“There’s no shortcuts in football, it’s hard work…and groin pulls.”
Old Man from DirecTv commercial

I really wish that Michael Irvin had been totally clean through out his life. Like I tell the Young War, since me and my peeps got something on our record he needs to stay clear so we can run him for mayor one day. Michael Irvin, however, has his spot despite his transgressions. Honestly maybe I couldn’t relate to him as much if I didn’t know that he had done some things in his life. I mean it’s not a Rite of Passage (up for debate), but the experience of getting locked up can generate some bond with people of a certain mindstate. The problem is it makes me think of politics and law. Even if someone knows you have them by the short and curlies they just try to discredit you so people just won’t believe you. I wish I could gauge the rest of the countries take on Irvin. Personally, I love him and he reminds me that the rest of the staff of Monday Night Countdown are company-god-damned-men. Them boys sure do tow that line. They help me to remember that no matter how much I like football, the NFL is one of the closest things to slavery going. The thing that really ticks me off is this “shut-up and play” motto that these guys (and alot of other writers and broadcasters subscribe to). Especially when I look at what was considered the team with the most class…The Patriots.

They have Troy Brown play both ways, which caused him to miss incentives, but he did it for the team. Then they cut him and sign him back for less money. Deion Branch puts in work for these boys goes to renegotitate they don’t offer what he likes and tell him to go get a deal somewhere else. He does, now the Patriots say - “sorry we’ll need two first round picks for him”. For a guy going into his 6th year…ok. Many argue things like he should have just waited til next year (shutupandplay). My answer is Javon Walker. He was going to hold-out and then (shutupandplay) Favre bitched and he caved…the moment he got injured I knew they were going to cut him. The “under contract” argument is a poor one to me when the contract is basically there to protect the team. Being as the team can break the contract at anytime it’s not much of a contract. They cut dudes before certain dates so they don’t have to give them bonuses. If you pull a Ricky Williams they can get the money back. All a player has is his talent and for real sometimes your only move is to hold out to get a better contract.

Working people tend to look down on this, but we forget one thing; we have a much (much, much, much) lower chance of losing our ability to work and get paid than an athelete. Especially a football player. We can work for 30 years or more. While most players don’t last long beyond 30 years old…a time when alot of people are just finding out about themselves and starting families. I can’t imagine being 30 and being told that my career is over. Imagine: starting at 6 or 7, train and play until 21 - 23 when you get your chance, then at 30 that’s it. Most people don’t even hit the pinnacle of their careers until after 40. Then consider this. We pay college’s money so we can work. Well what if your college won’t let you get a part-time job and then made money off of you. Combined with the fact that you might not even get a job when you’re done. That’s how football players have to look at it. Then the NCAA will punish you and your team for getting gifts…like a slice of pizza. Take a look at some of the crimes they have brought a basketball coach to justice for. You go through all that it’s not hard to see how people are trying to get paid. All this “it ain’t about the money” chachkey is for the birds. To illustrate my point; The very first No.1 draft pick Jay Berwanger (and first Heisman Trophy winner) didn’t play a down in the NFL. Why? He wouldn’t have made enough money!!! Dude became a sportswriter and started a business that made him a millionaire. This was a white dude who lived through the depression. You can’t say he’s a victim of the Hip-Hop, Thug Life, Me-Me-Me culture. He was from the people-starving-cinderella-man-gotta-get-that-money era. I don’t see people bashing him for not thinking about the team.

This is why I love Mr. Irvin. He is the only guy who sides with the players. Everyone else says (shutupandplay) think about the team. Yeah Deion Branch, so what if the Patriots are worth 1.2 Billion, you’ll break them if you get six-year, $39 million deal with a $12 million signing bonus like the Jets want to give you. Despite them not giving him what he wanted, when the grievance is settled the reason the Patriots give for not accepting less than two 1st round picks will be the same ones Branch used when he wanted to redo his deal. That’s just…special. Irvin is the only one that will say, “Deion get your money.” He’s the only one who doesn’t subscribe to the equation that T.O. = automatic chaos. Especially under a coach that never had a problem saying what’s on his mind. Meanwhile he’s also the only one who dared say anything about Brett Favre and his need to speak about other players contracts (a sin in the NFL) and the fact that he can keep everyone on edge until he makes up his mind if he wants to play or not. Double standard much? Michael Irvin you are my monday night hero…fight the good fight.