(09-09-2020, 06:42 PM)enigma Wrote:

(09-09-2020, 06:17 PM)jagibelieve Wrote: I'm starting to get a bit more excited about the season.  I do hope that after this first week the NFL decides to leave social issues/politics out of the sport.  I just want to watch them play.

On a side note, I watched some of the interviews on Jaguars.com and couldn't help but notice something.  I was kind of "reading between the lines" as well as looking at the body language of the players and coaches.  It pretty much confirmed to me that some of the players that are gone were not really "team" players, but more "me first" players.  It's kind of hard to describe, but it's almost like some players expected the team to be "like a Madden game" or something where "upgrades" could be just plugged in at any time.

When I say "me first" players it's not about individual stats, it's about winning.  I get the impression that some players expected the team to be like the Patriots of the past decade.  It appears to me that some players faulted other players for not being "good enough" as well as lashed out at the coaching staff and FO.

I am interested to see how the players react not only when they win, but when they lose.  Just my thoughts, but I think that some of the players that are gone have never had to lose and never had to actually work hard to win.  I think that some of those players never really had to overcome adversity in their lives.

I agree with you JIB. I'm actually glad we've gotten rid of players who aren't 100% invested in the team or its success.

I think it definitely sheds a light on a players disposition and mental fortitude whenever the team loses. Granted, some players who possess immense talent might not want to step into the leadership role that we might thrust them into.

With regards to your very last sentence, I think the vast majority come from a very challenging and difficult upbringing - and the fact that they were able to break through the barrier and become successful is certainly overcoming the odds. Of course, there are players who come from a very privileged background but I don't think this is the statistical norm.

To be fair, there are a variety of innate and environmental factors that play a role in shaping one's outlook and how they react to certain situations. One can certainly overcome real-life adversity and still come off as being brash.

Forgive me if I wasn't clear (and I wasn't) I was talking only football/sports related adversity.  I understand and realize that some of these players came up through hard times and adversity in life.  I believe that could just be "fuel to the fire".  They had a hard upbringing and suddenly have thousands/millions of dollars thrown at them along with the media spotlight.  All of the sudden they become "entitled to" more or that's how they feel.

It's all about the game though.  I seem to recall hearing some of the players that left saying "I want to win" during interviews.  Of course every player wants to win, but when they don't, that's what separates them.  Instead of learning from failure and working to correct it, they want an "immediate fix" by getting a different player or whatever.

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