Though they're both underdogs in Sunday's games, these guys know they can win because they've done it before.
So, last week’s column got around a bit, thanks in large part to my dear friend Chad. Reaction to the article was generally positive, judging by the comments I saw. A lot of people are fed up with the attitude that the league and teams have with regards to good players who behave badly. Many people simply aren’t aware of the extent that KC has gone to in order to have the players they want on the field.
The reaction wasn’t all positive, however. Whenever I write something like this, I’m fascinated by how fans of the team I’m criticizing will twist themselves into logical knots trying to justify the team’s actions, and/or their personal fandom.
One commenter, who agreed that Frank Clark, Willie Gay, and Tyreek Hill shouldn’t be playing, and that the chanting etc. was bad, nonetheless was upset at my “overgeneralization” of KC fans. I assume that he was reacting to my calling KC fans racist. In his profile picture, he is wearing a mask (good) with a racist KC logo (bad). There might be hope for this one.
More disturbing were some of the responses to Gay’s arrest. One commenter opined that he (Gay) “… broke a vacuum and hit a wall.. gimme a break.” When challenged by another commenter, the guy fell back on weak, tired arguments around the ideas of innocent until proven guilty, and how much good the team does for the community. This person is an idiot.
Worse, another commenter was appalled by my criticism of Gay’s actions, saying that Gay had, in fact, done “the right thing” by merely damaging property instead of hitting his child’s mother. Anyone who thinks this way should be put on an island somewhere with other men of his ilk.
This should go without saying, but here I go anyway…
Any man (particularly if they are 6’1” and 240+ pounds) who goes to a woman’s home uninvited, verbally abuses her, and smashes her property, has not done “the right thing.” Any of these actions is abusive, violent, and threatening. Just because he hasn’t hit her doesn’t mean he hasn’t harmed her. And as for predicting the future, far too many women know this story by heart, and they know how it usually ends.
Anyway, I know for a fact that the only reason the team keeps Gay and Clark around is because the team, particularly Andy Reid, thinks they can help the team win.
How do I know this?
Damon Arnette, a CB with a troubled history, and who KC signed on January 20th, was arrested on Friday for assault with a weapon. KC immediately released him. Arnette has not been tried or convicted of anything, merely arrested. He’s also barely played in the NFL, and no one could argue that he is essential to KC’s success. In other words, expendable.
Gay, as you will remember, was arrested just last week. He also played last week against Buffalo, after his arrest. Gay is useful, and therefore deserving of a chance to have his case heard.
Clark’s case is, in some ways, more curious. He was arrested twice last year for the same felony weapons offense, yet he has not been disciplined by the team. Recently, I was reading an article about some of the worst contracts in the league, in terms of how much the player was earning compared to their production. Clark’s contract was deemed one of the worst. Though Clark is a productive player, he is being paid the salary of a much better player. Based on Clark’s arrests, plus his well-documented past bad behaviour, it would not be hard to imagine that KC could terminate Clark’s contract for cause, thereby ridding the team of both an onerous contract, and a bad citizen. And yet, Clark remains with the team. Why? Because Reid believes Clark’s presence gives the team a better chance to win.
At any rate, I can’t stop anyone from rooting for KC or any other team or player in the NFL. What I write is my opinion, backed up with facts and well-reasoned arguments. If you’re going to come for me, don’t bring your weak-ass arguments with you. Better you should admit that winning a football game means more to you than being a racist, misogynist, waste of oxygen.
Championship Sunday
Winners in Bold
Cincinnati at KC
Simply put, I love this Cincy team, and I hope they win it all. They’re exciting and fun to watch. They’re the only remaining team to have never won the big one. They beat KC already this season, coming back to do so. They have the tools, the talent, and the attitude to do it again.
For now, though, I just need them to beat KC.
Help me Cincinnati. You’re my only hope.
San Francisco at LAR
Another matchup in which the visiting underdog has already beaten the favourite this season, only in this case, San Fran did it twice. With that fearsome defensive front four, the ‘niners should be able to keep the game close. Then, it will be up to the offense to grind out another win, with guys like Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Kyle “ZZ Top” Juszczyk making big contributions, and Jimmy Garoppolo doing enough good things while avoiding the bad things.
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