No Friends In Football

I love you man

There was a time when NFL players looked to Sunday as a legal way to rip someone's head clear from their neck. An animalistic ferocity that left fans foaming at the mouth onto their couch. Much of violence is of course still there but at times it feels like players are too friendly with each other for my taste and tend to hold back on the buddies they club with. It's not the gentleman's game and you won't get a mulligan for missing a big hit. But there's no reason to slap an opposing player on the helmet for a big play against you or picking him off the turf after a leveling.

I remember a clip of Lawrence Tayor screaming on the sidelines,"Let's go out there like a bunch of crazed dogs!" It wasn't an act and I genuinely believed that he was there to bite someone in the face and leave them with rabies. Deacon Jones, a fierce defensive end, didn't hit the club with his buddies rather he clubbed the thoughts from their brain. A move later banned by the league. He used to come up off the line and swing this tree like arm into the oppositions head, knocking the helmet off. In an interview he claims, "That was my intention". Beautiful.

What am I getting at you ask? Well I've been reading alot of articles lately about players praising opposing teams. When the NY Giant's lost to the Colts last week, many players came out to say, "Well we did get beat by the greatest player in the game". What? Are you mother#%@#*%# kidding me? I mean that goes without saying but do they need to say it? How much fire do you have left in your belly if your quotes are laced in pleasantries?

Acceptable in soccer

In an article on nj.com, Linval Joseph had nothing but nice things to say about former team mate Chris Johnson. Joseph says, "He's the fastest guy I ever seen...a hard worker...There were two things: he was either going to burn me or make me miss...Man I remember trying to stop this, he's doing the same things now". Is this a precursor to a loss? All flattery and no fire. Great! So the Giant's highly praised draft pick has already committed himself to defeat. Basically he saying that Johnson is unstoppable so excuse me if I don't make a play on him. Bull#$@%. I want to hear, "He's good but if he crosses our line, we'll bloody his face." If you didn't know better, you'd think Linval wanted to kiss Johnson's johnson. I don't know but you might be playing the "wrong" football Linval.


Alright fellas, let's play some ball. More fire less fright. Kill or be killed. Friendship and fair play is for wussies and football isn't for the faint of heart. So remember, before you pat the opposition on the ass; clench your hand into a fist and club him on the head. Football is for warriors so let's leave the kissing to the ladies.

Awww. So nice.