I wonder what it's like being drafted by a team you've hated all your life

[Manwiththeplan]

I imagine most players struggle with being drafted by a team they hate...until they get there first pay check

 

[Eddie]

Pay me.

 

[jday]

Can you imagine growing up a Cowboys fan all your life, having a great college football career, and then being drafted by the Eagles or the Commanders? You would have to either man up and play your best for a team you've always hated or you could pull a John Elway and demand to be traded away. I guess you could go play in Canada, but you would make a lot less money. I could live with going to a team that's never been a big rival of the Cowboys -- the Broncos, the Bills, the Bengals, whatever. If it were the Eagles, however, I would gag. What if Eagles fans treated me like they did Donovan McNabb and booed the draft choice. I'd bet it happens that a player gets drafted by a team he's always hated.

That hated team writing you a check for a million plus will change your perspective real quick.

 

[dragon_mikal]

You could always make yourself feel better by checking your bank account each morning.

 

[kazzd58]

Aww man soon as you get that check your mindset will change for that time period

 

[JohnsKey19]

Once you're drafted by any team in the NFL, that fandom goes out of the window. I've never heard a player say they hated playing for a team because of what team they liked/disliked growing up.

 

[Longboysfan]

Pull an Eli. Worked for him

That was over money and marketability.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

Thanks for the comments. They put it in perspective. I remember being really upset with Ken Norton Jr. for going to play for the Commie Niners right when the Cowboys had finally made it back to the top. Norton helped the bad guys win the Super Bowl, which if won by the Cowboys would have been the first three-peat and eventually the first four-peat. Of course it was just a career move, but it sure felt like a betrayal.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Remember Kevin Burnett, he played in the Cotton Bowl his senior year and swore he would never play for the Cowboys and how much hated them because he was a 49ers fan. A couple of months later he was selected in the second round by the Cowboys. He played a few years here and signed with the Dolphins as a FA. He still hates the Cowboys.

 

[Dallas_Cowboys50]

Idiot.

yo mama!

 

[FaSho]

I've always wondered this. I would probably just play my absolute best against every team but the Cowboys.

Then when I am a free agent, I sign with the Cowboys. Even if it is at a discount.

 

[Dallas_Cowboys50]

You are either independently wealthy or have the strong ideals on the Bernie Sanders level.

I think we have all thought (dreamed) about this.
I can tell you that my perspective has changed on what I would do having 3 children, a student loan, and having been downsized from several jobs since college.

For the right price I would dress up as the Eagles mascot and punch rowdy straight in his mouth...

Think of it like this...an average NFL player who most fans never heard of makes in 1 year the amount of money it takes the average American Family 100 years to make.

I just dont care about money as much as other people....as long as the bills are paid and I got food, clothes and alcohol Im good to go.....If I did have millions of dollars I would travel the world, but I wouldnt sellout my fandom playing for a rival to do it......

 

[J_Allen]

Reminds me of when we drafted Kevin Burnett who said he had never been a Cowboys fan and grew up liking the 49ers.

 

[bandfan]

I'd have the greatest QB statistical career of all-time and then purposely throw a game-losing INT in the final seconds of the Super Bowl against the Cowboys. Doesn't get more fan than that.

 

[ksadler1]

Pull an Eli. Worked for him

Elway too

 

[bandfan]

It doesn't matter to players/athletes- they're not like fans (and shouldn't be)- they're about to get paid. You have to realize these guys have just spent a lot of time, sweat, effort, etc. playing a sport for which they have received no compensation and, now, they're getting ready to get 6 or 7 (or 8?) figures and the highest level of recognition to continue doing it... even if it is for the Browns. It's a career for them, not a hobby/pasttime (like it is for fans). Sure there may be exceptions, but they're extremely rare.

None of them got paid in college....?? Good one!!

 

[ksadler1]

Odell Beckham grew up a Cowboys fan. I'll have to hate him until he puts a star on I guess. But I can guarantee you that he'll never give Dallas a discount just to play for them. Offer a player 20m a year to play for a perpetual loser that will never win a SB, or 10m a year to play for their favorite team and see which one they'll take. It's all about the $$.....

 

[Biggems]

Show me the money and let me live out my NFL dream and I will take a dump all over Jerry's kids every chance I get, especially if he passed on me in the draft.......and the more rounds he passed on me, the more I would go out of my way to abuse them.....and yes, I would disrespect the logo every chance I got.

I may be a lifelong Boys fan, but I have no loyalty to Jerry, unless he is paying my bills and feeding my family......but since another team owner is, that is where my loyalty lies, no matter how much hatred I had for that team growing up.

 

[ksadler1]

Show me the money and let me live out my NFL dream and I will take a dump all over Jerry's kids every chance I get, especially if he passed on me in the draft.......and the more rounds he passed on me, the more I would go out of my way to abuse them.....and yes, I would disrespect the logo every chance I got.

I may be a lifelong Boys fan, but I have no loyalty to Jerry, unless he is paying my bills and feeding my family......but since another team owner is, that is where my loyalty lies, no matter how much hatred I had for that team growing up.

Randy Moss comes to mind.....and boy did he abuse us.....

 

[Biggems]

Randy Moss comes to mind.....and boy did he abuse us.....

Yep, and we only passed on him once. Imagine how much he would have prison raped our D had we passed on him multiple times