"I want to play for a contender" The BIGGEST LIE in pro sports?

[SirAndrew]

1 hour ago, Albwan said:

I've said it before ..most players ain't interested in going to Buffalo.

I’m sure that’s true for some, but I don’t think players stay away from Buffalo as much as people think. Location isn’t as important in today’s online society. I often hear this about Buffalo, but never regarding Cleveland, Pittsburgh, or Detroit. Does anyone actually dream of living in those places? 

[DCofNC]

2 hours ago, JohnNord said:

So they are Super Bowl contender…. They just need a QB.

 

Solid logic.  

They were a playoff team with hot garbage at QB and got better, plus have better options available in FA for QB this year, so yeah, I see them as a real contender.

 

We aren’t talking about the Bills here, they have a good roster aside from QB, instead of a roster dependent on the QB being super human.

Edited 3 hours ago by DCofNC

[Alphadawg7]

53 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Alright man, you win. Steelers to the Super Bowl. Book it!

 

(They'll be lucky to make the playoffs)

 

Lol...it aint that serious...and I didn't say that.  But this outrage of "I thought he wanted to go to a contender" is just a bit silly, because he did.  

[DrDawkinstein]

3 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Lol...it aint that serious...and I didn't say that.  But this outrage of "I thought he wanted to go to a contender" is just a bit silly, because he did.  

 

Ha, you and I are always good, and I'm always just jokin with ya. Much like most of this thread.

 

But it's not "outrage" either. I aint mad at it, and yeah, he's the weakest of my examples. But out of the 4-6 true Contenders, he didnt end up on any of them. Even if you remove him from my list, there are plenty of other examples of why fans should ignore that statement when we hear it.

[WEATHER DOT COM]

Usually true but not always -

 

Tom Brady and Sidney Crosby for example 

[Alphadawg7]

57 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

But you wouldn't call them a "contender" would you? A playoff team? Sure. But nobody in their right mind thinks they can contend for a Superbowl in 2025, surely?

 

They are a similar tier team as Seattle were last year IMO. Though granted that was before they traded away their QB.

 

A playoff team is a contender by definition though.  Was it the best contender he could have chosen?  No, but this isn't close to the same category as Myles reupping with the inept Browns who have no shot to contend until Myles is approaching his twilight seasons.  DK sees a playoff team looking to even further improve its offense by adding him and pursuing another upgrade at QB, and an organization that is one of the most respected and well run in the league.  

 

But people acting like he chose to go to the Jets or something.  And lets also keep in mind what was said he "allegedly" wanted...he "preferred" a contender or warm weather...which lets be honest, every WR in the league prefers better weather and playing for a winner.  But only so many teams can offer you $150M, so you don't always get to pick from the best situations in the league that meet every preference.  He never said (if he even said any of that) he would not go to a cold city or play for anyone but a top contender.  

 

Just something I feel like is getting made to be a bigger deal of than it should be.  All good though

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

A playoff team is a contender by definition though.  

 

Yea I disagree with that. My definition of contender is a team with a chance to win the whole show. There are multiple playoff teams every year that are not contenders IMO. 

[Alphadawg7]

10 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Ha, you and I are always good, and I'm always just jokin with ya. Much like most of this thread.

 

But it's not "outrage" either. I aint mad at it, and yeah, he's the weakest of my examples. But out of the 4-6 true Contenders, he didnt end up on any of them. Even if you remove him from my list, there are plenty of other examples of why fans should ignore that statement when we hear it.

 

Of course man, always all good, its not that serious by any means.  I wasn't so much saying you either...lots of people on the board were making a big deal out of the whole "he didn't go to a contender" thing, and I just think Steelers could be tougher than people think this year.  I don't disagree about ignoring that statement, money often talks lol.  

 

I will say this though, he allegedly said he "prefers" warm weather and "prefers" a contender (didn't say a "top" contender) if I am not mistaken...which if true, is probably true for every WR in the league in terms of what they prefer, but a preference isn't the same as saying they won't play in the cold or will only play for a top contender.  That is the only reason I was just saying I don't think DK should be getting any flak for being ok to go the Steelers, especially since the number of teams willing to both give up a 2nd and then do a $150M deal on a WR who isn't even top 10 in the league probably was not a very long list to begin with. 

[LABILLBACKER]

90% of these guys don't give a rats ass about winning championships.  Just "show me the money"....

[nuklz2594]

it's not about you...

i cannot get pregnant...

the check is in the mail...

this will hurt me more than it hurts you...

 

[Alphadawg7]

26 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea I disagree with that. My definition of contender is a team with a chance to win the whole show. There are multiple playoff teams every year that are not contenders IMO. 

 

But DK never said he would only play for a contender, and never said "top" contender, if he ever said any of it all.  And as a player who is 27, its not just about this one season.  He isn't a 33 year old player chasing one last shot at a ring.  He is looking at a team that is A) Coming off a playoff season.  B) Spending money on him to improve the already playoff roster.  C) Aggressively trying to improve already at QB.  D) Is one of the most well run and winningest franchises in the NFL.  

 

So the definition of a "contender" to a player in his prime looking for a long term home is about more than just this one season, its about a team he feels can contend during his tenure there.  It is more about going to a team that is consistently winning, consistently trying to improve, and a team he feels that during his contract can contend for a SB.  

 

So...while I don't disagree with your definition of a contender, I do disagree that the term "contender" is interpreted the same way by a player in his prime that is looking for a long term home.   Now add in the short list of teams willing to give up both a 2nd and a big contract to a WR not in the top 10 at his position...and Steelers are probably the team with the best chance to contend on that list.  

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Alphadawg7

[Alphadawg7]

38 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Ha, you and I are always good, and I'm always just jokin with ya. Much like most of this thread.

 

But it's not "outrage" either. I aint mad at it, and yeah, he's the weakest of my examples. But out of the 4-6 true Contenders, he didnt end up on any of them. Even if you remove him from my list, there are plenty of other examples of why fans should ignore that statement when we hear it.

 

Oh by the way...I agree it is most often a lie...but its also not always a lie, just look at all the Bills players taking less money to stay here and contend with Allen, including Allen himself.  Shakir, Groot, Bernard, Allen, etc could have all gotten more money than they did, especially the ones who would have hit FA soon.  Coldest team in the league, never won a SB...but they are prioritizing winning and culture over money to stay here.  

 

Just saying 

[GunnerBill]

22 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

But DK never said he would only play for a contender, and never said "top" contender, if he ever said any of it all.  And as a player who is 27, its not just about this one season.  He isn't a 33 year old player chasing one last shot at a ring.  He is looking at a team that is A) Coming off a playoff season.  B) Spending money on him to improve the already playoff roster.  C) Aggressively trying to improve already at QB.  D) Is one of the most well run and winningest franchises in the NFL.  

 

So the definition of a "contender" to a player in his prime looking for a long term home is about more than just this one season, its about a team he feels can contend during his tenure there.  It is more about going to a team that is consistently winning, consistently trying to improve, and a team he feels that during his contract can contend for a SB.  

 

So...while I don't disagree with your definition of a contender, I do disagree that the term "contender" is interpreted the same way by a player in his prime that is looking for a long term home.   Now add in the short list of teams willing to give up both a 2nd and a big contract to a WR not in the top 10 at his position...and Steelers are probably the team with the best chance to contend on that list.  

 

 

 

Meh. I think he just went where they offered him the most money. I think that was all it was about. And if so, I don't blame him for that... just cut the PR bull. He wanted out of Seattle because they, rightly, as a team with a bridge QB going nowhere didn't want to commit $33m a year to a one trick pony receiver. 

[DrDawkinstein]

14 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

...just look at all the Bills players taking less money to stay here and contend with Allen...  Shakir, Groot, Bernard, Allen, etc could have all gotten more money than they did, especially the ones who would have hit FA soon. 

 

Just saying 

 

Not sure I agree with this bit. I dont think it's just and not even mostly playing for a contender/with Josh that got them to sign instead of hitting the FA market. I think the bigger part for them is cash-in-hand now without risking injury through another season.

 

Being on the contender helps a bit, no denying that. But I believe money is still the main driver. Sign now, get that signing bonus TODAY, as opposed to risking it all via injury. For Benford that definitely makes sense. For Shakir who takes those huge hits. And even for Groot who plays in the trenches where all the big bodies are rolling around.

[nedboy7]

The biggest lie in the NFL is that the games aren’t lightly manipulated. Just my opinion.  I have no proof other than 1000 absurd calls to lightly manipulate the games. 

[WEATHER DOT COM]

48 minutes ago, nedboy7 said:

The biggest lie in the NFL is that the games aren’t lightly manipulated. Just my opinion.  I have no proof other than 1000 absurd calls to lightly manipulate the games. 

 

Every sport/game/etc. with human judges/referees/etc. is inherently lightly manipulated as humans are not infallible. 

[machine gun kelly]

This is why I get my hopes up, but never believe these guys.  It’s always about the $.  They have a limited amt of time to make generational $.  I can’t blame them if they can scare the crap out of the current team.  You just never know how much the current team wants to keep someone.

[Captain Hindsight]

5 hours ago, yall said:

The guys on the WGR 550 Morning show made a suggestion that once a player publicly demands a trade that they shouldn't be allowed to resign with their current team. 

 

Far-Fetched to be sure but as a thought experiment, I like it.

That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard