MMQB: The Final Cut (former Cowboy)

[vicjagger]

Interesting 1st hand account of what it's like to not make the final 53, by Ross Tucker (on IR):

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/09/02/tucker/

 

[EastDallasCowboy]

enjoyed that a lot.

 

[tskyler]

Great piece. Very melancholy.

Skyler

 

[Capt.Gut]

Very interesting story. Actually I am surprised by the quality of the writing.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

We see these hundreds of players across the league get cut every summer and we barely blink an eye. It kinda bums me out that all these guys are basically missing out on life-long dreams.

Oh well, enough of that. Bring on the season!

 

[sago1]

It makes me feel bad for these guys who giving up a dream most have had since they 10 years ago. But, you can't keep players who don't have the physical/mental talent or get hurt so the result is lost jobs/lost dreams. It is a business after all and we fans are mostly responsible for that. We talk about a player's loyalty to his team and he should give us a discount so we could sign him to a new contract. But when that player's skills erode thru age or he gets badly hurt, it is not too long before we willing to throw the player under the bus for a younger/newer guy who can take over.

 

[burmafrd]

This guy really had his head on straight. Of course going to Princeton helped. I wonder what some kid from Oklahoma, Alabama, and some other programs where the academic part is nowhere near as emphasized would think.

 

[eduncan22]

An awesome story.

Thank you for the link!

 

[CrazyCowboy]

That was a great stroy and Ross can really write .......nice

 

[THUMPER]

One of the best lines in the story:

My mom will probably hate reading this, but more than the paycheck or the camaraderie of the locker room, I will really miss the violence. It is just an amazing and pure primal feeling that you really don't understand if you have never had the chance to do it.

I played most of my life on the line (both sides) or at LB and I LOVE the impact of the big hit or the collision. My son, who is now 6'6" and 240 cracked my sternum last year with his shoulder (just the way I taught him ) and even though it hurt for months I was still elated from it.

I love that feeling of two bodies coming together at full speed and seeing which one will go backwards and the sense of accomplishment and pride when it is the other guy (and it almost always is). We don't play with pads or helmets so it takes a special technique to not use your head or face when hitting someone.

Where else can you hit someone with everything you have and it isn't a crime? Man I want to get out there and play right now! Just gotta hit someone!!!!

Great story, Tucker should get into sports journalism, such as it is.

 

[BARRYRAY]

How come somebody like Snyder doesn't offer this guy a job in the organization, he obviously is intelligent, hard working, and understands the game. You know our coordinator is from Princeton isn't he...

 

[YosemiteSam]

Interesting 1st hand account of what it's like to not make the final 53, by Ross Tucker (on IR):

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/09/02/tucker/

Good read. I love reading about people personal experiences.

Got a new sig from the article.

 

[YosemiteSam]

How come somebody like Snyder doesn't offer this guy a job in the organization, he obviously is intelligent, hard working, and understands the game. You know our coordinator is from Princeton isn't he...

Is he supposed to employ everyone who is cut? You have to be realistic. You fill a job, with someone. You don't create jobs so someone can have one.

 

[Rack]

One of the best lines in the story:


I played most of my life on the line (both sides) or at LB and I LOVE the impact of the big hit or the collision. My son, who is now 6'6" and 240 cracked my sternum last year with his shoulder (just the way I taught him ) and even though it hurt for months I was still elated from it.

I love that feeling of two bodies coming together at full speed and seeing which one will go backwards and the sense of accomplishment and pride when it is the girl (and it almost always is). We don't play with pads or helmets so it takes a special technique to not use your head or face when hitting someone.

Where else can you hit someone with everything you have and it isn't a crime? Man I want to get out there and play right now! Just gotta hit someone!!!!

Great story, Tucker should get into sports journalism, such as it is.

Sounds like my "love" life.

 

[Hostile]

I really enjoyed that.

 

[vicjagger]

I know this will be hard for some of you to to believe, but I discovered that article while trolling over at extremeskins.

 

[burmafrd]

Sort of like finding a diamond in a mountain of horse dung.

 

[Bleu Star]

Interesting 1st hand account of what it's like to not make the final 53, by Ross Tucker (on IR):

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/peter_king/09/02/tucker/

That was a really good read. Thanks for sharing.