Michigan Man Jason Avant acting the part/Peter King article on NFL standards
I was just reading Peter King's article on SI.com regarding creation of a higher professional standard in the NFL in the wake of the Richie Incognito/Miami Dolphins report. The article starts off indicating that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell contacted some former players to discuss the idea of a new professional code. The first player quote in the article was Jason Avant tellign Goodell “we need you to set standards. We need you to make it black and white. We need standards, and if we don’t meet them, we shouldn’t be here.”
Stand up quote from a stand up guy and a great example of the values of a Michigan Man in light of what par has become in the NFL.
Here's your link: http://mmqb.si.com/2014/02/17/jonathan-martin-michael-sam-monday-morning-quarterback/?eref=sihp
February 17th, 2014 at 10:27 AM ^
This makes perfect sense to me. Avant has been a steady presence on the Eagles, not only in his ability to make big catches (particularly on third down) but also in the locker room. This is an extremely young team, particularly at the skill positions, and I think Avant has been one of the guys who has been instrumental in the maturity displayed by the team. I have to think that he has also had a very good effect on Desean Jackson, who came in the league as a one-trick pony with a mouth that moved faster than he did, and he has evolved into a multi-level threat with greater perspective. Have to think that his improvement on and off the field has had quite a bit to do with Avant
February 17th, 2014 at 10:31 AM ^
One of my all-time favorite Wolverines, and not just for what he brought to the playing field. From what I've read about him many times over his career, his leadership and maturity stood out from day one, both at Michigan and in the NFL.
February 17th, 2014 at 10:53 AM ^
I'm not sure in my almost 40 years of following Michigan football, I've seen a tougher receiver than JA. The guy was fearless in making the tough catches in the middle of the field to keep the chains moving.
February 17th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
and while I was reading it, a question popped into my mind for the perusal of the board...I'm curious to know what others think. The last time I played organized football was 9th grade, then I concentrated on swimming only. We had freshman "initiation" or a form of paying your dues, but I would never call it hazing. My coach kept a close eye on us. However, it was all in fun.
My question is: Is the hazing we read about, and this article mentions (some being acceptable, some not), designed to help the players be better players?
I mean, these guys are being paid a shit-ton of money to win football games. Shouldn't everything done in and out of that locker room, on the field, performed by all members of the organization, be designed towards the end of winning? I get "tradition" and I get organizational personalities...but is the hazing that goes on often times taken further than it should be as it becomes counter-productive to the W/L column?
February 17th, 2014 at 10:44 AM ^
Unfortunately, I think "hazing" in football is done by testerone filled adolescents trying to bond with other players in the complete wrong/confusing way. When I played football in high school, I was guilty of it (but our hazing was much more tame than what people immediately think of when the subject is brought up, as I'm sure your experience with hazing was as well). Is it necessarily done to win games? Of course not, at least not directly. It is a twisted way of thinking you are building commraderie among teammates and having fun with it at the same. I never thought twice about what I was doing to younger or maybe "less impactful" players as innapropriate. But then again, I very seldom thought twice about anything I ever did as a teenager. I would, however, expect professional athletes to be, you know, more professional than a kid going through puberty.
February 17th, 2014 at 10:47 AM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^
I think that "knowing ones role" as a rookie/freshman is important, but I think that from captains or coaches it can come in such a way that it isn't hazing and establishes what's OK and what's not.
On my high school hockey teams the Freshmen were always in charge of picking up pucks at the end of practice. That came from the coaches, and it was known and done. I'd say that's similar to carrying pads etc. Having a rookie fight song sing and/or talent show like I've seen some teams do is fine. If the rookies are in charge of bagels for meetings, OK. In general, treating the rookies like a group in such a way as the coaches deem OK is fine by me. Taping individuals to goal posts, $30,000 dinners, etc. crosses the line in my mind, and I think yours as well.
Having rookies do "team jobs" (pucks, pads, etc) I wouldn't even call hazing. That's not designed to embarass. If coaches and/or authority figures were more involved, this never would have spiraled out of control.
February 17th, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 10:34 AM ^
League needs more leadership like this from the player ranks, on this and lots of other issues (concussions, etc.).
February 17th, 2014 at 10:41 AM ^
Great article. Feel like this spectacular tribute needs to be reposted:
February 17th, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 11:02 AM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 11:15 AM ^
Jason Avant>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Marcus Hall.
(see next MGoBoard topic if you need reasons)
February 17th, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
I think that both Jason and Marcus do a great job of representing their respective schools. They embody everything you need to know about both.
February 17th, 2014 at 11:26 AM ^
February 17th, 2014 at 11:38 AM ^