Is it possible for players to have dedication?

Praxit

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..lol.. that's Millennial Hashtag generation. The NET and fast, global communication has brought dedication to the toilet. Cant get a first down anymore without idiots doing a mime job of sorts for self attention. Not in Kansas anymore.
 

KJJ

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Anytime someone starts a long one with “hear me out” I move on. You already know it’s going to be ridiculous.
 

csirl

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A lot of todays players would not survive 20-30 years ago. Training camps were hard, the game was more physical, coaches were mean and you had to play in pain. The flash harry precious player simply did make it. Could you imagine Zeke on JJs asthma field during mini-camp? He'd pay for his time in Cabo.
 

Williamsboys

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I was watching the ESPN shows about past football teams and they showed the Miami Dolphins two SB Championships where they went undefeated and the next season they lost 2 games but still won another Super Bowl. Players were paid so little back then they often had jobs during the off season. You know what's missing with today's players after they get the big money?? INCENTIVE. Like Cyndi Lauper sang.."Money, Money changes everything.
 

MarcusRock

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I was watching the ESPN shows about past football teams and they showed the Miami Dolphins two SB Championships where they went undefeated and the next season they lost 2 games but still won another Super Bowl. Players were paid so little back then they often had jobs during the off season. You know what's missing with today's players after they get the big money?? INCENTIVE. Like Cyndi Lauper sang.."Money, Money changes everything.

Yup. Just glossed right over the post I made earlier that's against this mindset and back to "what's wrong in society." No wonder this becomes the prevailing thought about players. It's because people have INCENTIVE to think players are "morally" inferior as a defense for their being financially superior. We're a long ways away from the times when players made the kind of money that kept fans comfortable. Now they're just yucky capitalists and all. Lol. Sing it Archie and Edith: "Those were the days ...."
 

garyo1954

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Today's players for the most part are for 1) Instant gratification, 2) Wanting to be needed, and 3) GET THE $$$$$$$$$ any way you can!
 

Chocolate Lab

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Mostly I think social media just exposes players' personal lives and beliefs more than before. So it's not that they're that different, it's just that now you know about it. Why people feel compelled to put their lives out for everyone to see is beyond me, but that's another story.

I do think way too many players are worried about their "brands" before they've even become good enough for that to matter than before. Before you became great and then some agent enticed you to become bigger than your sport. Now it seems some like high school or at least college kids make that their goal when in fact they'll only be barely good enough to scrape by as a pro.
 

big dog cowboy

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Im now 50, and I guess I have just turned into one of those "Get off my lawn," types.
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Bigdog

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Jerry Rice reminds me of someone who is ultra competitive like Jordan. He always wanted the search for perfection and his work ethics came from his father who was a brick layer. Steve Young tells a story about after they won one their SB he went the next day to the facility to clean out his locker and he saw Rice on the practice field running routes by himself. Always striving for perfection.
Now if you ask if fans take winning/losing more than players. It may have to depend on the sport. When the World Cup was here in 1994 an American reporter asked a Brazilian soccer fan why they take this sport like it is life or death? The fan response was life or death? No it is much more important than that.
 

Bigdog

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I was watching the ESPN shows about past football teams and they showed the Miami Dolphins two SB Championships where they went undefeated and the next season they lost 2 games but still won another Super Bowl. Players were paid so little back then they often had jobs during the off season. You know what's missing with today's players after they get the big money?? INCENTIVE. Like Cyndi Lauper sang.."Money, Money changes everything.
The story about Shula asking a kid to have players sign his football for players who came into the hotel lobby after midnight then got the football from the kid the next day. Went on the bus with the football and told every player whose name was on the football that they were not playing in the first half of that game. That was not genius but classic as well.
 

lockster

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This is a character deficiency issue on the part of both players , teams, and player representatives. Money corrupts.
 

Typhus

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Cart before horse, coach. The owners had no loyalty first. The players are only following suit. Players' loyalty was forced because they had no options. Fans don't like free agency because most people aren't good with change when they were used to the same familiar faces but all of that was at the cost of players having their situations controlled by owners when the players were the stars of the show people paid to see. The other side-effect are the burgeoning salaries. I think fans liked the fact that players had regular joe salaries and had to get jobs during the off-season because they could look down on them. Can't do that anymore so now players are the evil ones in a game the owners started. Conveniently forgotten in player-owner relations.
Nonsense,, its mostly greed driven, top dollar, grab the cash league now.
 

Xeven

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Salary CAPS kinda destroyed the concept of “Team”. I get invested in the players as much as I do the Franchise. For me it has watered down the concept of teams in the NFL.
 

Red Dragon

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Best example of dedication may be Darren Woodson. He grew up a Steelers fan, detested the Cowboys, yet when he was drafted by Dallas, he gave 12 seasons of utmost-effort, pedal-to-the-metal work ethos for Dallas.
 

HotDog37

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NFL football in the 70's-80's-90's was far better that much I know.
 

Diehardblues

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Hear me out. Watching the "Last Dance," made me think of this. Jordan's era isnt that long ago, but things have changed drastically since then. I know the money has always been big. When Jordan played, those guys made enough to live on for the rest of their lives, just like today, even though it is getting biger and bigger.

Social media is huge. Players are so worried about their "Brand," that often teams and the sport that brought them a brand to begin with seem to take a back seat. Players today seem more worried about off season vacation plans than winning. The thing that struck me more than anything about Jordan was how after losing to the Pistons for the 2nd year in a row as soon as the series was over, he went straight to the weight room and dragged his teamates with him. He was tired of taking a physical beat down and decided he would be giving the beat down.

Do you see this from Zeke? I love zeke, but is he truly dedicated to working his arse off and setting the tone for the team? Has he said enough is enough with these 8-8 seasons? Are their any Cowboys on defense who have done something like this? Now dont get me wrong... I know they work, Ive sen the videos. Look on youtube at what players like Antonio Brown do, its impressive..... but do they drag the team with them?

Im now 50, and I guess I have just turned into one of those "Get off my lawn," types. I see kids entering the NCAA transfer portal now as soon as they dont start all season. Nobody seems to look at themselves as to why they arent a starter, nobody wants to take responsibility, everyone just wants to blame coaches.

Funny that I never heard anyone blaming a coach when the Bulls were losing in the playoffs.

Best part about this thread for me.... is it means I am again damn excited the NFL seemingly is back since a schedule came out. Damn I am ready for some football...lol
Great documentary. Last Dance.

That fierce competitive drive was all about Jordan proving he could win championships. Everyone else was basically along for the ride although they contributed of course.

But Michael hated his early years as only the scoring king and MVP. He wanted the ultimate recognition in winning championships like Magic and Bird. He was already on top of the world financially secure.

There aren’t that many competitors like that anymore. Tiger is one not driven just by money. He wants to win championships and make history.

Brady is probably about as close to one we’ve had in NFL this era willing to play for less to win championships.
 
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