Upon Further Review

July 25, 2008

Welcome to the latest edition of "Upon Further Review" and I’m just going to get right to it this week because I have three things that are bothering and I need to get them off my chest.

• First there is the Caleb Campbell situation. My heart goes out to this guy, it really does. The military tells him he can go and play in the NFL and fulfill a dream.  But then just as camp is starting the rug gets pulled out from under him and his dream is no more.
  Look, the military has every right to change their mind and have him do his time on active duty that's not my beef.  My beef is with the timing of the decision. Campbell had already been through mini camps and voluntary workouts and was just getting ready to start his battle for a roster spot, but he's told he can't do it.
  Why the wait?  Why even tell him he could report to an NFL team and try to earn a roster spot?  Why not just tell Campbell he has to serve his time in the military first and then can pursue an NFL?  Why get his hopes up only to dash them?
  It seems cruel to me.  But, through it all Campbell has been positive.  He's never felt like this was owed to him.  He felt privileged to be given the chance and now that the chance is gone he hasn't whined or complained.
  Instead, he's been a model soldier and is looking forward to serving his country.  You have to applaud a guy like that.  I just wish we all could've done it on Sunday's.  
   

• Secondly, there is the Brett Favre saga.  This is the one that irks me the most.  For any of you who have read my articles in the past you may know that my biggest pet peeve in sports is the guy who retires only to unretire later.  
  I hate it!  When you sit down to contemplate retiring the first question to answer should be... will I miss the game?  And if so, how will I channel that competitive fire inside me?  If you can't figure that out, then don't retire.  If you realize you're going to miss the game and can't find a release for it then stay in the game until you can find another outlet.  
  For many retired athletes, broadcasting is an option.  Maybe you get into coaching, somewhere, anywhere.  Hell, maybe you take up knitting or dancing.  Who cares? Just find a release.  Again, if you can find that release then don't retire.  Don't put the fans of your team and the NFL (or whatever sport you play) through the torture. It’s not worth it.  You only end up tarnishing your legacy, especially you Brett. Just stop it already, ok?  Put an end to it already.  You made your decision now live with it.

P.S. Don't even get me started on Roger Goodell getting involved... what a joke that is!

• Finally, I want to end on a good note.  I want to applaud Commissioner Goodell for his stance on rookie salaries.  Again, for anyone who has read my post articles you'll know my extreme distain for rookie hold outs.  Unfortunately it’s the nature of the beast in the NFL. They created a monster and now the monster is getting out of control.  
  Rookie salaries grow each year and are entering, if they're not already at, the totally absurd stage.  For what? For a kid who hasn't played a down of professional football?  For a kid who hasn't proven himself in any way, shape or form?  How smart is that, in a business sense?  You don't see major corporations hiring people with no experience to work for them do you?  No, because big business gets it.  They reward experience and performance.  The NFL rewards potential. Sometimes the potential shines through but many times it doesn't and teams are left crippled by a HUGE contract.  Again I ask, why???
  The NFL needs to adopt a rookie salary cap, like the one in the NBA for example. They need to limit what these kids can earn on their contracts.  Limit the contracts to 3-years and make these kids EARN their next contract.  If they live up to their potential then they will get paid handsomely.  If they are a bust they still got paid well for 3-years and their team is crippled by a huge salary.  Everybody wins.  I don't see the difficulty here and don't see the problem in making someone earn their money.

Again, I applaud Commissioner Goodell for recognizing the problem and making it public. Now it’s time for him, and others, to do something about it.