ATL: Week 10

[humanrefutation]

John Moffit, former Badger, decided to retire today, leaving nearly $1 million on the table.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/99356 ... ks-away-1m

"I just really thought about it and decided I'm not happy. I'm not happy at all," Moffitt told The Associated Press in a phone interview from Seattle. "And I think it's really madness to risk your body, risk your well-being and risk your happiness for money.

"Everybody, they just don't get it and they think it's crazy. But I think what I was doing is crazy."

"I've saved enough. It's not like I'm sitting here and I'm a millionaire," he said. "That's what I kind of realized. I'm sitting here and I got to this point and I was like, what is the number that you need? How much do you really need? What do you want in life? And I decided that I don't really need to be a millionaire.

"I just want to be happy. And I find that people that have the least in life are sometimes the happiest. And I don't have the least in life. I have enough in life. And I won't sacrifice my health for that."

Moffitt said he'll miss playing in games and goofing around with the guys, but he's glad the rest of his NFL life is over.

"Once you tear away all the illusions of it, it's hard work. And it's dangerous work. And you're away from your family. And it's not good for families. It's very tough on families," he said.

Moffitt is also glad to leave the league on his terms.

"I'm ready to go to work and start doing other things right now," Moffitt said. "So, it's a smoother transition and I'm still young enough to start a career, and my body's healthy and I'm good. I look at it as a great start to life, you know?"

I'm really happy for him, and I hope the rest of his life works out. He sounds like someone with a good head on his shoulders.

[ReasonablySober]

That's **** awesome.

[chuckleslove]

Good for him, I think anyone in a job they don't enjoy should leave regardless of the financial situation. Not worth working if you hate it so much.

[whatthe_buck!?]

While I support his decision and believe he's making the correct one, I also believe this may be a harbinger of things to come in the NFL. While my League of Denial Thread from a few weeks back got zero burn on here, I'm sure a ton of NFLers watched it and it has many of them reevaluating their goals and their NFL careers. If the NFL doesn't implement a TON of rules changes (much further than they've already gone) and soon IMO the NFL may be doomed (Malcolm Gladwell believes it will be extinct in 25 years). All the more reason Wisconsinites should hedge their bets as far as pro sports teams and pony up the cash for a new arena that will keep the bucks in town for decades to come...

[Newz]

I was just coming here to post the thing about Moffit. Think it's good for him that he is walking away as opposed to doing what everyone else thins is right.

I honestly have always felt like I would do the same thing if I was a professional athlete, especially if I was a high draft pick. It would be nice to make ~$1-5 million for a year or two, then just retire, be happy, be healthy and enjoy yourself.

[humanrefutation]

While I support his decision and believe he's making the correct one, I also believe this may be a harbinger of things to come in the NFL. While my League of Denial Thread from a few weeks back got zero burn on here, I'm sure a ton of NFLers watched it and it has many of them reevaluating their goals and their NFL careers. If the NFL doesn't implement a TON of rules changes (much further than they've already gone) and soon IMO the NFL may be doomed (Malcolm Gladwell believes it will be extinct in 25 years). All the more reason Wisconsinites should hedge their bets as far as pro sports teams and pony up the cash for a new arena that will keep the bucks in town for decades to come...

We've talked about this before on the forum, and I just watched League of Denial tonight. It's continues to make me feel incredibly conflicted about my love of this game.

If any of you haven't watched that yet, set aside a couple hours and do it. It's a must see documentary for football fans. http://video.pbs.org/video/2365093675/

[th87]

I doubt the NFL goes extinct - too much money. But it will definitely change to a much less collision-oriented sport, which I wouldn't really mind too much.

[Fort Minor]

Ireland apparently knew about this situation.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... hysically/

Per multiple league sources, Dolphins G.M. Jeff Ireland received a call from Martin’s agent, Rick Smith, before Martin left the team on October 28. Smith complained to Ireland about the manner in which Incognito was treating Martin.

Ireland, according to the sources, suggested to Smith that Martin physically confront Incognito. Ireland specifically mentioned that Martin should “punch” Incognito.

Can you imagine Ted Thompson telling one of his players to resolve a dispute by knocking a teammate the **** out?

[whatthe_buck!?]

And it continues...
http://m.espn.go.com/wireless/story?storyId=9931754

So um the news here is doctors apparently are diagnosing living players with CTE. And just like in the league of denial documentary where essentially every brain tested for CTE showed signs of CTE, every person they've tested so far came back positive for signs of CTE. I cant be the only person that is super depressed about this stuff...

[whatthe_buck!?]

Cant say I'm a huge Rick Reilly fan but anyway here's another:
http://m.espn.go.com/nfl/story?storyId=9932209

Football is in deep, deep sh*t. It's easy for us to sit here and say "well these guy know the risks, it's a violent sport and they're well compensated" but the truth is #1 until now they really DIDNT know the risks and #2 it's not even about the players making these kind of decisions, if every mom stops allowing their kid to play high school football because they don't want them to risk their future cognitive ability for a high school sport then football is DEAD.

[GB_Packers]

Ireland apparently knew about this situation.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/20 ... hysically/

Per multiple league sources, Dolphins G.M. Jeff Ireland received a call from Martin’s agent, Rick Smith, before Martin left the team on October 28. Smith complained to Ireland about the manner in which Incognito was treating Martin.

Ireland, according to the sources, suggested to Smith that Martin physically confront Incognito. Ireland specifically mentioned that Martin should “punch” Incognito.

Can you imagine Ted Thompson telling one of his players to resolve a dispute by knocking a teammate the **** out?

And of course, you have these ex players on TV basically saying this is exactly what he needed to do. These are grown adults, right? They actually think resorting to violence is the answer? This isn't the WWE for **** sake. Can't wait for this "you need to cave his face in otherwise you aren't a man!" culture to die after this disgusting display by Incognito. Can't wait for more ex players to get on TV and complain and try and put some of the blame on the guy getting bullied.

And then you have these guys currently on the Dolphins actually DEFENDING Incognito. A racist and a bully is somehow the one not in the wrong in their eyes. Speaks volumes about the level of intelligence in that organization.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

So how long until Philbin is fired? Do we bring him back in some capacity? Rodgers was a fan of his.

[humanrefutation]

Philbin and Ireland are both going to get canned. And I don't think MM will bring Philbin back unless Clements leaves for another gig.

[chuckleslove]

Philbin and Ireland are both going to get canned. And I don't think MM will bring Philbin back unless Clements leaves for another gig.

I doubt he would even bring him back then, that train has left the station.

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Cutler is playing this week. It would be hilarious if he threw 3 picks en route to a QB controversy, which would be especially interesting since he is a FA at the end of the year.

[GB_Packers]

ESPN analyst and former Dolphins wide receiver Cris Carter has know Mike Pouncey since the player's childhood. Today Carter said on air he recently spoke to Mike Pouncey and the center, who is Incognito's friend, addressed race.

"They don't feel as if he's a racist, they don't feel as if he picked on Jonathan repeatedly and bullied him, but if they could do it all over again there would be situations that they might change but they’re very, very comfortable with Richie,” Carter said.

“They think it’s sad, not only that Jonathan’s not on the football team, but also that Richie is being depicted as a bigot and as a racist.”

How is this possible?

Well, I've spoken to multiple people today about this and the explanation from all of them is that in the Dolphins locker room, Richie Incognito was considered a black guy. He was accepted by the black players. He was an honorary black man.

And Jonathan Martin, who is bi-racial, was not. Indeed, Martin was considered less black than Incognito.

"Richie is honarary," one player who left the Dolphins this offseason told me today. "I don't expect you to understand because you're not black. But being a black guy, being a brother is more than just about skin color. It's about how you carry yourself. How you play. Where you come from. What you've experienced. A lot of things."

Another former Dolphins employee told me Martin is considered "soft" by his teammates and that's a reason he's not readily accepted by some of the players, particularly the black players. His background -- Stanford educated and the son of highly educated people -- was not necessarily seen as a strength or a positive by some players and it perpetuated in the way Martin carried himself.

And so -- agree with it or not, comprehend it or not -- this is a reason the Dolphins haven't turned on Incognito as a racist.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2013/11/richie-incognito-considered-black-in-dolphins-locker-room.html

I don't even know what to say. He's soft and considered "less black" because he went to Stanford. And is really smart. Also less black than a white guy. WUT.

Grown men, who also went to college, actually think this. Disgusting.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

ESPN analyst and former Dolphins wide receiver Cris Carter has know Mike Pouncey since the player's childhood. Today Carter said on air he recently spoke to Mike Pouncey and the center, who is Incognito's friend, addressed race.

"They don't feel as if he's a racist, they don't feel as if he picked on Jonathan repeatedly and bullied him, but if they could do it all over again there would be situations that they might change but they’re very, very comfortable with Richie,” Carter said.

“They think it’s sad, not only that Jonathan’s not on the football team, but also that Richie is being depicted as a bigot and as a racist.”

How is this possible?

Well, I've spoken to multiple people today about this and the explanation from all of them is that in the Dolphins locker room, Richie Incognito was considered a black guy. He was accepted by the black players. He was an honorary black man.

And Jonathan Martin, who is bi-racial, was not. Indeed, Martin was considered less black than Incognito.

"Richie is honarary," one player who left the Dolphins this offseason told me today. "I don't expect you to understand because you're not black. But being a black guy, being a brother is more than just about skin color. It's about how you carry yourself. How you play. Where you come from. What you've experienced. A lot of things."

Another former Dolphins employee told me Martin is considered "soft" by his teammates and that's a reason he's not readily accepted by some of the players, particularly the black players. His background -- Stanford educated and the son of highly educated people -- was not necessarily seen as a strength or a positive by some players and it perpetuated in the way Martin carried himself.

And so -- agree with it or not, comprehend it or not -- this is a reason the Dolphins haven't turned on Incognito as a racist.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2013/11/richie-incognito-considered-black-in-dolphins-locker-room.html

I don't even know what to say. He's soft and considered "less black" because he went to Stanford. And is really smart. Also less black than a white guy. WUT.

Grown men, who also went to college, actually think this. Disgusting.

He's not a cornball brother.

[Ayt]

Martin isn't dumb enough to play for the Dolphins.

[Matches Malone]

Wow...

The Dolphins just look like complete idiots at this point. I can't even rationalize what I just read. Incognito is more black than Martin? Whaaaa? Honorary black men? What in the actual ****.

[Wooderson]

...and they say football doesn't cause brain damage. The Dolphins are exhibit A.