Who Fed It And Who Ate It: 2019 Preseason Weeks 1 & 2
Due to external circumstances, Week 1 of the NFL exhibition season was not covered by your humble scribe. Fret not dear reader, as the Gridiron Eye will imbibe in posting a double edition of this regular column. And we'll be talking about players, some are better known than others. Let's begin with one that seemingly loves the attention...
Oakland Raiders WR Antonio Brown has been in the NFL news, from head to toe, literally The immensely talented receiver was already a major storyline heading into the 2019 season, which makes his trials and tribulations here recently borderline on the surreal. First was the report he suffered frostbite on his feet due to a mishap engaging in cryogenic therapy. He purportedly wore inadequate protection inside a cryogenic chamber designed for physical therapeutic maintenance. The accident left the soles of his feet scaled and peeling, with plenty of raw skin exposed, not a pretty sight. There was speculation that Brown would miss significant time waiting for his skin to organically repair, but another issue was potentially threatening his career. However, this was allegedly his own doing. Brown was informed that his helmet, the same style he has worn his entire 10 year career, is deemed outdated by NFL standards. So, as other players are to do if given the fortune their careers extend into a decade, he was compelled to find a new helmet model that is certified by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), a third party certification board. But instead of finding a newer version of his headgear, Brown opted to file a grievance against the league (which he lost), wore his old helmet in a practice with a Raidersesque paint job (which is comical), threatened to sue the NFL if he suffers brain injury wearing a new hat (which would be difficult to prove as an independent event), and even threatened to retire if not permitted to keep his original helmet (which was farcical given the contract he signed this spring). Some may see this behavior as bizarre, to be polite, but football players are people cut from a different cloth. They are creatures of both habit and superstition. Changes, especially equipment alterations, can have detrimental effects upon a player's psyche. In a sport where that miniscule edge can make the difference between being an All-Pro on a championship contender and on the roster bubble on a struggling franchise, losing something of comfort on the field of play can be upsetting. But today's NFL is geared toward safety; being mindful of players well being to be generous, protection against litigious liability exposure to be cynical. And that means all protection equipment is subject to change based on new technology and league fiat. It's highly doubtful that Brown would legitimately call it a career if the only other option was to wear a compliant helmet. Then again, as mercurial as Brown has been, it's anyone's guess as to how this plays out.
Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck is out for the preseason and questionable to begin the regular season due to some form of a lower leg injury. What exactly it is... Regularly, if an NFL player, especially a centerpiece like a quarterback, has an injury, the reporting regarding the type and severity of said ailment is on point and the public has a pretty good idea on when a return to the field is anticipated. But regarding Luck, is he dealing with a strained deltoid ligament? A bruised talus bone? An issue with the flexor tendons leading from his calf to his foot? No one except Luck and his personal physician knows, which is a little unsettling to so many whose livelihoods and recreation almost require that type of information (referring to sportsbook operators and fantasy football players). But what happens when a player remains decidedly private about what he perceives to be personal information? Luck is very guarded about what is known about him, and according to Yahoo Sports' Shalise Manza Young, he gets outright awkward when asked by a reporter about an injury. The conclusion that was surmised in Young's piece is that despite Luck's standing with the Colts franchise, he simply wants to fit in with his teammates, not seeking special treatment. The problem is Luck is the Colts' starting quarterback, he is their franchise cornerstone, and he will be dealt with differently than his peers by head coach Frank Reich, general manager Chris Ballard, and owner Jim Irsay. And because of Luck's high profile in football circles, journalists of all stripes will query him on all that encompasses him, from his well being to the state of the Colts. Should he relent or should he remain vigilant about his privacy? It's hard to say what the right answer is, because both sides have benefits and drawbacks. Guess we'll know when Indy does.
The NFLPA has issued a booklet to all unionized players about fiscal responsibility in the event of a league initiated work stoppage next year Yet another grim reminder that the business of the league trumps the sport, the NFL's players union distributed literature for players to take fiscal initiative for themselves in case of a player strike or owner's lockers this coming spring. To be fair, there have been rumblings that the NFLPA leadership is willing to hold out as long as necessary to gain concessions from owners, while NFL owners seek particular items from the players in this new Collective Bargaining Agreement. There has not been a work stoppage that has cost the NFL regular season games in over 30 years, and in that time, the players may have gained an edge. Between the average salary of an NFL player in 1987 and the median salary of one in 2018 (calculated as such to take into account the pay disparity between quarterbacks & the rest of the roster), players have seen a ninefold increase in pay. On the other side, team owners may not have the resources to win the waiting game. Why? Because teams are expensive to run. The Green Bay Packers, who are the only NFL team required to publish their financials, made only 8% profit in fiscal year 2017 & was essentially flat in FY 2018. Take into consideration that the Packers are one of the higher earning franchises in the league (despite the media market size), and that could easily translate into a coalition of owners who would find themselves in a financial pickle if either a strike or lockout were to extend into the fall of 2020. Plus, commissioner Roger Goodell, already regarded as unpopular, would see his legacy as the NFL's chief executive of the last 14+ years get a huge black eye as he anticipates retiring at the conclusion of his contract. The labor talks in the NFL will be an undercurrent during the season, but will most assuredly become a raging river once Super Bowl LIV crowns a new champion. We shall hope for the best... And brace for the worst.
The Minnesota Vikings have traded a 5th round draft pick to the Baltimore Ravens to get a kicker... No, not that one... Not often does such a rudimentary transaction deserve such coverage, but this exception is particularly warranted. The Vikings have been tortured with their placekickers recently, so when general manager Rick Spielman makes a move to improve that position, it will raise an eyebrow or two. But the trade with the Ravens did not bring in Justin Tucker, who is the gold standard at the position today. Minnesota picked up second year kicker & Norwegian born and bred Kaare Vedvik. Vedvik was the victim of an assault last year and has made a full recovery, so much so that he is trying to become a combination of kicker and punter as he has shown propensity for both spots. But for the Vikes, they are probably looking to improve their scoring game instead of the field position battle, as between rookie Daniel Carlson and veteran Dan Bailey, they connected on a putrid 68.8% of field goals attempted, compared to a completion percentage of 91.7% by their opposition in 2018. Both the Vikings organization and its fan base believe that they are in a championship window. The acquisition of QB Kirk Cousins last year was to solify the spot with a good pro. If Vedvik takes the kicker's job away from Bailey and hits clutch shots when his number is called throughout the season, this could be the transaction that takes the Norsemen to the next level. But only time will tell.
Amidst the Ezekiel Elliott holdout, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves embroiled in a peculiar exchange in their negotiation with QB Dak Prescott's potential new contract Jerry Jones has always exhibited his personality and business sense as the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, for better or worse. He jokingly mused "Zeke who?" as a reporter asked about the state of the contract negotiations between the Cowboys and a holding out Elliott, presumably ecstatic over the performance of rookie running back Tony Pollard. Elliott, staying in Mexico while a new contract is hammered out, reportedly took umbrage with the slight. It's not surprising, since Jones is also the Cowboys' general manager. If a GM publicly minimized a star player in the middle of a holdout, rest assured an owner detached from the situation would certainly have something to say to all involved parties. That said, what transpired this past week as Prescott's own contract extension took center stage is pure Jerrah. It was reported through a source in the organization that Prescott and/or his representatives not only turned down a new contract that would pay the young signal caller an average of $30 million a year, but was seeking $40 million a year average. However, no one outside of the Cowboys' home office in Frisco, TX could independently verify that. So.... What was the point of all that? Perhaps it was a tactic to leverage Elliott and his people to ink a new deal quickly, as there is only so much money available in terms of salary cap space and guaranteed money. Perhaps it was a ploy to project an image of Prescott as avaricious, as quarterback contracts continue higher into the stratosphere. However, that may not wash, as Jones has been quoted several times that he is adamant in signing Prescott to a long term extension. It's hard to conclusively declare what the motives were in planting that story, but Jones still has the daunting task of trying to extend Elliott, Prescott, and WR Amari Cooper to make a Millennium generation version of The Triplets. We'll find out if this episode will grease the skids... Or splinter the master plan.
