NFL NEWS
Irvin Suggestion Becomes NFL Mandate
Published by MoonDog on June 22, 2008
I was watching ESPN late Saturday when the network aired a story about Michael Irvin having a conversation with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell prior to his induction into the Hall of Fame last year. Irvin told Goodell that players entering the NFL don’t have the proper appreciation for the game.
Irvin suggested to Goodell it should mandatory for every rookie to tour the Pro Football Hall of Fame before they play their first snap wearing an NFL uniform. The idea was well-received and this year the plan was implemented, with Irvin serving as tour guide for the current crop of Dallas Cowboy rookies.
I’ve really admired how Roger Goodell has gone about the business of overseeing the league. From his crack-down on player misconduct to this program, the NFL is taking the right approach in bringing a sense of history to its newest players.
With Cowboy first-round draft picks Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins getting an opportunity to stand in the midst of the greatest players in NFL history, it was obvious the tour did exactly what Irvin and Goodell envisioned.
The ever-conscience NFL has suffered embarrassing incidents over the past two offseasons, with Michael Vick, Odell Thurman, Tank Johnson, Chris Henry and Adam Jones all involved in highly-publicized off-the-field cases. Ironically, those incidents probably served to further promote this program.
Irvin said, “I think it would’ve helped some of them understand that if you make a mistake at 22, you could end up regretting it at 42. You got Google and everything out there now, so if you get in trouble, it never goes away. Your kid is going to end up Googling it, too.”
With players today earning millions it’s easy to forget the path that was traveled by so many before them. This great, entirely American game had very humble beginnings, with players wearing leather helmets and earning a few thousand dollars a year to play a game they loved.
Cowboy rookies stood before an exhibit where they learned Marion Motley and Bill Willis broke the NFL’s color barrier in 1946, a year before the more publicized event of Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
Irvin went on to say, “They (rookie players) don’t have an understanding of the game’s history. They’ve been playing football to get away from their history. “It’s impossible to go there and not come away with something.”
While it’s no guarantee the tours will help keep players away from embarrassing incidents off the field, at minimum the tours are a positive step in the right direction. Bringing the history of the game and its greatest players into the forefront of every NFL rookie will serve as a positive influence.
What better way to honor the game by making its stars of tomorrow - or potential Hall of Fame inductees – aware of its past.
At the end of the tour, every rookie received a lifetime pass to the Hall of Fame and special memories to take home.
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soge shirts on Mon, 23rd Jun 2008 16:31
Michael Irvin and good ideas don’t seem to go together but this is a great idea. Most of those young rookie punks have no idea about the history of the game. Good idea Michael. I added you on my blogroll too thanks moondog. You got a stumbleupon id. Mine is http://sonofgrace.stumbleupon.com/ add me if you do.
MoonDog on Mon, 23rd Jun 2008 16:52
Thanks dude. Irvin has become much more mature ever since he found out he was going to be inducted into the Hall last year. He certainly speaks from experience. He had his fair share of embarrassments.
10-4 on the link and you’re welcome. Glad to share my big PR 4 with you - lol.
My stumble is http://moondogleft.stumbleupon.com
I’ll add you as a friend.
Later.