C.J. is another of my cannon fodder players.
He went too far last year and turned the N.F.L. into his personal variety show.
He and the other T.O. (Icky shuffle) copycats, forced the league to crack down on celebrations.
I understand, that the players wear helmets and need to get their faces out there in order to increase their name recognition among the free spending fans. Many have ambitions beyond the N.F.L. and need to cement their celebrity status. After all, who would want to give up the life.
Celebrations have gone too far, and before you lump me in with the curmudgeons of the status quo, remember that championships are not won by individuals in team sports. The N.F.L. is not basketball where one player can dominate a league. (Although for five certain years Charles Haley could beg to differ.)
The receiver is not making the touchdown based solely on his skills, in fact, outside of kickers, he has the easiest job on the team.
The prima-donna rarely exposes himself in the middle and many of them refuse to block. They aren't even the best athletes on the field.
In college two of my first semester roommates played in high school. The receiver was physically unmarked by the experience, but, his O-line center, buddy had mended bones and metal plates.
Without a feared running back, blockers on the line, and a quarterback risking his life, the prancing wide receiver pirouetting down the sideline wouldn't catch anything at all.
Do you ever see any of them stopping to acknowledge all the people who sacrificed their bodies for them to stand so handsomely unscathed on the painted grass?
Then why do they deserve the glory of self serving antics, and Adonis attitudes?
Wide receivers are great athletes, and the ones that come to mind are the Rice's, the Largent's, the Clark's, Monk's, Stallworth's and Swann's. And I remember those humble men that never forgot how lucky they were for being the guy; instead of some other Joe that didn't get the opportunities they had.
All this is a little unfair to C.J., because he truly seems to be a fun and good guy. His act was tolerated longer then most because he is a true showman that entertains with class and intelligence.
But, the N.F.L. is about the game and the brand, and that must come first.
If I hire you for a commercial where you play a part and the next thing your outing the character on T.V. to promote your own product; then you are using the recognition I paid for, gutting the ad response and subverting it for your own benefit; this is stealing and a crime.
It's also, blatantly inappropriate, crass and insensitive to your teammates.
C.J. also has the problem of having called out all the D.B.s that covered him last year. A brilliant move then, a week to week retribution now. Especially with your quarterback on the mend and the bullseye on your collective back for winning the conference championship.
Last years schedule was moderately easy compared to the devilishly difficult disaster in waiting that Cincinnati faces this upcoming season.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh is coming into his own, and, Rudi Johnson is stronger and driven. C.J. is more foil then focal point, for this offense this year.
He will finish with his usual 9 touchdowns, but, cracking ten and above? I don't think so.
His yardage will suffer only slightly, and, as reliable as he has been; I think his T.D.s will actually go down.
Someone will take him by the end of round two. Can you truly say that the players above him on this list, (and include Whomever I have neglected that you value highly) will perform less then he will? Would you pass on Lamont Jordan, or Torry Holt, or Thomas Jones, Chester Taylor, Carnell Williams, or, Dominick Davis; to get him?
Actually, in a fourteen team draft he is the second pick at the turn, at 28.
I love him as a personality, and, as a player.
You have to ask yourself, is he worth a top twenty all-in with the team holding a pair of three's and an ace on the board? Do I feel lucky?
