Character Concerns

by Nick Terp on Jan 17, 2012 1:25 PM EST

We've seen the locker room absolutely fragment towards the end of the season. Part of the reason is all the players we pick up that are loaded with talent but are being dumped by their team for character concerns. This raises and interesting question. Should we continue to sign free agents or for that matter draft players who have questionable character.

Santonio Holmes is a prime example of this dilemma. Holmes unquestionable provides a much needed weapon in the air attack. However is it worth it to have a player of his character on the roster who i believe has done more this season to fragment the locker room. Would it have been better to have someone little less talented but someone who wouldn't rock the boat as much.

This concern extends past free agents. While we look at potential draft picks how much does character play in the decision. Are we willing to take a different player because one has a higher moral fiber and may potenially become a team leader.

In the end we see tons of talented players bounced around the entire league because of character concerns. Terrel Owens is actually considering playing arena football because no one in the NFL wants him. Rex Ryan's MO in Baltimore was to take on high risk players because not only was his personality big enough to encompass them but what he may not of realized was that he had a locker room that could accommodate them. Its hard to goof off with Ray Lewis yelling at you to shape up.

So should we be going into the offseason and the draft with a larger weight on the character of the people we are bringing into this locker room especially after this season?

Poll

Should we be more concerned about the character of the people we bring in this year than in years past?

Yes

38 votes

No

7 votes

45 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Can't go one way or the other

It’s good to have good guys and problem guys, as long as they are talented. The more leaders you have the better, they will outweigh the attitude guys in the tough times.

by manuvsteal on Jan 17, 2012 2:13 PM EST reply actions

And the thing with Holmes is the word from players last year,

like Cotchery and Smith, is that Holmes wasn’t like this last year. He might’ve been a bit of a diva, but people seemed to indicate he was more of a team player. Maybe he had to be because he needed the contract $$ and because he was the new guy on the block.

Nonetheless, I think it might be in all of our interests to treat the 2011-12 season as an anomalous perfect storm where everything that could have gone wrong did (on a team that, on paper, looked like it should’ve come out better than 8-8).

You had :
-A leadership vacuum,
-A problematic OC,
- A HC who was completely hands-off as to the offense (other than yelling “Ground and Pound” at the top of his lungs),
- Relatively weak O-line protection (with the exception of one or two games),
- A battered and gunshy QB (who may or may not have problems with accuracy and reading defenses), and
- A brand new receiving corps (with the exception of Holmes – who’s getting paid #1 money to be a #2 – and Keller, who’s the only workable starting TE w/o Cumberland (though I like Baker’s potential)).

And now Santonio is saying things like:

Team work= WIN

and

SUCCESS REQUIRES NO APOLOGIES, FAILURE PERMITS NO ALIBIS.

and

let’s hope [Sparano]’s going to be the key to putting this puzzle together

I’d guess that if Sparano does a good job of cleaning house and “breaking Mark down” to the fundamentals again, Santonio will be a diva WR, but a more content, more prolific diva WR.

I think you’ll find that type of personality on every football team. Balance is the key.

by MiaJets on Jan 17, 2012 3:11 PM EST reply actions

I believe Ray Lewis had character concerns coming out too, so it’s just hit or miss. But if we’re going to take to take a chance on a person’s character can it please be Burfict from ASU? Dude looks like a complete animal and I think Rex could handle him

by JoeyReg14 on Jan 17, 2012 6:57 PM EST reply actions

Ray Lewis is a murderer.How's that for character issues?

by Putnan Prince on Jan 17, 2012 7:04 PM EST up reply actions

Getting through hard times shows character but more importantly reveals it.

by Putnan Prince on Jan 17, 2012 6:58 PM EST reply actions

Talent trumps all.

Character has nohting to do with TO’s situation. TO can’t find work because he’s 37 and coming off a shredded knee. He can’t find work bc he can’t play anymore. Placing too much emphasis on character makes you pass on guys like Warren Sapp and Randy Moss and Lawrence Taylor.

Eff character. If a guy can dominate a football game, nobody will care about what he does. You think Charles Haley was a boy scout? You think Deion Sanders wasn’t an ego-maniac? If you knew beforehand that Suh was hot-head, would you have passed?

The ONLY thing that matters is whether a guy is good at football. Thats it. If a guy doesn’t have a lot of talent, then he better be high on character. Buts thats about the only time it matters.

by Crackback on Jan 17, 2012 8:43 PM EST reply actions

+1 Crack +1

people are talking like character is the #1 attribute in a sport played by men!!! Talent trumps character 7 days a week…and the truth is If a diva is happy your probably winning so keep the divas happy. If a character issue blows up to the point is cancer that really is more of a [coaches] leadership fault than anything….
Football is a sport, a violent sport…talent is supreme

by willmpk on Jan 18, 2012 7:24 AM EST up reply actions

tell Eagle fans that..

u have to have a strong locker rm. 1st and foremost. NE,Tampa,the Giants,Cowboys and 9ers had immense leadership !!

I may not be the most noble of men but in a town of lepers, im the one with the most fingers.

Giant LB'zz SUCK!! Mark Herzlich, Jacquian Williams,...Maybe .. Sadly this has been modified.

by Troy O on Jan 19, 2012 1:11 PM EST up reply actions

Where we messed up with Holmes was giving a problem player big guaranteed money..

Typically what we had been doing was getting guys with character concerns on the cheap…this is good because they will work hard and want to prove themselves for a big contract, or pride or whatever. Once we gave Holmes the most guaranteed money ever to any wide out…we pretty much gave him a license to do whatever the hell he wanted….that is why it was a terrible contract.

by RhodesRocks on Jan 17, 2012 8:49 PM EST reply actions

they should dump Holmes

There’s a bunch of other guys to sign that are better, cheaper than 45 million, that have their own messed up attitudes. I agree that character doesn’t mean that much when your winning, but this guy arguing in the huddle and undermining his teammates. That kinda crap is poison.

by manuvsteal on Jan 17, 2012 10:50 PM EST up reply actions

actually no

I believe that everything that Holmes was complaining about was the same thing MOST FANS WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT. What he was arguing about was the SAME THING FANS were pointing out….sanchez didnt see me, THE OC IS NOT USING ME RIGHT, the o-line needs to block….so its ok for us but not for HIM? when something is wrong you shoud step up and say something and if its legitimatly wrong and still not fixed – you say its wrong as loud as you can. You cant argue with the guys talent… ok maybe you can as a #1 WR but he is probably one of the best #2 WR in the NFL you dont dump a guy like that…you show some leadership -starting at the top and keep him in check.

by willmpk on Jan 18, 2012 7:31 AM EST up reply actions

the difference is

Holmes works and is a part of the Jets. The pay him to do his job. If he’s not doing his job, that’s a problem.

Whether things were falling apart around him or not doesn’t matter. The proper course would have been to be a professional and run his routes and motivate his team…NOT THE OPPOSITE. Maybe…just maybe if he was professional, we would have won a few more games and motivated the rest of the team like a CAPTAIN should do.

Terrell Owens has tons of talent. I think he’s currently trying out for the CFL or AFL or something…

by PowerBar on Jan 18, 2012 8:55 PM EST up reply actions

IFL, actually. Yeah - I didn't know that was a separate thing, either.

But I agree. Sometimes I shake my head at the ridiculous contracts these guys get – both Holmes and Sanchez – and the fact that they get to play football for a living (which many people just dream about). And Holmes is whining because – what? Sanchez isn’t getting him the ball enough? Schotty isn’t calling plays that maximize his utility?

SERIOUSLY? These people need to figure out what a REAL problem looks like. I know this is the very definition of being a diva – as we all know Holmes is – but sometimes, it makes me downright ranty.

by MiaJets on Jan 19, 2012 10:21 AM EST up reply actions

When you talk about character concerns I only need to bring up one team

The 90’s Dallas Cowboys….You had drug dealers, drug users, male whores, there were all kinds of crazy m’effer’s in that locker room. Michael Irvin even stabbed one of his teammates while they were getting a haircut. Those dudes won 3 superbowl rings in 4 years (i think). I could care less about character concerns as long as the team is winning.
BTW- TO didn’t have a character problem, he was a hard worker and he mentored his younger teammates like Miles Austin. TO’s problem was his diva behavior.

Love with a LEO is like a drug.. One taste and your addicted!

by MDGeekyGrl on Jan 17, 2012 10:49 PM EST reply actions

That crap doesn't count

Michael Irvin was the best receiver of the 90’s (behind Jerry Rice), Troy Aikman was a top 3 QB, Emmitt Smith was the #1 back, Dion Sanders was the #1 CB. Then they had Alvin Harper and that other dude at tight end moose, and some all pro defensive guys.
They probably didn’t even go to practice. The Jets don’t have that type of talent to overcome the character flaws of every bum that wants wine or complain when the chips are down, or he’s not getting his touches.

by manuvsteal on Jan 17, 2012 10:56 PM EST up reply actions

What do you mean that doesn't count?

Are you saying Michael Irvin stabbing a teammate in the locker room is not as bad as Santonio throwing a temper tantrum during a game.?
The Cowboys are the perfect example of how character concerns are not much of a concern to anyone as long as the team is winning.
Do your research on the Cowboys and you will see there were plenty of guys who weren’t as talented as Emmitt and Michael who were acting crazy. And yes Michael Irvin went to every practice and Jimmy Johnson didn’t care what those guys did off the field as long as they came to practice on time, worked hard and didn’t get caught doing their dirt. Also, Deion was not one of the players I was referring to…..He wasn’t a Cowboy until after Jimmy J left and Deion is not a drug user or alcoholic.

Love with a LEO is like a drug.. One taste and your addicted!

by MDGeekyGrl on Jan 18, 2012 12:13 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with you that winning solves everything but..

When you don’t win you need something to keep the problem players in line. I still think giving Holmes, a player with known character concens, the most guaranteed money ever for a player at his position was a mistake.

by RhodesRocks on Jan 18, 2012 8:03 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I'm just saying the overall talent level of the 90's Cowboys

Is on the level of the 85 Bears, or those dominant teams. Overall, that team was much more talented across the board than the Jets. That’s my point. When you have that many top of the heap players on one team, it can overshadow any problems. The Jets are no where near the level of those teams across the board, and they can’t overcome the distractions as easily. They need everyone on the same page to win. To put it in perspective, the Cowboys have 4 players off the top of my head that are in, or will be in the hall of fame Dion, Aikman, Emmitt, and Irvin. Who from this Jets team will be in the hall of fame? Revis. That’s about it.

by manuvsteal on Jan 18, 2012 9:27 AM EST up reply actions

You don't know who his going to be a future HOF'er on this team

Unless you have a crystal ball over there. The Cowboys were so talented they went 1-15 Troy’s first year and 7-9 his second year. No one saw Troy and Michael as top of the heap players at that time. Deion was off playing baseball somewhere so you don’t count him.
BTW- You forgot to name Mangold and possibly Brick as future HOF’ers as well. There may be more but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Love with a LEO is like a drug.. One taste and your addicted!

by MDGeekyGrl on Jan 18, 2012 11:36 AM EST up reply actions

I know we're all Jet fans here but lets get a hold of ourselves here...

the only HoF lock right now is Revis. The way this team is playing, no one is going to even sniff the HoF besides him.

by PowerBar on Jan 18, 2012 8:58 PM EST up reply actions

if we had a true #1 he would be worth every penny

When you don’t win you need something to keep the problem players in line

This is called either a caoch or the coaching staff

by willmpk on Jan 18, 2012 8:35 AM EST reply actions

it's called discipline

yes not having a coach or coaching staff like that is detrimental. But so is a selfish diva like Holmes. There’s a reason the Pats don’t have these kind of problems…and it’s not just because they win, because this doesn’t happen to them even when they’re losing.

Look at LaDainian’s comments. This has been going on since week 3-4 and we weren’t losers week 3-4.

by PowerBar on Jan 18, 2012 9:01 PM EST up reply actions

Holmes is worth more to us alive than dead (by dead I mean cut)

Diva? Yes. Not a #1 receiver? Yes. So what? He has a role and is a great playmaker. Got us a vertical threat, a true #1, get Mark back to fundamentals, and watch Homes do the flight boy dance.
If we didn’t sign him last year and retain his talent, everyone would of gone mental. Every critic agreed that the Jets signing him in the offseason was one of the best moves we made. We just need to use him appropiately going forward.

by mangold'sbeard on Jan 18, 2012 12:08 PM EST reply actions