrinate, not exactly proud of that profession.
And Joe’s pretty confident most if not all of his professors would have been revolted by what is passed off as “journalism” today.
July 10th, 2021 at 2:20 pm
IrishMist: yeah there is a better example. Ronde Barber.
July 10th, 2021 at 2:48 pm
Winfield … drafted 2nd Rnd in 2020 … Safety
White … drafted 1st Rnd in 2019 … LB
Vea … drafted 1st Rnd in 2018 … DT
Lynch … drafted 3rd Rnd in 1993 … Safety (HOF)
Brooks … drafted 1st Rnd in 1995 … LB (HOF)
Sapp … drafted 1st Rnd in 1995 … DT (HOF)
Winfield, White & Vea will follow in the footsteps of Lynch, Brooks & Sapp. It’s amazing how quickly a defense can improve over just a 3-year period when you shore up the middle of the field with talent like that. Strong players & leadership ‘up the middle’, in the hands of DCs like Monte Kiffin & Todd Bowles, leads to kick ass defenses.
July 10th, 2021 at 3:13 pm
I wouldn’t trade Winfield for any other Safety in the league.
July 10th, 2021 at 5:15 pm
What SlyPirate just said.!!
July 10th, 2021 at 5:48 pm
Ditto on that SB.
The kid is gonna be great.
July 10th, 2021 at 7:36 pm
“Kid is a winner. Born to play. Its in the bloodlines
Knack of always being at the right time
Reminince of the great and only Ronde Barber
Drafting Winfield and the father and son pedigree and instant production is one of the reasons JC Horn and Patrick Surtain was drafted so high
Gm Jason Gump is a Trend setter”
Kobe Faker
July 10th, 2021 at 7:44 pm
“Kid is a winner. Its in the bloodlines
Knack of being at the right place at the right time
Reminance of the great Ronde Barber
Drafting winfield and the father and son pedigree and instant production was one of reasons JC Horn and Patrick Surtain was drafted so high
GM Jason Gump is a trendsetter”
Kobe Faker
July 10th, 2021 at 11:36 pm
Yet another awesome pick by Licht. What a thrill it must be for his kid and his dad to work on football during the season. Too damn cool.
July 11th, 2021 at 1:18 am
Joe don’t forget before the sprinklers came on.
doosh that was a funny line about Jaymiss!!! 😅🤣😂
July 11th, 2021 at 8:22 am
Video killed the radio star. The internet killed newspapers. I used to read the newspaper first thing in the morning with my first cup of Java. Never read the paper now. Online news instead. You can’t chat with the sports section of a paper. But you can blast off with Joe!!!
July 12th, 2021 at 2:30 pm
Heart…preparation..dude is a baller