I know many of you must have already seen on ESPN or somewhere about Jeff Fisher wearing a Peyton Manning Jersey at a fund raiser. Many of the Titans fans were really upset about this, especially with his comment of "I just wanted to know what it felt like to be a winner." Seemed like all the espn broadcasters and analyst's seemed to think it was no big deal. Fisher did come out later and apalogize if he upset any of the titans fans, but also said he would do it again given the choice. So lets just for fun imagine......Lets say this was our coach. Tony Sparano just went on TV and a fundraiser wearing a Tom Brady jersey. Makes the comments "I wanted to feel like a winner." Whats your reaction?? As for me, I know its a fund raiser and everything, but I really couldnt imagine having a coach that does this. I would be extremely upset about it. I would probably be one of those calling for his head. I just dont think it sends the right message to you team especially when your team is 0-5. I would not want this guy to be leading my team.
Friend Shamboubou: I get your point but Jeff Fisher is probably the most underrated coach in the NFL he knows his team & the game of football let's face it: they need motivation anyway he can provide it you do what you gotta do
It does seem like an odd thing for FIsher to do. Was there a real reason why he was wearing the Peyton jersey?
I know the fund raiser was in Tennessee, so I'm imagining that is why. Other than that I'm not really sure.
I'm with you Sham, would be pissed if our coach did anything like that. Lack of respect to your team and it's fans. Since it was done for the sake of charity he has been getting a pass.
It was a fundraiser. He was introducing Tony Dungy. Of course Peyton Manning is also something of a big deal in Tenn. So it was not like it was totally random. So I think not really a big deal. Also apparently Fisher's "apology" was I am sorry if I offended anyone, but if I did you need to reconsider what you find offensive. Tempest in a teapot. Edit: And in response, under those circumstances, I probably wouldn't care. I would be more pissed that I have a ****ty team and ****ty owner http://bleacherreport.com/articles/275933-titans-football-did-fisher-go-too-far
he knew what he was doing Fisher is no fool it was coordinated & calculated a veiled attempt to motivate his team
I absolutely disagree with what Fisher did. Yes, I understand he and Dungy are good friends. I also understand he was just trying for a little comic relief while at the same time acknowledging Dungy's accomplishments. But....... The Colts have been the Titan's main divisional rival ever since the realignment. The rivalry may not be as old as ours with the Jets, etc. But it's still present. Right now the Colts are undefeated and the Titans are winless. Think about it this way...... Two years ago we were sitting 0-6. How would you have felt if, right after we lost our 6th game in a row, Cam would have introduced Belichick at some fund raiser wearing a Brady jersey? During the off season...maybe no problem. But myself as a fan, right after 6 consecutive losses - no.
That was my feeling. Of course we would be upset if Sparano wore a Brady jersey, but that's because they're a hated rival. It was for charity, and he was joking. If this were last year, and the Titans were playing better, you would never even have heard about this.
Fisher can do whatever he wants. One of the best coaches out there. Just needs a better GM to find him a QB
I know Tony coached Peyton, but still don't really get the Peyton jersey connection. I think he should have came out in a Tony Dungy Pittsburgh Steelers jersey. Overall though, it was a joke at a charity event that got a good laugh. Mission accomplished.
too good a coach to miscalculate a move like that his team is sinking to the depths of the NFL it was conveniently motivational & calculated
Great point. Originally, like everyone else, I didn't think it was a big deal. But if Tony rocked a Tom Brady jersey I'd lose my ****. And if we were 0-6, I'd probably be Buffalo style putting up billboards calling for his head.
If it was say, a Matt Hasselbeck jersey, I wouldn't care at all. A hated division rival? Wouldn't like it one bit. But if it was for charity I wouldn't be complaining and whining, certainly not expecting an apology, but still wouldn't like it. The only thing that JF did that I think was even a bit out of line was the winner comment. That, even joking as it was, is a bit of a dig at his own players, and they're already down. No need to kick them, even in jest.
Why?.........I don't think anyone is taking issue with Fisher being there and/or introducing Dungy to the audience. The only issue is Fisher walking out with a Manning jersey on and telling the crowd he just wanted to know what it felt like to be a winner. In fact the fund raiser was in Tennessee. If he wanted to honor Manning in particular he could have worn a Vols jersey. Or....he could have worn a Titans jersey....or a suit and tie.
everything a good coach does during the season is purposeful & calculated just too blatant of a move to be incidental. he sent a message.
because he's obviously doing it to be entertaining, to make the event memorable, thus more people sign up next year, more happy people to donate money, etc. I don't think they should have to worry about some rivalry during charity events and its selfish of fans to want him to, IMO.
Unfortunately, it's pretty much an impossibility for public figures to compartmentalize their lives. Again from the fans' perspective; fans don't confine sports rivalries to game day, as evidenced by the clothing articles, flags in yards, stickers on car bumpers, etc, etc. An awful lot of fans wear their "fandom" 24 hrs a day - 7 days a week. So I just think it's also important to be sensitive to the fans feelings; and we're talking about fans of an 0-6 team right now. In the long run, it's not earth shattering. It's not the worst thing he could have done. Nor does it detract from what he's already accomplished or what a quality human being he is. But I still think it was insensitive to Titans fans.
i think titan fans need to grow a set myself if they are upset about this. thats just me though. dont get me wrong initially i'd be upset. but after some thought, I'd calmd own and see it for what it was, a joke at a charity event, and basically the coach telling the truth. Right now the team aren't winners, including that coach.
Yeah for sure, I don't think they need belabor the issue. Fisher has done way too much for that team over a long period of time. It's over and done with. No amount of complaining is going to undo it. He's already stated he meant no offense - which I believe. Truth is; right now today if I had a choice between Jeff Fisher and Tony Sparano for HC, I would take Fisher in a second. He's a great coach and a great person.
you don't get it yet? Parcells its all about Bill Parcells the TriFecta, etc. we have the best administrative & coaching arrangement in the NFL today the Big Tuna rulesSparano is his Capo & Ireland the Consoleri
It's all about context, and I don't think it was malicious. If Sparano did it I'd have to take it in context. He's too much of a business guy though, eye on the prize and all that good stuff. If he was doing it as a joke though, or in jest, I'd be cool with it (even though thats not his personality). And on a side note, does anyone else read 23rd's posts like they're a Haiku? Hah, your formatting always gets me, it's like a little mini-poem in almost all your posts. Good stuff
i think it was 50/50 ... a tribute to Dungy, by donning his best players jersey - who just happens to be the face of the NFL ... AND to motivate his team after that abismal effort against the PATS ... that was woeful on a side note, not sure you would ever see Sparano roasting Belicheat ... don't think they have any history ... a connection with Parcells, but no history. Regardless, Manning is much better than Brady ever will be ...
i loved it. wouldn't mind Sparano doing it at all. it's good to have a sense of humor and have perspective.
I wouldn't like it but I guess everyone will see things differently. Although it is no big deal though.
I dont think it was a motivational ploy. How can you motivate your own players by disrespecting them? And,it was total disrespect if he was implying that his players were losers. After all,he is the head coach so the biggest loser would be himself.
Lets be honest. Like it really matters what Bullock, or any of the Titans players, thinks about a stupid, maybe thoughtless moment, by your head coach. How about being upset by the whooping you just got at the hands of the Pats and that you are 0fer this year. Again, it just seems to me that in the realm of things to be pissed off about for the Titan players, this should be REALLY low on the list. Or perhaps that explains why they have not won this year. Screwed up priorities.
Honestly, I think he knows his job is on the line and doesn't really care at this point. There's no answer for starting 0-6 in the year, after the kind of year they had last year. I mean did they lose that much personnel, I don't think so, but I don't really follow too many teams hardcore aside from the 'phins. I just feel for any team that's got to go through a start/season like that. After our season it really made me more humble of a fan. I caught myself rooting for the Lions, and the Rams last week. I'll probably have to start rooting for the Titans outside of our game.
another Dolfan said they preferred Jeff Fisher (who I had previously stated was the most underrated coach in the NFL) over Sparano as a head coach... hence, Parcells etc.
That I disagree with... It was self-deprecating humor at his own expense. If he had said, "I just want to be part of a winning team," then he threw his team under the bus, but that's not what he said. He said nothing against his team or his players. Sure, they may take it that way, but that's on them, not on Fisher. If his players take it personally, they just need to stop being so damn sensitive, IMO.
all i know is that we play the titans and that scares me. i hate playing teams that haven't won a game b/c there's always that one game when they play their hearts out and upset someone! i hope that doesn't happen against us! i remember when we did that to the bears a couple of years ago.
I know one thing: If I'm a Titans player I feel embarrassed and like I've got something major to prove. With that said... Jeff Fisher wins.
point is with them, how many games have they won since Haynesworth got injured last year .... i believe the answer is 0 ...... Haynesworth was having a terrific year last year, then got dinged up towards the end of the year - and then boom, they start losing .... and haven't stopped since.
