CFB Preseason Polls are Worthless and Mess Up the Playoff Rankings

Preseason Polls hurt the ranking throughout the season SEC, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, Pac-12

Polls judge everything in college football. Teams are ranked from the preseason till after the national championship.

We all love to discuss the and debate when the College Football Preseason Polls come out. I even do them for Unafraid Show. However, I have come to find a major flaw in the polling system that ultimately affects the CFB Playoff. We all want the four (or eight in a perfect world) best teams playing for the championship. College Football Preseason polls make that nearly impossible to achieve because they distort the rankings and data for the rest of the season. Eleven of the top 25 teams in the 2018-19 Preseason AP Poll didn’t even finish ranked. In 2017, nine didn’t finish ranked. In 2016, 13 didn’t finish ranked. Commonly, those early season matchups that were so hyped up turned out to be nothing burgers, but they did affect the CFB Playoff committee rankings.

What is the purpose of preseason polls if they are so incredibly wrong. The goal is to find the four best teams in the nation and let them fight it out for the national championship. However, that is nearly impossible to get right because the preseason polls give miss information that only further convolutes the process of determining who the best four teams are for the College Football Playoff. If you are not convinced yet, I have proof.

This will be a journey down the rabbit hole so please hang on tight and keep and an open mind. The polls regularly reflect the voters desire to be right about their preseason selections rather than looking at the data objectively. Here are a few glaring examples of the head-scratchers:

The College Football Preseason Poll Proof

1. Wisconsin went into the 2018-19 season ranked #4. In the week four poll, Wisconsin was 2-1 and ranked #18 with wins over New Mexico and Western Kentucky. The team they lost to, BYU (2-1) was ranked #24. And the team that beat BYU was Cal (3-0), who was unranked. How on earth does that make sense?

2. Texas trashed Georgia in their bowl game yet Georgia finished above Texas in the final AP poll. Georgia is talented and was a sexy pick for the College Football Playoff after started #3 in the preseason? They both finished the season with the exact same amount of wins (2) over top 25 teams, and they have a head to head matchup.

3. Northwestern finished 8-1 in the Big Ten and only got 13 votes in the preseason poll.

4. Stanford came into the season ranked #13. They won their bowl game to finish the season 9-4. So how did the Cardinal finish unranked while seven other teams with at least four losses were ranked? Stanford’s only losses were to top 25 teams: Notre Dame, Utah, Washington, and Washington State. Three of those teams finished in the top 14.

SEC Preseason AP Poll Magic

5. Early in the season that LSU had two top 10 wins (Miami, Auburn). Those wins propelled LSU from #25 in the AP Poll to #5. Neither Miami or Auburn finished ranked. So, those two wins weren’t nearly as good as they were portrayed publicly. That eventually set up an “epic top 5 showdown” between Alabama and LSU. Alabama won the game 29-0, and LSU got a quality loss. The Football Playoff Committee then still had the Tigers ranked #7.

6. Now let us look at Florida. They came into the season unranked. At the end of the regular season, the Gators finished #10 in the country but only beat one team that finished in the top 25. In week six they beat the “#5 team” in the nation LSU which we just learned about. The next week they beat 3-4 Vanderbilt and were ranked #9. That set up a top 10 showdown with #7 Georgia. Georgia won, so adding that to their preseason hype only magnifies the SEC table thumping.

7. Kentucky finished the regular season at #10 in the nation despite only beating one team (Florida) that finished the season in the top 25

There were so many more examples, but you get the point. This is not a knock on LSU, Georgia, Kentucky, or Florida. All are talented teams that had great seasons. However, they are just prime examples in 2018 of how preseason polls manipulate the rankings and end up leaving the SEC overhyped. They ultimately only ended up judged from games they played against themselves.

Fans Deserve Better: A Great Solution

Imagine a world where there are no preseason rankings, and polls start after week four. There would have been information on teams that came into the season with so much hype. We would have already known Miami, FSU, USC, TCU, Auburn, and Wisconsin weren’t as good as advertised. Teams that beat them would get credit, but wouldn’t falsely rise so far in the polls. Starting the rankings after four weeks would create a much more accurate representation of schedule strength and conference strength. Right now we rank teams before they have played a down of football. We have seen time and time again that a top 5 talented team doesn’t make them a top 5 team.

Also, if the preseason polls were eliminated, college football fans would get much more of what they really want and deserve; great games. Teams would no longer have the luxury of preseason top 5 rankings while playing a cupcake non-conference schedule. You would see many more teams trying to put big names on their schedules early in the season to propel them to the playoffs. Fans would respond to that by eliminating the attendance problems many schools are facing. And viewership who certainly increase. All of which leads to more money for everyone except the student-athletes who are actually generating the money, but I digress.

Get rid of preseason polls and Make College Football Greater.

Your Brain on Football: Physical and Psychological Effects of Sports Fandom

physical and psychological effects of sports college football

A year ago, I wrote a post about how and why absurdly addicted I, and most of the world, am to sports. Here are the physical and psychological effects of sports fandom, with a few updates…

Football Fandom Runs Deep and Affects the Brain

My Texas A&M football fandom began at a young age, and it’s progressively worsened into a serious condition. Symptoms include irrational beliefs that “this season will be different” (every season); uncontrollable emotion anytime my team scores, recovers a fumble, or intercepts a pass; low-key stalking high school players to learn where they’ll commit; and owning enough maroon clothing to outfit a small village.

Though my addiction might seem absurd to some, I know I’m in good company. Across the globe, sports enthusiasts do seemingly crazy things in the name of fandom every day. It’s as if our critical thinking skills are hindered by an addiction to our team.

And, that’s it. We’re addicts- looking for our next high. We sacrifice reason and logic for a chance to feel that flood of dopamine when A&M beats Clemson (hey, it could happen; we’re only 11 point underdogs).*

*Update: remember how I said it could happen? Well it basically did, but it’s part of the tragic hero nature of Aggie football to get screwed by refs:

https://youtu.be/FOQIe5g18lI

Your Sports Addiction is Scientific: Physical and Psychological Effects are Real

There’s science to support the potentially addictive nature of fandom. We have very measurable physical effects when watching, or even discussing, our team. Elevated blood pressure, increased adrenaline, and changes in posture or speech are just a few of physical characteristics that accompany game time behavior.

If you listen to a die-hard sports fan, you’ll notice the abundance of the word “we.” In this, the fan is grouping himself with the players, coaches, and fellow fans. It’s our mirror neurons that give us the ability to place ourselves in the shoes of the actual players. Though we’re not in the game, we still feel like we have a part in the outcome. Our addiction is both physical and psychological.

Personally, I think this addiction to sports is both wonderful and terrible.

Humans crave connection. We’re built for community. For many, sports offer the chance to be a part of something. For me, being an Aggie is belonging to a cult community of individuals who share a passion for something bigger than any one of us. But, it’s not just an Aggie thing.

For a large portion of the world, soccer is an integral part of culture. The passion and community of soccer fans is an incredible sight to behold. For millions of children and adults, soccer isn’t just a sport, but it’s the escape from an often challenging life. Watching a game offers a momentary reprieve from the stresses of life.*

*Update: this year’s Women’s World Cup was massively controversial for Americans. Political speech from players dominated and divided the country. As a result, some Americans rooted for England to win the title…before the game began. But, fandom and patriotism took effect shortly after the first kick, and by the end, most Americans were proud to once again beat the British.

Athletes and Coaches Can Do No Wrong

The dark side of fandom is our ability to rationalize away sins for the players, coaches, and schools we love. I’m going to call out Ohio State University here because it’s the most recent, most egregious example of ignoring blatant misconduct for the sake of winning. When we let our addiction to the game supersede our morality, we set a dangerous precedent. Sure, Urban Meyer is a phenomenal coach, but he’s also a jerk. And, what are we saying to the up and coming generation about accountability when we let Coach Meyer off the hook because he wins games? I don’t think these are the values we should be teaching. Our addiction has clouded our judgement.

OSU isn’t the only administration to permit poor conduct. Every fan base has moments in its history we’d like to hide. We’ve all justified bad behavior from our favorite players and swore, “he’s really not a bad guy… he just made a mistake.”

From the outsider’s perspective, the amount of energy and emotion we dedicate to teams and players almost seems like lunacy. It’s just a game, right? They may just be games, but for many, they’re also community. They’re part of our identity. We feel successful when our team wins- a sense of failure when they lose. When our coach receives criticism for misconduct, we feel personally attacked.

For me, the addiction is well worth it. I’ve made some of my best friends at those games. I’ve cried tears of joy and frustration at those games (if you’re an Aggie and didn’t cry when we beat Alabama in 2012 and when we lost to UCLA in 2017, you’re a monster). The community and connection I find as a fan is unbeatable… even though my team is usually very beatable.

I have no doubt I will continue to do ridiculous things in the name of fandom; and I know I’m surrounded by good people who’ll be doing the same.*

*Update: this is a personal note, but the last few dates I had were with guys who didn’t know or enjoy football. As a football addict, I wondered if this meant my life would be spent pining for an Aggie natty alone. But this article’s posting last year convinced another Ag that there are women who might be as obsessed about recruiting as he is. And I hear wedding bells set to the tune of the Aggie War Hymn.

2019 College Football is Almost Here

Here’s to another season of turbulence- high highs and low lows. God bless Jimbo Fisher, Aggie football, and the community we sports fans need to survive the physical and psychological effects of sports.

Why Is Paying College Athletes Viewed so Negatively by Some Fans?

Paying College Athletes Duke Zion Williamson NCAA

Many college sports fans support amateurism. They support it even when it defies all manners of common sense and logic. This was seen in various fans’ reactions to the injury that freshmen phenom Zion Williamson suffered in the UNC/Duke game on February 20, 2019. Leading up to and during that game, fans witnessed the sham […]

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7 Players Who Bombed the NFL Scouting Combine But Turned Into an All-Pro

NFL Scouting Combine 2019

Fans love the NFL Scouting Combine even more than the coaches, general managers, and scouts since it has been televised. It gives every fan access to the exact same measurable stats for each player as NFL franchises. Thus, fans begin to get a glimpse into how difficult it is to pick great players in the […]

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The Unafraid Show NBA Awards 2018-2019: MVP, ROTY, DPOY, COTY

NBA Awards 2018-2019 Giannis Antetokounmpo vs James Harden, NBA MVP, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year

Welcome to the 2018-2019 Unafraid Show NBA Awards. We don’t have an official vote yet for the NBA Awards, but here are the players and coach that should receive the awards. I can’t remember a year where so many of the major races are still up for grabs. It’s all highlighted by the MVP race between Giannis Antetokounmpo or James Harden. NBA Rookie of the Year and NBA Coach of the Year is a close race as well. What’s your pick?

While you debate your picks, here are my NBA Awards selections.

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MVP: Giannis Antetokounmpo

They say ties are a lot like kissing your sister. However, this year more than ever, there should be Co-MVPs. It’s impossible to state whether Giannis Antetokounmpo or James Harden is more valuable to their team. It’s a true catch-22. When comparing stat lines, take your pick. Each guy set records. For Giannis, 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 30.99 per, with the latter ranking first in the NBA. Giannis joins Kareem Abdul Jabbar as the only other player to average 27 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block per game. For James Harden, the scoring numbers are off the charts. Harden averaged the seventh most points in a season in NBA history with 36.1 to go along with 6.6 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and a 30.67 per, with the latter ranking second behind Giannis. Plus, there was the historic streak of scoring at least 30 points per game in 32 straight games. I usually don’t use wins as the determining factor in the MVP race, but in this particular race, it helps. Giannis led the Bucks to an NBA best of 60 wins, which is 12 more than the win total set by Oddshark back in October. Harden, who single-handily carried the Rockets for long stretches where both Chris Paul and Clint Capela were out, led the Rockets to 53 wins, which is two less than their predicted total on Oddshark. Because of the wins jump and the defensive numbers (which will be mentioned later), my MVP vote by the slimmest of margins goes to Giannis.


Rookie of the Year: Luka Doncic

The hype is real. I am guilty of catching Luka fever. Luka Doncic flat out put on a show this season. Luka was the only rookie to average over 20 points per game and led all rookies in scoring with 21.2 points per game. Since 1990, only 15 first-year players have scored over 20 points per game and just four of them have been 19 years old or younger. Luka’s 21.2 points per game are the most among those four players. The rest of Luka’s stat line was impressive. To go along with the 21 points per game, Luka added 7.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 2.3 3-pointers made, and 1.0 steal per game in 32.2 minutes a night as a rookie. As a comparison, Luka had higher numbers than LeBron James as a rookie in all of those statistical categories besides assists (tied) and steals (LeBron averaged 1.6). Despite a late push from Trae Young, Doncic’s historic season deserves to be honored with the NBA Rookie of the Year award.

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Defensive Player of the Year: Giannis Antetokounmpo

This is not your typical Defensive Player of the Year award winner. Rudy Gobert is most likely going to win this award if Giannis wins MVP and I’m positive neither player will argue those outcomes. Gobert is one of the best rim protectors in the league and leads the league in defensive real plus-minus. However, Giannis is one of the most feared defenders in the league and the best two-way player in the game. Although Giannis is 14th in defensive real plus-minus, it’s his ability to force bad shots and help on defense that gives him the edge over Gobert. Giannis joins Andre Drummond as the only two players in the NBA to accumulate 100 blocks and 90s steals. Imagine driving to the lane and having a pterodactyl come flying over to alter your shot. That’s what happens when opponents drive on the Bucks’ defense, which ranks first overall in the NBA.

Sixth Man of the Year: Lou Williams

If you could award this to a pair of teammates. the easy decision would be Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell. I wanted to make sure Harrell was given a shoutout because of his outstanding season. That being said, Lou Williams is going to win this award. “Lou Will” is a scoring machine as the guard once again leads all sixth men in scoring with 20.3 ppg. What’s even more impressive is that Williams leads the Clippers in scoring and is a big reason why the Clippers are headed to playoffs despite this being a rebuilding season. It’s not often the sixth man is the team’s best player, but that’s exactly the case in Los Angeles. Williams will win his third sixth man of the year trophy.

Most Improved Player: Pascal Siakam

If you ask a casual NBA fan about Pascal Siakam, they might say, “who?” I don’t mean that as a dig at Siakam. The causal fan better get used to hearing his name this postseason. As great as D’Angelo Russell and De’Aaron Fox have been, this is what they were projected to do coming out of college. Pascal Siakam is an anomaly. Siakam didn’t start playing basketball until he was 18. Look at the jump that Siakam has made in almost every statistical category.

Siakam is 6’9″ matchup nightmare who has developed into one of the best two-way players in the NBA. Siakam is an integral part of the Raptors’ success and will play a key role for Toronto during their playoff run. When the NBA announces its most improved player, the world will never forget the name, Pascal Siakam. He may be a staple on the NBA Awards All-defensive team.

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NBA Coach of the Year: Kenny Atkinson

Kenny Atkinson from the Brooklyn Nets should win NBA Coach of the Year, but it’s not going to happen. It’s going to Mike Budenholzer of the Milwaukee Bucks. What Budenholzer has done for the Milwaukee Bucks should not go unnoticed. Budenholzer raised Giannis’s game to an MVP level and guided the Bucks to the best record in the NBA with a 60 win season. Credit to him for a job well done. However, my vote for Coach of the Year goes to Kenny Atkinson of the Brooklyn Nets. I can’t comprehend how good of a job Atkinson has done since he arrived in Brooklyn three seasons ago. Atkinson had to come in and try to clean up the mess from the Paul Pierce / Kevin Garnett trade that left the Nets in shambles. However, Atkinson rebuilt the right way. Teams should take notes on what the Nets have been doing the past few seasons. Sign and trade for young, under-valued talent and let them mature while you clear cap space. Who would’ve thought that D’Angelo Russell, who was deemed “not a leader” by Magic Johnson, would revitalize his career and become an All-Star? The Nets won 28 games last year. This year, the Nets have won 40+ and are going to the playoffs. Congratulations to Kenny Atkinson on a magnificent job.

What are your picks for the NBA Awards 2018-2019? Comment with your thoughts below or join in the conversation on Twitter @UnAfraidShow.

Eight 1st-round Picks Who Dominated the NFL Combine but were Busts

NFL 1st round picks who were busts combine

NFL 1st- round draft picks bust for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they don’t have the love, desire, work ethic, or mentality to make it. Other times, they are poorly coached, asked to play out of position, or placed in schemes not suited for their skill set. General managers, scouts, and fans often fall in […]

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Rehabilitation and Redemption Part 2: Virginia Politicians, Megyn Kelly, and Blackface

Blackface Megyn Kelly Northam Herring Virginia

Virginia is undergoing a massive unearthing of scandals with their major politicians. Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment, Governor Ralph Northam, and Attorney General Mark Herring all find themselves defending themselves and calls for their resignation. A 1968 yearbook of Virginia’s Military Institute, which Norment was the managing editor of, contained racial slurs, blackface, and Confederate flags. In another yearbook, this time a medical school yearbook of Ralph Northam, he was accused of appearing in blackface or in KKK garb. Herring, amidst everyone else’s blackface revelations, disclosed that he also had worn blackface in decades earlier. As is the case with Kareem Hunt, these actions are inexcusable. However, shouldn’t there be a path to redemption for people who run afoul of social standards?

It’s 2019 and most of us can agree that blackface is completely in the wrong. Granted there are still some that are inexplicably confused by it and thus turned it into a “complicated” subject. For example, this last October NBC canceled Megyn Kelly Today because of her remarks about blackface.

Megyn Kelly Spoke Her Truth

Kelly stated, ”Back when I was a kid that was OK, as long as you were dressing up as, like, a character.”

“There was a controversy on The Real Housewives of New York with Luann, and she dressed as Diana Ross, and she made her skin look darker than it really is and people said that that was racist,”Kelly said. “And I don’t know, I felt like who doesn’t love Diana Ross? She wants to look like Diana Ross for one day. I don’t know how, like, that got racist on Halloween.”

“The iconic Diana Ross came up as an example. To me, I thought, why would it be controversial for someone dressing up as Diana Ross to make herself look like this amazing woman as a way of honoring and respecting her?”

Kelly was completely wrong in her idea that blackface can be used to honor someone. It might seem like a great idea and you might truly adore the person you are dressing up as, but you are ignoring the brutal past of blackface. Blackface has a harsh history of white actors portraying racist caricatures of black culture. They insulted, belittled and disparaged black culture while at the same time perpetuating stereotypes. If there wasn’t a history of blackface used in this way, perhaps Kelly would be right. However, because of its past, we can’t accept that. This is something most of us know now. We understand the apauling history and why it is completely unacceptable in today’s culture. But Megyn Kelly wasn’t completely wrong in her understanding of blackface.

The Past vs The Present

She was right about America’s past. Things were different. Despite it being disgusting, it was socially acceptable to dress in blackface. Blackface, sexual harassment and many other offenses didn’t disturb people’s moral fabric or have the consequences that they do today. Society wasn’t as educated, aware, and didn’t care about the victims and the reasons why each were misdeeds. Barry Bonds played baseball in the steroid-era of baseball, yet he’s still not in the Hall of Fame because of this. Whether it is a politician, athlete, or even an inmate, we have to consider the environments that people grew up or operate in.

With that being said, let’s review our Virginia politicians, where they went right, where they went wrong, and how politicians and citizens should move forward with redemption at the forefront of their focus.

If you recall, there are three Virginia politicians that have been linked to blackface and they each came out in different ways. Norment, after his 1968 yearbook came out, condemned blackface and also protecting his own actions by stating that he was “one of seven working on a 359-page yearbook.” Northam initially admitted to appearing in the image, though he did not say whether he was the one dressed in blackface or as a member of the KKK. Yet, later he retracted that admission, even though the photo appeared on a yearbook page dedicated to him. However, he did still admit that he appeared in blackface as Michael Jackson in a 1984 party. Herring, unlike the others, came out before anyone had accused him. He claimed to have worn blackface decades earlier.

Time Heals Voter’s Wounds

The most peculiar thing in all of this is that there is still large support for these politicians. A recent Washington Post-Schar School poll found that 60-percent of Virginians said that Herring should stay in office and 58-percent of African American Virginians said that Northam should stay in office. Even though Northam retracted his admission, he still had support by many. The reason why is because of people like Louise Butler, a 76-year-old woman with a deep history of Virginia, including segregation. She said that whatever views Northam held in 1984, she was confident that he was now committed to advancing racial equity. “He’s been a good governor, and he’s been good, as far as I know, to black people,” Butler said. The poll also showed that more Whites believed Northam should resign from office.

This support for political leaders in turmoil is similar to the careers of Richie Incognito and Tyreek Hill, discussed in Part 1 about Kareem Hunt . In the NFL, fans and teams need talent. In politics, citizens look for party lines, common ground and issues that pertain to them. They vote and support many times in spite of the controversy. Nevertheless, just as it did with Incognito, scandals have a way of compiling and spiraling if change and growth are not actually sought after.

In contrast to the current political cycle of dodge and spin, America should adopt a new age of moving forward. Imagine this. A photo comes out of a politician in blackface. Instead of denying that it was him, or retracting his admission, he (or she) comes out and takes full responsibility, admitting the racism and wrongdoing. He then explains the roots of his actions, why he did it, society around him. Context is given. It helps people understand his background. But not stopping then, he explains how and why he has grown and changed since then. He enlightens the public on the policies he’s supported to eliminate racial bias. Last, he commits to serve the community, support bills that will lift up communities of color and push America forward into greater equality. This is the way of Tyreek Hill and should be every politicians attitude and first choice.

Redemption and Rehabilitation

If we want politicians to start doing this, we need to set up an America that is focused on reform and rehab. We can start with our criminal system. America currently represents 4.4-percent of the world’s population, but houses around 22-percent of the world’ prisoners. We need reform. Rehabilitation should not be something that is just awarded to those we like. It should be a right that each of us are granted. And are many ideas on how to do this: give district attorneys, judges, and parole officers more discretion, don’t lock up mentally ill or addicts, provide more educational options in prison, use house-arrest for non-violent offenders, provide tax credits to employers who hire ex-convicts, allow for expungement after good behavior or community service or completion of programs, decriminalize drugs, bail reform, more halfway houses, larger public defender system, create more groups and ministries inmates can join, etc.

In spite of all of the brilliant ideas that there are, they are nothing without a commitment by us to reform and accept. We need to give second chances. Otherwise, we will continue to send people to prison, let them serve time, refuse to accept them back into society and watch them fall back into prison. We’ve created a debilitating system that desperately needs attention, both politically and socially. It’s time we start creating opportunities for redemption and rehabilitation. If we want change to happen, we need to be that change. When we start pushing forward, giving people the space to admit their wrongs and grow, they will start changing. It won’t matter if they are an athlete, a politician, a friend or a family member. Everyone deserves redemption.

Rehabilitation and Redemption Part 1: Kareem Hunt is Entitled to a Second Chance in the NFL

Rehabilitation and Redemption Part 1: Kareem Hunt’s NFL Second Chance

Kareem Hunt signed by the Cleveland Browns

Kareem Hunt has officially been signed by the Cleveland Browns. The former Kansas City Chiefs Running back was released in December amidst a domestic abuse scandal. He is currently on the NFL exempt lists and will not be eligible to play until the NFL completes its investigation and makes a decision on his punishment. As with many scandals in sports, it is a bigger deal when there is video evidence vs accusations. In this case, there is a video of the running back shoving and kicking a woman in a Cleveland hotel. It is clear that Kareem Hunt was in the wrong, and he even stated that he was. But does he deserve a second chance? Should Cleveland be the one to give him that chance? The answer is a resounding yes.

The NFL has historically turned a blind eye to domestic abuse until the league was embarrassed by the punishments handed down in the Ray Rice and Josh Brown cases. The league then instituted a new Domestic Violence Policy. The new policies state that players involved in sexual assault or domestic violence incidents will receive a six-game suspension for a first offense and atheoretical lifetime ban from the NFL for a second offense. Kareem Hunt missed the final five regular-season games of 2018 and will likely be suspended for the first six games of 2019 in accordance with the policy. He will have to attend counseling.

NFL Players Are Not Bad Guys

NFL players are arrested at a far lower rate than the general public. So why does the twitter mob often demand players never work again? Doctors, lawyers, judges, and people law enforcement all have an element of morality attached to their job description. However, when they run afoul of the law they are given second chances. The NFL is full of is flawed human beings, just like the rest of society. Some of them have made mistakes or had accusations of impropriety against them if caught on tape may have ended their careers. Ray Lewis, Michael Vick, Ben Roethlisberger, Adrian Peterson, Brett Favre, and even Peyton Manning have had scandals either in college or the NFL.

But, if a player is surrounded by public controversy, the path to redemption for these players is complicated. In this digital age, this has become much more apparent. Tweets are viewed and screenshot before they can be deleted. Every phone has a quality camera and people demand transparency. Compounding this are angry, public outcries by the social media mob. People rightfully want our society to be better. There have been large-scale, public activism in recent years such as the #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter, and #MAGA movements strongly fueled by the power of social media. When a player like Kareem Hunt is caught on video making a critical mistake, he is screwed. Hunt has to now choose to do one of the following: Be like Richie Incognito or Be like Tyreek Hill.

Which Road Will Kareem Hunt Take

The case of Richie Incognito is a fascinating one. He played in the NFL as an offensive guard for 11 seasons, started 151 games, and made the Pro-Bowl four times. Incognito was talented. But he also caused a lot of trouble. A lot. After making his first Pro-Bowl in 2012 and winning the 2012 Good Guy Award, Incognito was a well-respected veteran. That all changed quickly. In 2013, when Incognito was asked to “toughen up” teammate Jonathan Martin, he took to bullying and threatening Martin. When Martin missed voluntary practices, Incognito threatened him and his family, while also using racial slurs we should never repeat or tolerate. After listening to the recording, the Dolphins suspended Incognito for three months. Then following review of the Martin exchanges and additional racial slurs used towards an assistant trainer, the Dolphins suspended Incognito for the entire 2014 season.

Missing an entire season due to threats and using the N-word doesn’t sound like a scenario that would play out well. But it almost did. Remember that Incognito was talented and the league needed quality offensive lineman. He was signed by the Bills and made the Pro Bowl with them for three consecutive seasons from 2015-2017. In a 2016 interview with Colin Cowherd, he said: “You learn from it, you move on”. However, Incognito did not learn as much as he needed to. In 2018, he threw a tennis ball and a dumbbell at another gym patron in a Life Time Fitness. He was later arrested for disorderly conduct and threatening funeral home employees when he was making arrangements for his father’s funeral. The police found two Glocks, three rifles, and a suppressor in his truck. Incognito managed to extend his career a few more years due to quality play and talent, but lacked the personal growth and changed needed for sustained success.

Change is Possible

In contrast to Incognito is Tyreek Hill. In 2014, Hill was dismissed from Oklahoma State because of graphic, domestic abuse involving his then-pregnant girlfriend. The police report states that “… the two got into an argument and he threw her around like a ragdoll, punched her in the face, sat on her and repeatedly punched her in the stomach, and choked her.” He was sentenced to three years of probation, anger management, a year-long batterers program and required to undergo a domestic-abuse evaluation. But while his fault was large, he took the necessary steps towards rehabilitation.

Hill completed his three years of probation, his anger management, and batterers programs, and also added community service into his life. His case was expunged. He is now engaged to Crystal Espinal, the same woman he abused, and they have a three-year-old son. Hill also earned an NFL Players Association’s Community MVP weekly award in 2018. Would Hill have been afforded this ability to change if his abuse was caught on camera? Unlikely. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t matter whether a crime is caught on video or not. Each player should be afforded a second chance to change and be redeemed.

This path of redemption for Kareem Hunt can be found in Cleveland. The team’s general manager, John Dorsey, was the general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs when they drafted Tyreek Hill amidst his controversy. He also drafted Antonio Callaway last season. Dorsey is willing to take risks on players if they can change and take steps towards growth. Dorsey also knows Kareem Hunt. He drafted him before departing from Kansas City to Cleveland. He clearly believes in Hunt.

Trust in Cleveland Browns GM John Dorsey

“My relationship and interaction with Kareem since 2016 in college was an important part of this decision-making process but we then did extensive due diligence with many individuals, including clinical professionals, to have a better understanding of the person he is today and whether it was prudent to sign him,’’ Dorsey said in a release. “There were two important factors: one is that Kareem took full responsibility for his egregious actions and showed true remorse and secondly, just as importantly, he is undergoing and is committed to necessary professional treatment and a plan that has been clearly laid out.”

Hunt has the general manager backing him and now all he has to do is gain the trust of the public. Luckily for Hunt, he is a Cleveland native. Hunt was born and played football through high school in Willoughby, Ohio before playing for the University of Toledo (also in Ohio). By playing near his hometown, he will have the support of his friends and family. Hunt also appears to be following in Tyreek Hill’s path. In an ESPN interview, Hunt said, “[The Chiefs] pretty much said we love you, everybody cares about you, and just we have to let you go. It was a tough conversation,” He added, “And the Chiefs did what was right. I made a poor decision and I’m willing to take full responsibility.” If he, unlike Incognito, is able to learn from his actions and move forward, he has the chance to find success.

Last, although it’s unfortunate that it comes down to it, Hunt is a very good player. When athletes perform well, they are generally accepted back into fandom quicker. Their controversies can dissolve more and more with each win. According to PFF, Hunt was the 9th-best running back in 2018 and the 3rd-best running back in 2017. He led the league in rushing and forced missed tackles in 2017. Playing for an up and coming offense in the Browns, the dual-threat Hunt can be utilized and find success.

Don’t Move the Goal Posts

What Kareem Hunt did is inexcusable and should never happen. But it is also inexcusable to deny someone the chance to move forward. How long do we have to put up with this outdated idea that someone’s mistakes need to follow them for life? Growth and redemption should be afforded to all. With each mistake, we have the chance to grow, learn, and impact others in a positive way. Each of us has the ability to own up to our own mistakes. Apologize, and take the steps necessary to change for the better. So we should accept and encourage others to do the same, regardless of if they were caught on video or not.

Rehabilitation and Redemption Part 2: Virginia Politicians, Megyn Kelly, Blackface

Why Do Fans Wait Until Great Athletes Retire to Openly Appreciate Their Greatness?

great athletes kobe lebron brady not appreciated

Avid football fans tuned in to watch the NFL’s most exciting event, Super Bowl LIII. The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams in a “defensive showdown”. It was the Patriots third consecutive Super Bowl appearance. It was also the franchises ninth Super Bowl appearance with head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady at the helm. Given that Brady was successful in his ninth Super Bowl appearance, the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) debate has been embedded in almost every conversation. The ultimate question is – does this Super Bowl win solidify Tom Brady’s position as the GOAT?

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While the GOAT debate can be fun, it can also be pretty contentious. The contentious nature of the debate can deflect from the true greatness that sports fans are witnessing at the moment. The debate can cause sports fans to completely miss what it is happening because fans are focused on finding flaws in great players’ performances to justify who they think should be regarded as the GOAT. Accordingly, fans have a tendency to snub athletes during their careers who are later regarded as greats. Why do sports fans wait until the end of an athlete’s career to show their true appreciation?

The Black Mamba – An NBA Legend

One of the best examples of fans failing to show true appreciation until the athlete retires can be seen in former Los Angeles Laker, Kobe Bryant. Bryant is without question one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Bryant’s greatness cannot be disputed. After all, he scored 81 points in one game in his prime. Bryant then showed everyone how to retire when he scored 60 points in his final game. However, Bryant did not receive all of his deserved accolades until he retired. For years Kobe Bryant was one of the most hated athletes in sports. People thought he was arrogant, not a team player, and completely self-interested.

However, when he announced his retirement those sentiments changed. Instead, people said he was confident, made his teammates better, and led his teammates to several victories and NBA Championships. Everyone was ready to embrace the “Mamba Mentality.” Why did fans wait until Bryant’s retirement to show true appreciation for his performance in the NBA?

Maybe it is the old adage of not truly being able to appreciate something until it is gone. Once an athlete retires, fans are left wishing they could re-live the athlete’s greatest moments. The failure to truly appreciate Bryant while he was playing robbed the sports world of the opportunity to truly bask in his greatness. It seems that the sports world may be on the same track in regards to LeBron James and Tom Brady.

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Fans are Failing to Acknowledge LeBron James’ and Tom Brady’s Greatness While They are Playing

LeBron James is undisputedly one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. However, when he is talked about that fact seems to get lost. Fans often focus on the fact that he is 3-9 in the NBA Finals. However, when he retires the story will likely be re-framed to reflect the fact that James appeared in 8 consecutive NBA finals. Most recently, everyone talks of the fact that the Cavaliers were swept in the 2018 NBA Finals. Again when James retires the story will most likely reflect the fact that James took what was probably the most unlikely team ever to the NBA Finals.

Similarly, Tom Brady is and has been one of the most hated players in the NFL. Tom Brady’s ability to get his team to multiple playoffs, AFC Championships, and Super Bowls is truly remarkable. However, some sports critics find ways to poke holes in his performances. To be fair, in light of Spygate and Deflategate some of his criticism is earned. Critics use those instances to take away from his greatness. In spite of how some sports fans feel about those controversies, Brady’s innate ability to constantly have his team in a position to advance to the Super Bowl is nothing short of amazing. When Brady retires the talk will not be of Spygate and Deflategate, it will be about how Brady managed to advance to 9 Super Bowls.

If Fans Are Not Careful Other Great Moments are Going to Pass Them By

Sports fans should learn to appreciate James, Brady, and other greats while they are still playing. Fans should learn to stop looking at every player’s performance for what it is not and start to appreciate it for it is. In most cases, the players are doing something that has not been before and will probably never be done again. Just simply witnessing the longevity of James’ and Brady’s careers is remarkable.

The fact that James and Brady have been able to stay at the top of their games this late in their careers is remarkable as well. Their greatness should be admired now, not after they retire. If fans do not learn to stop being so critical, other great moments are going to pass them by. If fans are not careful, they will be left to wish they could re-live James’ and Brady’s and other players’ greatest moments.

Leave a comment with who do you believe are the most under appreciated athletes of all time?


2019 NFL Draft Sleepers and Triumphs Update: Athletes to Celebrate

Looking back at the NFL Draft

Day Three of the 2019 NFL Draft is in the books. After seven rounds, we can finally celebrate the UnAfraidShow favorites. Prior to the draft, our writers identified sleepers, hidden gems and adversity-driven athletes to watch for. Here are those players and where they were drafted or if they remain undrafted.

Stories of Triumph (Full stories here and here)

Kaleb McGary, OT

NFL Draft Status: Round 1, Pick 31, No. 31 Overall to Atlanta Falcons

At pick 31, the Falcons traded back into the first round to select McGary. They seem to like him enough to protect quarterback Matt Ryan. McGary landed himself on one of the better teams in the NFL. After living in an RV through high school, McGary can use his first-round paycheck to rent a nice apartment.

Christian Wilkins, DT

NFL Draft Status: Round 1, Pick 13, No. 13 Overall to Miami Dolphins

Wilkins, persevering through his grandfather’s death (accidentally by the hands of a SWAT team), earned a top-15 pick and is headed to Miami to play against the GOAT Tom Brady. Miami is in need of leadership. Scouts, coaches and fans are drawn to Wilkins’ character. Look for him to become the face of the franchise alongside Josh Rosen.

Chandler Brewer, OG

NFL Draft Status: UDFA to L.A. Rams

When it comes to adversity, Brewer knows it well. The Middle Tennessee State University lineman played through cancer in 2018. After undergoing radiation treatment, Chandler has been building back strength to win his NFL playing time. Signed by the Super Bowl-losing Rams, Brewer will add depth to an

Emanuel Hall, WR

NFL Draft Status: UDFA to Chicago Bears

Dubbed by many as a one-trick pony, Emanuel Hall still found his way onto the Chicago Bears roster because he is the best at that trick. Despite injuries and his father’s unexpected death in 2018, Hall displayed tremendous efficiency. His 4.39 (95th-percentile) 40-yard dash, 109.7 (89th-percentile) Speed Score and 144.5 (99th-percentile) Burst Score are good enough to earn a second look.

Will Grier, QB

NFL Draft Status: Round 3, Pick 37, No. 100 Overall to Carolina Panthers

Grier landed himself an offense led by Cam Newton. However, considering Newton’s injury history, Grier could have regular season snaps as early as 2019. With this draft pick, the Panthers believe that Grier is well beyond his PED-suspended past.

Gary Johnson, LB

NFL Draft Status: UDFA to Kansas City Chiefs

Life has never been easy for Johnson. He’s had to scape, claw and earn everything he has. From foster-care to community college football to playing for Texas, Johnson showed grit. Johnson now found his way to a Super Bowl contending team in need of defenders.

Kahzin Daniels, EDGE

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1119397699881586689

NFL Draft Status: UDFA to Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Daniels may be the most interesting rookie in this class. He played without any vision in his right eye. Yes, Kahzin Daniels found success in college despite being completely blind in one eye. With that being said, he was able to total 31.5 sacks. Cross your fingers he can overcome this “disability” in the NFL.

Bonus: Josh Jacobs, RB

NFL Draft Status: Round 1, Pick 24, No. 24 Overall to Oakland Raiders

Coming from poverty, homelessness and even being chased by gunfire, Jacobs has come a long way. Because of his incredibly efficiency and highlight-reel production, Jacobs battled his way to the first round. After Marshawn Lynch retired, the Oakland Raiders were in need of another talented running back. They found a running back that will “run angry“.

Football is a Beautiful Game

In so many ways, football reminds us that anyone, no matter who they are, can make a big splash. Regardless of race, income, or neighborhood. This is what makes the NFL Draft and offseason so captivating.