Respect is earned. Always. Especially in the great game of American Football. How do you earn that respect? Play your heart out for your team and leave it all out on the field. You play with a separated shoulder like Emmitt Smith. You play with a broken leg in the playoffs and Superbowl like Jack Youngblood. The key word in both of those last two sentences is the word “play”. Fans, players, coaches, etc. can’t respect you when you speak up (out of turn most of the times) and try to “lead” if you are not playing on the field.

This brings me to Greg McElroy’s comments yesterday. The third string backup QB for the New York Jets spoke up about his teammates and said it was the most selfish team he’s ever been on. He also stated that there were people on his team that didn’t care if the Jets won or lost this past Sunday. Do I believe him? Yes, I do actually. Does that mean McElroy needs to publicly speak on it? Hell naw! Why should he? He doesn’t play! What right has he earned to speak?

Let me clarify….McElroy can speak, but he shouldn’t be speaking about team/family business in the media. I’d even be on the fence if Mark Sanchez or Darrelle Revis bashed the team to the media, so I damn sure have a problem with a third string rookie QB speaking his peace. People are calling McElroy a leader for stepping up. No, he’s loose lipped and what he did was very feminine, it was pretty much gossip. A leader would address the team as a whole. You don’t think the New England Patriots have ever had any inner turmoil? No team is perfect, and I’m sure they have. I’ve never seen Tom Brady make statements in the media about his team.

Let’s say your the youngest in a family of five and your dad is an alcoholic. He’s not physically abusive, it’s mental — but there is a roof over your head, clothes on your back, and food on your plate. So because your dad is an alcoholic, does that mean you go tell your teachers and principal. Have you even discussed this with your mother yet? Older siblings that might be able to get through to your dad? Have you had enough courage approach your dad and tell him face to face?

It’s funny that Colin Cowherd(whom I love and listen to everyday) and others are deeming McElroy a leader. I actually think he’s a coward. It’s easy to tell the media how you feel. A real leader has courage to say what’s on his mind to his teammates face.

That’s all I got,

Ricky Writer