http://mmqb.si.com/2014/02/18/jason-avant-eagles-ted-wells-report-locker-room-culture/ On the culture in the NFL, with particular reference to Miami's locker room.
This supports what common sense should have told anyone defending the churlishness that went on in Miami.
Meh. So many players and former players have voiced their opionion already. Seems like half are shocked the other half brush it off as normal locker room antics. I guess personality plays a huge part on how this stuff is perceived. I can't wait until this is over and we get back to football.
I agree. I want this to be a speck in our rear-view mirror. Then again, you have incidents like todays, when we have a chance to move forward decisively, but blow it and become the object of national derision again. But until it does go away it's not going anywhere, to coin a new Yogi-ism. I think it is important to know that there are different ways of seeing things, of dealing with them;
From one perspective, I am totally on board with Avant. I think he is a model character. He's married. He cares for his family. He does not appreciate that language from any player. He wants the league to change its culture. I am completely on board with that and Avant will have a new fan. Would that every NFL player had such character and attitude. It would be an insanely awesome league if it did. But, from another perspective, I do think that the reality is, players are very different from Avant and that many teams have "cultural pockets" that differ greatly from Avant. Many come from broken homes and broken cultural upbringings; many have fathered multiple children from multiple women and that will ultimately have a detrimental impact on culture. Lets face the reality. Rap music and culture is highly influential in professional sports. And, while many Rap artists are insanely talented and even offer some excellent cutting edge social commentary that needs to be said; Rap is also profoundly vulgar (some Rap songs make the Incognito, Martin texts sound tame); devalues women terribly; and shows little interest in a committed marriage like Avant. And, that culture is reflected in many locker rooms and certainly in Incognito's language.
There's video proof of ray rice carrying his unconscious wife through a casino. Summons says he did it. I'm 1000% more outraged by that than anything in the stupid wells report. Hope all these high and mighty vets speak about this.
GREAT Observation. Yes, indeed. When you think of the controversy this has stirred - including from many on this board, it's crazy. Rarely is there that much made of abuse of one's wife. Actual, physical abuse by a powerful football player on a woman. Insane.
