Talent or Character?

[the 4th hanson bro]

Pacman Jones is in the news again, released by the Cowboys as details of his potential involvement in yet another strip club shooting come to light.

What's more important - a player's talent or his character?

That is, would you rather have a team full of talented players who are character deficient and involved in serious off field transgressions or would you rather have a team of high character players who may not be as talented, but don't have any off field distractions?

On one hand, you've got the Dallas Cowboys who appear to becoming the dumping ground for the NFL's problem children - T.O., Pacman, Tank Johnson to name a few.

On the other hand, you've got the New England Patriots who've said that character matters. What have you heard negative from/ about Randy Moss lately when there's guys like Tedy Bruschi in the room?

What would you build your team around?

 

[Neroon]

Moss is a fascinating case here. Before he came to New England, talk of his on-field performance exploits were matched only by his off-field shenanigans. I guess some of those were on the field, too. But yeah... you haven't heard one whit from him - or anyone - about problerms he's had or caused. Of course, last season Brady kept him happy by helping Moss set a TD catch record. Yet even this season with Cassel filling in and reduced numbers for Moss in every category except yards-after-catch .... no problems at all. heck, that alone tells you what a job Bellicheck and staff have done.

 

[SmoothieX]

I'd pick a character guy. You know what to expect out of him. The talent guy is as likely to ruin your season as win you a title.

 

[kitkat]

It sure is all over our news here isn't it bro?

I gotta say that being a big football fan for my entire life, I feel that character is very important. I mean, talent is great and all but I can't even like it when someone I know is an asshole does well. The only thing I wonder is, were the Cowboys a bit premature in firing him?

Character example:

I have a plethora reasons why I adore Peyton Manning; he's an amazing player, has aim like I've hardly ever seen and he is a straight up class act. The other night after they lost to the Chargers, he was smiling and shaking hands, saying "Good game" right after the final whistle.

On the flip side, I can't stand Tom Brady. First of all, it's Moss that makes him look good. Moss is like 6'6" or something like that and more than half the time he's having to stretch to catch stuff. Brady's just simply not that good. The reason the entire offense of the Patriots seems to have been formed around him is because they had to. And (this is my big reason) he's a SORE LOSER!!! He will shake hands for hours after a game they win but when they lose he makes a beeline for the locker room without shaking the first hand.

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

It sure is all over our news here isn't it bro?

Don't give away my thread sources. If the question was good enough for a segment for the Gentle Musers, it's good enough for the TBBS.

 

[kitkat]

It sure is all over our news here isn't it bro?

Don't give away my thread sources. If the question was good enough for a segment for the Gentle Musers, it's good enough for the TBBS.

Oh um....I mean, where do you find all this thought provoking material???

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

It sure is all over our news here isn't it bro?

Don't give away my thread sources. If the question was good enough for a segment for the Gentle Musers, it's good enough for the TBBS.

Oh um....I mean, where do you find all this thought provoking material???

Too late, you already pulled the curtain back.

 

[Dude]

It sure is all over our news here isn't it bro?

I gotta say that being a big football fan for my entire life, I feel that character is very important. I mean, talent is great and all but I can't even like it when someone I know is an asshole does well. The only thing I wonder is, were the Cowboys a bit premature in firing him?

Character example:

I have a plethora reasons why I adore Peyton Manning; he's an amazing player, has aim like I've hardly ever seen and he is a straight up class act. The other night after they lost to the Chargers, he was smiling and shaking hands, saying "Good game" right after the final whistle.

On the flip side, I can't stand Tom Brady. First of all, it's Moss that makes him look good. Moss is like 6'6" or something like that and more than half the time he's having to stretch to catch stuff. Brady's just simply not that good. The reason the entire offense of the Patriots seems to have been formed around him is because they had to. And (this is my big reason) he's a SORE LOSER!!! He will shake hands for hours after a game they win but when they lose he makes a beeline for the locker room without shaking the first hand.

Didn't Brady win two Super Bowls before the Patriots picked up Moss?

Being a Vikings fan (and very glad when Moss left that disfunctional organization), both the Vikings and Patriots intentionally made him stretch when they threw the ball to him. If he was in tight coverage, he could catch balls that other receivers couldn't and that the defense had no hope of intercepting. Only the Raiders didn't do this and you see what his numbers were there.

As to character, a less talented player with character will not quit, drag down, or demoralize the rest of the team when there is rough going. One of the greatest lessons that young folks can gain from involvement in organized sports is how to deal gracefully with failure, loss, and difficulty and how to overcome and continue on, as people with discipline and character do when the next game rolls around. They can apply this particular lesson to their broader lives.

 

[kitkat]

Didn't Brady win two Super Bowls before the Patriots picked up Moss?

Well, the Patriots did....

I was just using a current example of a receiver (one with questionable character) of his having to stretch all over the place to catch his sorry passes. Moss isn't the only receiver he has, nor is he the only receiver of his that has to bust his ass to make Brady look good.

And, if we want to call questionable character in, how about the fact that Brady is a deadbeat father. I mean, I'm sure he pays his monthly bills, but I have yet to see a picture of him with his son....I've seen plenty of pictures of him and that girlfriend of his. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Roger Wilco]

"Character" and talent often go together, just talent alone often isn't enough for an athlete to compete at the highest level. I don't care what players in teams I support do in their private time as long as they do what they're supposed to on the field, but usually those who are known for questionable activities just drag the team down too in the long run.

I think good character with a little talent is a better recipe for success in team sports than the other way round.

 

[siskostemper]

As a Steeler fan I have noticed that when someone on this team acts up he is gone. Period. That seems to have changed with santonio holmes. his stuff seemed minor though. When caught he fessed up and took his punishment. Thought I doubt the Rooney's will have anymore foolishness from him. They are very protective of their teams image. That's the main reason they let Plexico go when his contract was up.

 

[pork3]

Didn't Brady win two Super Bowls before the Patriots picked up Moss?

Well, the Patriots did....

I was just using a current example of a receiver (one with questionable character) of his having to stretch all over the place to catch his sorry passes. Moss isn't the only receiver he has, nor is he the only receiver of his that has to bust his ass to make Brady look good.

A rather peculiar argument. Because a receiver has to stretch to catch a football, even when it's potentially in double/triple coverage, that the quaterback should be held at fault for 'sorry' passes that aren't deflected or don't fall right into the waiting arms of the defensive secondary. Like another poster stated, you play to your receiver's strengths. If you know that the defensive backs can't nearly stretch as far as your receiver, then the best place to position the football is out of reach of saids DBs. Anyways, your point doesn't hold with the myriad of pinpoint passes made by Brady to their slot receiver, Welker, last year.

Brady's not perfect, mobility wise he's a dud (there's an interesting story of how he lost a race to their OC, Josh McDaniels), character wise he's questionnable, but to scoff at his contribution to the success of that team is, frankly, absurd.

-Jamman

 

[Neroon]

I will never be mistaken for a Randy Moss fan, but even I have to congratulate him on his performance during his tenure with the Patriots. He's had plenty of passes tossed his way, but still... Moss has been putting forth tremendous effort on the field. And you never hear of any kind of incident OFF the filed with him. I have no idea what he's like in the lockerroom, but surely by now if there'd been tourble we'd have heard about it. And a large reason of why he's been behaving so well has to be how Brady has handled getting him the ball.

 

[Pegaritaville]

I voted for character, but I believe players should be given at least a second chance. Sometimes all it takes is a team that's a better fit, a little more discipline or a little humiliation to turn a player around.

Using Randy Moss as an example: In Minnesota, he didn't have the discipline he needed at the time. He made a big splash his rookie season, and prehaps he started believing all the hype. With the right direction then, maybe he wouldn't have developed a diva attitude. He also wasn't handled well in Oakland. Being traded to the Pats may have benefitted him in two ways. Not only did he get the structure and discipline he needed, but being traded for a relatively low price may have been a bit of a check on his ego.

But players like Pacman Jones, T.O. or Chad Johnson have had enough chances. All the talent in the world won't make up for the disruption they cause their teams.

 

[Neroon]

I voted for character as well and I still believe that. But man, it gets tough for teams like the Giants who obviously needed Plaxico the last month.

 

[Captain Intrepid]

Athletes lacking in moral character should never advance anywhere. When I was a competitive weightlifter, my coach made us all very aware that we were representing our club, our school we trained in, our city, our province, our country and our entire sport.

They should be given chances to reform, but on their own time. They can come back when they're ready to be real men and real women.