National Football League

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

Ryan Leaf Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceRMSvPL84g

Great interview with Ryan Leaf, who has turned a bunch of negatives into positives.

Yeah I think the sporting world especially involving young people who may not make it to the pinnacle could do worse than listen more to some of the people that didn't make it. I think there is a lesson to be learned about post retirement and also about young people not meeting expectations in a cut throat business and then being cut adrift and told to make something of the rest of their lives after their entire life has been devoted to something that nobody has any use for anymore.

 

[jmdirt]

'Tez Kennedy dead at 48...

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Re:

'Tez Kennedy dead at 48...

Sad. Young. Former teammate Eugene Robinson says he was stunned. There was nothing suspicious reported. Cause of death is unknown yet.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

That is sad. My initial guess is it was somehow weight/size related. Coronary issues, diabetes maybe. Cortez was never one of those shaped type athletes, in fact his footwork was amazing for being such a big guy. But a quick google look at pictures from his HOF entry and elsewhere show he didn't put on that much weight after leaving the NFL.

 

[movingtarget]

NFL rule changes

http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=pMJKdIFVI6pghfX2HXfSzxRpdoyDWYNW/jSXUIvzWmOW9lUEfbPXwRnm+xhYZ01eeJSwitIbyReszXoddGr4pY7yk8puGgVICKewe6YkIj/VUwxkOQHDnje0h7H9nHvxF1E2Q6gD6ktXm1vJFeYiB94JjypKTQKIlFSheUVpYAwmacdysCIF6A==&campaign_id=129&instance_id=97728&segment_id=108440&user_id=12d98412e3bcc0522f6cfbf4c21c54e6&regi_id=42685115

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Tez was always big-butted and extremely quick for his size. And powerful. He beat linemen with both freakish quickness or power. He was almost always double-teamed, sometimes triple-teamed, and he'd beat those!

Kaep courting has begun. He visits Seattle today. I just don't see him signing with Seattle as he's prolly going to want more money than they have available ($7M cap space). Many feel Seattle would be a good spot for him, and Seattle could really use a solid backup.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ected-to-work-out-for-seahawks-in-free-agency

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Re:

NFL rule changes

http://p.nytimes.com/email/re?location=pMJKdIFVI6pghfX2HXfSzxRpdoyDWYNW/jSXUIvzWmOW9lUEfbPXwRnm+xhYZ01eeJSwitIbyReszXoddGr4pY7yk8puGgVICKewe6YkIj/VUwxkOQHDnje0h7H9nHvxF1E2Q6gD6ktXm1vJFeYiB94JjypKTQKIlFSheUVpYAwmacdysCIF6A==&campaign_id=129&instance_id=97728&segment_id=108440&user_id=12d98412e3bcc0522f6cfbf4c21c54e6&regi_id=42685115

Hallelujah for the celebration rule change.

 

[jmdirt]

I don't really care about the new overtime rule, but: one, really five more minutes makes that much difference in fatigue?! Two, did they base the decision on data? The answer is no. Even if they would have, 22 games a pretty small sample size, and of course they didn't do any testing of the players after those games so...they have no data. How about if the game ends in a tie, they bring out the huge Dr. Pepper cans and the QBs do a shootout, whoever gets the most balls in the can in one minutes wins the game. Much less fatigue that way.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

That link appears to be dead. Here's another. I'll try to comment later:

http://www.sbnation.com/2017/5/23/15681012/nfl-rule-changes-2017-grades-touchdown-celebrations-shorter-overtime

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Some comments on the rule changes, and ones I'd still like to see implemented:

• Less penalties for celebrations - This is generally good, but remains to be better defined.

• 2 players allowed back from injured reserve - Hooray! Injuries are a serious problem in this league, so any step in that direction is a good one.

• A single roster cut down day - Now teams don't have to go in steps, but from 90 to 53 after the pre-season. I am generally good with this one.

• OT changed from 15 minutes to 10. - It's nice that it may cut down on injures, but that seems really minor. Ties are worse. Here's a novel idea - eliminate punts in OT.

• League loosened standard for GM interviews - I guess this is good.

• Los Angeles Super Bowl moved to 2021 - I'm glad they did it quickly and didn't drag it out.

Rules I'd like to see changed:

1. Clarify the catch rule - If a player has the ball firmly with both hands, or firmly against his body, and both feet on the ground, it's a catch. None of this "football play" nonsense.

2. Make Pass Interference a 15 yard penalty and automatic first down. Not the spot of the foul. If you want to tack on another 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for flagrant PI, so be it. Offensive PI should also be 15 yards.

3. Get rid of flags on goal posts - FGs and XP's are boring. Make kickers judge the wind on their own.

4. Extend both practice and scout squads. Teams should not have to pull players from the street late in the season just to save a few thousand dollars in pay.

5. Move reviews of plays entirely to a central location, not reviewed by referees on the field. Rotate said referees to learn booth officiating over time. MLB does this for the most part.

6. If a play cannot be reviewed and ruled upon within 90 seconds, the ruling stands.

7. Change OT rules in the playoffs to where both teams get the ball once, regardless if the first team scores a TD or not.

8. Change illegal hands to the face from a 5 yard penalty with an automatic first down, to a 10 yard penalty.

9. Don't allow kick-offs to be returned from the end zone, unless the ball first bounces in the field of play.

10. Ruling and arbitration on suspensions taken away from commissioners office, and implemented by a panel of three independent judges. This will require a CBA alteration I believe.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Nice rule change summary. Nothing earth shattering but I'm ok with what they did.


Shifting gears, in the real world and in your own experiences, if you notice inept management and bad decision-making it can often be linked to management that is out of tune with the workforce because they are out of touch with the workforce's ideas and needs. So, Josh Norman mouths off on the state of the NFL. Here is a small piece of an interview by B/R's Tyler Dunne. And I agree with this much:
Dunne:

If you were the commissioner, what would you change?

Norman:

First, I would change how I handle people. For one, you don't show up anywhere. You don't show up where the players show up. So how are you going to know what they want?

Dunne:

Do you mean the commissioner should just be around you guys more often?

Norman:

If this is the guy who is your commissioner, who makes all these rules, wouldn't you think you'd want to see him other than when you get in trouble? Why would I see you if I'm in trouble—what's the point? Why wouldn't I see you before then so you can eliminate that?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-warrior-is-ready-to-let-all-hell-break-loose

Goodell could really improve his performance as commissioner if he'd pay attention to what Norman said about this and make an attempt to do a better job.

 

[jmdirt]

Re:

Some comments on the rule changes, and ones I'd still like to see implemented:

• Less penalties for celebrations - This is generally good, but remains to be better defined.

• 2 players allowed back from injured reserve - Hooray! Injuries are a serious problem in this league, so any step in that direction is a good one.

• A single roster cut down day - Now teams don't have to go in steps, but from 90 to 53 after the pre-season. I am generally good with this one.

• OT changed from 15 minutes to 10. - It's nice that it may cut down on injures, but that seems really minor. Ties are worse. Here's a novel idea - eliminate punts in OT.

• League loosened standard for GM interviews - I guess this is good.

• Los Angeles Super Bowl moved to 2021 - I'm glad they did it quickly and didn't drag it out.

Rules I'd like to see changed:

1. Clarify the catch rule - If a player has the ball firmly with both hands, or firmly against his body, and both feet on the ground, it's a catch. None of this "football play" nonsense. YES!!

2. Make Pass Interference a 15 yard penalty and automatic first down. Not the spot of the foul. If you want to tack on another 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for flagrant PI, so be it. Offensive PI should also be 15 yards. I can't decide on this. Part of me agrees with you, but you know that DBS will grab every rout past 15 yards.

3. Get rid of flags on goal posts - FGs and XP's are boring. Make kickers judge the wind on their own.

4. Extend both practice and scout squads. Teams should not have to pull players from the street late in the season just to save a few thousand dollars in pay.

5. Move reviews of plays entirely to a central location, not reviewed by referees on the field. Rotate said referees to learn booth officiating over time. MLB does this for the most part. YES! And look at every play/call.

6. If a play cannot be reviewed and ruled upon within 90 seconds, the ruling stands. Yes!

7. Change OT rules in the playoffs to where both teams get the ball once, regardless if the first team scores a TD or not.

8. Change illegal hands to the face from a 5 yard penalty with an automatic first down, to a 10 yard penalty.

9. Don't allow kick-offs to be returned from the end zone, unless the ball first bounces in the field of play. For safety that's good, but for entertainment that's bad.

10. Ruling and arbitration on suspensions taken away from commissioners office, and implemented by a panel of three independent judges. This will require a CBA alteration I believe.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

Re: Re:

2. Make Pass Interference a 15 yard penalty and automatic first down. Not the spot of the foul. If you want to tack on another 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for flagrant PI, so be it. Offensive PI should also be 15 yards.

I can't decide on this. Part of me agrees with you, but you know that DBS will grab every rout past 15 yards.

.

I don't know, would they? This is how the rules are in college, and it's not an issue there.

 

[jmdirt]

Re: Re:

2. Make Pass Interference a 15 yard penalty and automatic first down. Not the spot of the foul. If you want to tack on another 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for flagrant PI, so be it. Offensive PI should also be 15 yards.

I can't decide on this. Part of me agrees with you, but you know that DBS will grab every rout past 15 yards.

.

I don't know, would they? This is how the rules are in college, and it's not an issue there.

I think that they would. "past 15, he's gettin' past me, grab, only 15." I wonder what the stats look like of passes 15+ yards, PI, NCAA vs. NFL? Its obviously not apples to apples either.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Re: Re:

2. Make Pass Interference a 15 yard penalty and automatic first down. Not the spot of the foul. If you want to tack on another 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for flagrant PI, so be it. Offensive PI should also be 15 yards.

I can't decide on this. Part of me agrees with you, but you know that DBS will grab every rout past 15 yards.

.

I don't know, would they? This is how the rules are in college, and it's not an issue there.

I think that they would. "past 15, he's gettin' past me, grab, only 15." I wonder what the stats look like of passes 15+ yards, PI, NCAA vs. NFL? Its obviously not apples to apples either.

Interesting question about the diff between NFL & NCAA regarding the frequency of grabbing on routes over 15 yards. But, I don't think players will grab more often (and habitually) without the spot foul, unless the game is close and the DB knows he's getting beat for a TD. However, how sure is a DB that he WILL be beat for a TD? The pass could be under/over thrown, inaccurate, etc, possibly precluding a reception, which happens often enough. It seems every year I see a PI called on an inaccurate ball, making me think the DB did not need to commit that foul. So, it is not quite so simple (or automatic is maybe a better word) as any pass over 15 yards will result in the DB grabbing if he thinks he's getting beat. For certain, not every route over 15 yards will result in the DB grabbing, even if he's getting beat because the deeper routes in a given situation may not be the primary route, and if a DB knows a shorter route (or any route other than the one he is covering) is a primary route, why risk the grab?

You could be right though, that removing the spot foul results in more holding fouls on routes over 15 yards. I agree with Alpe this does not seem to be a problem in the NCAA, so why should it be in the NFL?

When the rules committee originally made the PI a spot foul, I wonder what it was that brought that change on. It might be analogous to some of the electric codes we have in modern day construction. Some electrical codes were put in place because of some event (e.g. accident) that made the code committee put something in place to remove the condition that caused the accident in order to prevent future similar accidents. If the historical records on NFL rule changes are available, it might be worthwhile for them to visit those records to see what brought about the DPI spot foul in the first place.

But back to the problem. The problem is the DPI call is one of the most, if not the most, difficult call officials have to make. The rule is vague, using subjective wording like "significantly hinders an eligible player’s opportunity to catch the ball". Often officials are in poor position to make a judgement, and typically only one official is in any kind of position to make a call on deep balls. And then amount of yardage the offense is gifted on a spot foul is almost obscene. Solutions to this problem have been proposed in recent past, and some of the solutions cited include:
- removing the spot foul (invoke a 15, 20, or 25 yd and automatic first down penalty instead)
- making DPI reviewable like the CFL does
...to name a few.
More on this topic from 2016:
http://www.sbnation.com/2016/10/18/13302938/nfl-pass-interference-penalties-problem-fix
http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2016/...ds-not-spot-foul-nevin-lawson-66-yard-penalty
https://www.si.com/nfl/2016/09/29/nfl-defensive-pass-interference-penalties-blanket-coverage

There could be some very real undercurrents favoring removal of the DPI spot foul and replacing it with a 15-Yd and automatic 1st down penalty. Rule changes (& officiating) have been getting offensive on defensive pass interference, giving more advantage to wide receivers. If there is one hindrance for an official calling DPI it must be the case when the view is poor and the spot foul would give up too much field (e.g. 50 yards or more). This suggests the 15-yard variety, being less drastic in affect, might result in more penalties called in those questionable situations. In other words, a 15-yard penalty might make officials feel more justified in throwing flags in situations that they may have held back on in the past because of the spot foul. As a result, officials might actually get more calls right by not missing or ignoring them.

If the NFL really wants to make correct DPI calls, those plays need to be reviewable. But not just DPI, offensive PI as well. I'm not confident that movement could gain much headway any time soon.

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

I first agree the play should be reviewable. I actually think every play should be reviewable, like Belicheck does. But that's not going to happen until we get a centralized review committee that watches every game, every play, almost continually, the way people do on TV, so they can quickly review any play possible, like I noted in one of my suggestions. I am optimistic we will get there.

I'm not so sure NFL DB's would hold on every receiver past 15 yards. By nature they try to defend the pass. That's what years have training have done. Only a few times per season do we see a DB so burned he will make a flagrant penalty. The rest of the time they try to break up the pass, or intercept it.

There's also absolutely no guarantee that every pass beyond 15 yards is going to be complete either, and players know this. In fact, that's one of the biggest things that bothers me in the NFL, a pass will be thrown, there will be a scuffle downfield, and a flag will be thrown, even though it's almost always impossible to tell if the receiver would have caught the ball. I'd say this is the case on well over 95% of all PI calls like this. We have no idea if the receiver would have made the catch or not. No clue. And yet, sometimes this results in huge penalties for the offense. And if a WR makes the same foul today to break up a likely interception? It's a 10 yard penalty, that's it. Mike Periera agrees with me here, and this dates back some years.

https://fifthdown.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/11/pereira-says-the-n-f-l-has-it-wrong-on-pass-interference/

Clouding this issue is whether the official should call PI, Illegal Contact, or Defensive Holding in situations.

If you also flip this around, offensive PI is one of the most difficult calls for an official to make when it's a pick play. The reasoning being if the offensive receiver initiates contact with the primary DB covering him, in a way that is consistent with running a pass pattern (such as looking back at the QB), and causes the DB to not be able to adjust, or this action blocks the path of another DB trying to cover a crossing receiver, it's legal. Look at the play Clemson ran to beat Alabama in the NCAA game.

Turning that around, if a DB is obviously going for the ball when it's in the air, even if there is contact with the receiver, it's okay. They can even plow into the receiver within 5 yards from the line of scrimmage if going for the ball. The Malcom Butler interception in the SB is the perfect example.

Imagine being an official and having to make these calls in split seconds, with millions of people watching.

 

[jmdirt]

A good read even though its a bit wordy. I always wonder where the line is with a rage guy like RS: at what point does his fire go from motivational to detrimental?

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19446657/seattle-seahawks-cornerback-richard-sherman-let-go-problem-nfl-2017

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

A good read even though its a bit wordy. I always wonder where the line is with a rage guy like RS: at what point does his fire go from motivational to detrimental?

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19446657/seattle-seahawks-cornerback-richard-sherman-let-go-problem-nfl-2017

Not exactly one of my favorite personalities but I can't deny his talent. But when I have seen him interviewed in person on TV he is much different and more likeable.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Re: Re:

A good read even though its a bit wordy. I always wonder where the line is with a rage guy like RS: at what point does his fire go from motivational to detrimental?

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19446657/seattle-seahawks-cornerback-richard-sherman-let-go-problem-nfl-2017

Not exactly one of my favorite personalities but I can't deny his talent. But when I have seen him interviewed in person on TV he is much different and more likeable.

The article by Seth Wickersham of ESPN implies there is division in the Seattle locker room. That may or may not be true. I will say that Seth generally does a good job of getting facts, quotes, and other information. But in this case, after hearing what Seattle players like Michael Bennett said about there being no divisions in the locker room or team, I think Seth's implications are all wrong. So, nice job Seth. You got a paycheck this week.

As a possible explanation for the article's example of Sherman's rage, first of all he is very intelligent, very, very emotional, and strives to make everyone on the team better, including offensive players and coaches. Seth's article quotes Sherman yelling "YOU F___ing Suck" to Russ Wilson at practice after Sherman intercepted a Wilson pass. My immediate reaction to that is Big F___ing deal! That kind of stuff happens often enough on or off the field. One that comes to mind is an exchange between a linebacker and offensive lineman where the LB said "If I was 50 pounds heavier I'd take your guard position". Yet those two players have a great relationship and got each others back. Could there have been animosity between Sherm and Wilson that prompted the dis? Sure, but just a likely not. And, like I said, Bennett's comments suggest not. It is just a likely that Sherm's dis was more to tell Wilson he'd better improve his decision making or accuracy if he is going to throw to a target covered by a DB of his skill set. Or more simply, reminding Wilson he needs to improve. That is not a bad thing, and is consistent with the Seattle competitive environment. At the end of the day, I expect no divisions in the locker room brotherhood. But it is still a question mark whether or not Sherm erupts on the sideline in the future.

If there is any animosity between players and other staff, it is more likely to exist between some players and certain coaches, assuming allegations are true that Russ Wilson has been given preferential treatment by the coaching staff. I actually believe that is far more possible than a locker room player division. This has been substantiated by Wilson's friend and WR Doug Baldwin. Do Doug's comments mean there is animosity between Russ and players? No. I see that as more of a signal to coaches they need to improve in that area. Nobody is perfect and everyone can improve something. It is on record (e.g. Bennett) that players appreciate Carroll because Pete allows the players to be themselves, but that does not make Pete perfect in other ways.

There is one other factor that may contribute to the criticism of certain black players, especially QBs. On today's episode of 'The Herd with Colin Cowherd', Colin had a guest black speaker talk about this specific topic as it relates to Wilson and Seattle. His opinion is that black athletes tend to be tougher on their black QBs than white QBs. It was tastefully done without implication of reverse discrimination or otherwise. I mean, there was nothing said or implied to the affect that "blacks can say things to other blacks that whites could not". But he used the example of Donovan McNabb, who was tormented in Philly by Terrell Owens. I think it is something blacks understand, but white writers like Seth Wickersham may not.

I agree Sherman is liked by the general public of the Pacific Northwest. He has done a lot for the community and specific individuals. When it comes to his profession (practicing, playing) he is not as well understood. He is so competitive and so smart (he knows the responsibilities of all the defensive players and how offenses can attack) he just sometimes cannot contain what is in his skull if he sees it a certain way. If I was his teammate, I'd rather have that than someone without the ideas or the wherewithall to express them. We could say (about the sideline tirade last season) that he should have done it in the locker room or someplace off the field and away from cameras. But think about it. He is in a game he wants to win now, not wait until later when it may be too late to say something. We could give him that latitude, but then say, "Well, Richard, you should have said it more calmly". But understanding he is so emotional, you can see why it happened that way.

I will say this about Richard Sherman, with him around there is no room for complacency.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Saints DT Nick Fairley unfortunately suffering with some sort of heart condition. Not much info yet but does not sound good. Hope he will be ok.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...irley-has-career-threatening-heart-condition/

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Here is the real truth in response to the ESPN Seth Wickersham article (link posted above) about Seattle's "locker room". [http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...locker-room-is-different-that-makes-us-great/]
According to WR Doug Baldwin disputes within the locker room are about healthy competition, which makes the team better:

“I know that our locker room is different,” Baldwin said. “We have a lot of vibrant personalities that are not hesitant to share their emotions and their opinions, but that’s what makes us great. And Pete Carroll has embraced that environment, he’s made that environment. We celebrate individuality and he’s done a great job of handling those different personalities and giving us a platform to express ourselves because ultimately he feels that in doing so, that’s how we become the best version of ourselves on the football field.”

Baldwin said the ESPN article that portrayed problems between quarterback Russell Wilson and players on the defense hadn’t caused any problems on the team.

“There was no issues with the article because we’re a family. Yeah, we do argue, we do have disagreements, but at the end of the day, we know what we’re fighting for, we know we’re going in the same direction,” he said.

Some people just don't get that and I'll go out on a limb to say why I think the players get it, beyond Baldwin's explanation that Carroll created this environment. Players today are millenials, who think differently than older generations. First, on the whole millenials are smarter, more educated. That's a stat, a fact. Also, they tend to go with or side with whatever is best for the common good. Self need is generally more suppressed (except when it comes to player contracts, right? Lol). So it is no wonder that there can be diverse differences in opinion while the players still get on well. As Doug said, "going in the same direction". You still have to give credit to coach Carroll for embracing individuality, but the ingredients for that kind of environment are already present in the players.

 

[ToreBear]

As a possible explanation for the article's example of Sherman's rage, first of all he is very intelligent, very, very emotional, and strives to make everyone on the team better, including offensive players and coaches. Seth's article quotes Sherman yelling "YOU F___ing Suck" to Russ Wilson at practice after Sherman intercepted a Wilson pass.

Hmm, Sherman to the Panthers would be interesting...

As for Little Nick. Hopefully they will get his heart under control. Since he had a known heart issue before the draft, it has likely been monitored. So if there were problems, they could get a look at it quickly.

The way Carroll Runs his Crew is interesting. I don't think it's the best way in general, but it seems to work for Carroll.

 

[The Hitch]

Here is the real truth in response to the ESPN Seth Wickersham article (link posted above) about Seattle's "locker room". [http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...locker-room-is-different-that-makes-us-great/]
According to WR Doug Baldwin disputes within the locker room are about healthy competition, which makes the team better:

“I know that our locker room is different,” Baldwin said. “We have a lot of vibrant personalities that are not hesitant to share their emotions and their opinions, but that’s what makes us great. And Pete Carroll has embraced that environment, he’s made that environment. We celebrate individuality and he’s done a great job of handling those different personalities and giving us a platform to express ourselves because ultimately he feels that in doing so, that’s how we become the best version of ourselves on the football field.”

Baldwin said the ESPN article that portrayed problems between quarterback Russell Wilson and players on the defense hadn’t caused any problems on the team.

“There was no issues with the article because we’re a family. Yeah, we do argue, we do have disagreements, but at the end of the day, we know what we’re fighting for, we know we’re going in the same direction,” he said.

Some people just don't get that and I'll go out on a limb to say why I think the players get it, beyond Baldwin's explanation that Carroll created this environment. Players today are millenials, who think differently than older generations. First, on the whole millenials are smarter, more educated. That's a stat, a fact. Also, they tend to go with or side with whatever is best for the common good. Self need is generally more suppressed (except when it comes to player contracts, right? Lol). So it is no wonder that there can be diverse differences in opinion while the players still get on well. As Doug said, "going in the same direction". You still have to give credit to coach Carroll for embracing individuality, but the ingredients for that kind of environment are already present in the players.

As a millenial, I 100% disagree with your portrayal of millenials. We are the weakest dumbest ggeneration in some time. Of course that wont necessarily apply to nfl players, who are more likely to come from tougher backgrounds and obviously have better work ethic. But the generation as a whole is pathetic. And what to expect when most of us grow up with everything given to us on a plate and what's more access to all sorts of double edged luxuries through technology that no one has previously had. Most are unable to hold a conversation for 3 minutes without impulsively checking what food their friends posted they are eating on Facebook. STATS, do show that young people are far less likely to actually have real conversations especially with people older than them. The respect for older people is lacking ( a real sign of total ignorance) as many think they have figured out The world by The age of 20 and have nothing to learn from older people cod we are so smart. In fact let's ban all older people from voting seemingly half of millenials were posting after brexit, because how dare a old idea such as democracy stop our great generation from saving the world once and for all ( its easy. Your generations were just too dumb to figure it out). The american university system is being destroyed where free speech no longer exists.

Of course there are advantages too. We have far more opportunities to travel the world, experience new cultures learn languages (at least non Anglophone people who now almost all speak English in medc countries unlike their parents).but the arrogance of thinking that makes us the smartest ppl who ever lived, combined with the experience of never having to face any struggle in life and immense Reliance on electronic devices and social media, to the detriment of learning vital life skills, has made this generation as a whole weaker and dumber. As the university situation is making clear.

 

[kingjr]

Although you make some valid points I disagree with the notion that millenials are the weakest and dumbest generation. Suffice to say that you'll find someone in every generation who says that about his own. I'll abstain from making a snide remark about spelling and over-reliance on autocorrect features of our generation.

 

[on3m@n@rmy]

Here is the real truth in response to the ESPN Seth Wickersham article (link posted above) about Seattle's "locker room". [http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...locker-room-is-different-that-makes-us-great/]
According to WR Doug Baldwin disputes within the locker room are about healthy competition, which makes the team better:

“I know that our locker room is different,” Baldwin said. “We have a lot of vibrant personalities that are not hesitant to share their emotions and their opinions, but that’s what makes us great. And Pete Carroll has embraced that environment, he’s made that environment. We celebrate individuality and he’s done a great job of handling those different personalities and giving us a platform to express ourselves because ultimately he feels that in doing so, that’s how we become the best version of ourselves on the football field.”

Baldwin said the ESPN article that portrayed problems between quarterback Russell Wilson and players on the defense hadn’t caused any problems on the team.

“There was no issues with the article because we’re a family. Yeah, we do argue, we do have disagreements, but at the end of the day, we know what we’re fighting for, we know we’re going in the same direction,” he said.

Some people just don't get that and I'll go out on a limb to say why I think the players get it, beyond Baldwin's explanation that Carroll created this environment. Players today are millenials, who think differently than older generations. First, on the whole millenials are smarter, more educated. That's a stat, a fact. Also, they tend to go with or side with whatever is best for the common good. Self need is generally more suppressed (except when it comes to player contracts, right? Lol). So it is no wonder that there can be diverse differences in opinion while the players still get on well. As Doug said, "going in the same direction". You still have to give credit to coach Carroll for embracing individuality, but the ingredients for that kind of environment are already present in the players.

As a millenial, I 100% disagree with your portrayal of millenials. We are the weakest dumbest ggeneration in some time. Of course that wont necessarily apply to nfl players, who are more likely to come from tougher backgrounds and obviously have better work ethic. But the generation as a whole is pathetic. And what to expect when most of us grow up with everything given to us on a plate and what's more access to all sorts of double edged luxuries through technology that no one has previously had. Most are unable to hold a conversation for 3 minutes without impulsively checking what food their friends posted they are eating on Facebook. STATS, do show that young people are far less likely to actually have real conversations especially with people older than them. The respect for older people is lacking ( a real sign of total ignorance) as many think they have figured out The world by The age of 20 and have nothing to learn from older people cod we are so smart. In fact let's ban all older people from voting seemingly half of millenials were posting after brexit, because how dare a old idea such as democracy stop our great generation from saving the world once and for all ( its easy. Your generations were just too dumb to figure it out). The american university system is being destroyed where free speech no longer exists.

Well, you can certainly disagree. But I will stand behind everything I said about millennials (in the USA OFC as I don't know what the situation is around the world) being smarter and more educated than previous generations in the USA. Here are some research results presented by a US-based research organization) to back up that fact:

Four-in-ten Millennial workers ages 25 to 29 had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2016, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Current Population Survey data. That compares with 32% of Generation X workers and smaller shares of the Baby Boom and Silent generations when they were in the same age range.

In 2016, almost half (46%) of employed Millennial women ages 25 to 29 had a bachelor’s degree or more, up substantially from 36% of Gen X women workers when they were the same age in 2000. Millennial men in the workforce are also more likely to hold a bachelor’s degree than their Gen X counterparts were as young adults. Among employed men ages 25 to 29, the share of college graduates rose from 29% in 2000 to 36% in 2016 – a considerable increase, but still smaller than that seen among young women.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tan...-likely-than-ever-to-have-a-bachelors-degree/

Had you been correct that millennials are weaker/dumber, then I'd just have to give coach Carroll more kudos for making such a diverse Seahawk environment so successful.

As Kingjr said, you do have some valid points about the lacking interpersonal, speaking skills of millennials in face-to-face conversations. But that does not make them weak or dumb. It just means they have not developed those skills, probably because that has been replaced largely by electronic forms of communication. But they could develop those skills if they needed and wanted to.

As for the current millennials, I have two of my own; one daughter, and one son. Both in their early to middle 20's. As a linear-thinking scientific guy, I can vouch that they are both smarter than I am on social issues. Probably because they have lived it by seeing cohorts live it. I must say I have confidence in this millennial generation, primarily because of their resilience. That is my son's observation. He's working on his masters degree in secondary ed counseling, started his internship this Spring at a very low socio-economic school, and just hired on as the Varsity football OL and DL coach. Some of those kids have such bad home environments that they play football so they don't have to go home where they are mentally and physically abused (even by threat of death). Some of the stories would make your heart sink to your stomach, or cry. Yet, in spite of the bad home environments, he says these kids are surprisingly resilient.