JUST SAYING:
BY RAUL HERNANDEZ
American football is equivalent to the Roman Coliseum minus the lions, swords, and endless carnage.
Football is a billion-dollar industry/circus with elaborate rules to control organized violence and limit head injuries.
We play fair, however, — no roughing the quarterback (unless he becomes a runner and doesn’t slide) or stepping on the vulnerable foot of the punter.
When the fastest, strongest, and most talented get together at the stadium, we tune in to watch the collisions and highlights.
Some collisions send both teams around the injured players while being put on a gurney by a group of doctors and EMT workers to be hauled off to a hospital.
Those smash-mouth hits that make the highlights on the sports shows, over and over and over, again. We watch, drop our jaws and say, “wow.”
Most of these violent clashes come with subtle, unintended humor: Players take a knee, some offer prayers, and we collectively hold our breaths until the announcer says: “Well, he moved his extremities, and that is always a good sign.”
While the injured player is hauled away, he manages to lift a stiff thumb in the air. The stadium explodes with cheers, whistles, and applause for the hurt gladiator.
Announcer in a most reverent voice: “He is signaling that he is alright.” We love it. The injured player won’t need to go into rehab, and if we are lucky, he might be on the field in a couple of weeks.
Antonio Brown, well, he should have been kicked out of the NFL years ago or sent to the NFL Owner Jerry Jones’ School for Wayward Players.
But football is as American as apple pie.
There will always be Antonio Browns who believe the NFL revolves around them, and in the eyes of their fans, they are gods who walk on water.
But some great players are compassionate, articulate, intelligent, and excellent role models. The Walter Paytons and others care about their communities and love their fans.
Antonio Brown is an NFL star who has been given too many chances and excuses by too many owners, coaches, and players. Brown is obviously in need of mental health services.
Perhaps, he took one hit too many to the skull. However, this doesn’t excuse his clownish behavior and shameful exit from the NFL. That stunt will define his career for the rest of his life, not the passes he caught.
For sure, Antonio Brown will not put Buc QB Tom Brady as a reference on his job resume. Tom was confident his buddy had learned his lesson, would do the right thing, and simply put, get open so he could make more spectacular catches.
What now?
Nothing, America’s game will continue.
The nation’s best talent will be showcased on Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays. Millions of fanatics will religiously watch the games, including me, and root for our favorite helmeted millionaires to get our teams to the NFL playoffs.
Then, win the Super Bowl.
Yessss.
I love the game. So, I will continue to rant and rave and cheer and, of course, scream like a banshee. Scream at the TV as though I can be heard by the players on the field and not the next-door neighbors: “Catch the (expletive deleted) ball! Jeezus!!” Anyhow — go, Cowboys!