I was at work today and I thought of something as I was listening to the Rich Eisen podcast on the iPod. There are a ton of great football players, nay, athletes that start their careers with one team and end with a team that seems like it should not have even been part of his career. Let’s go down the list and see who makes the cut:
The recent obvious one: Brett Favre
Doesn’t exactly seem like he played over 200 games in a packers uniform. It’s the team he won a Super Bowl in, it’s the team that he owned for all of the 90’s and most of the 2000’s. When you said “Packers QB”, there was only Favre. Everyone else was a “Who?”.
The “Oh Yeah, I forgot” guy: Joe Montana
If I remember correctly he made the passing portion of “The Catch” to Dwight Clark that is so famous in the NFL and he is most known for passing to the greatest wide receiver the game will ever see. Which brings us to the next guy.
The "Al Davis Crush” Seattle Seahawks? Really?: Jerry Rice
Didn’t even realize Jerry Rice was traded to Seattle until I looked it up. I thought he ended it in San Francisco. But apparently did one of those things where he signed a contract with the 49ers for a day and then retired so he could retire a 49er. I mean, come on! Can’t anyone stay with one team forever.
The guy who might go crazy without Football: Junior Seau
I’ll be honest. When Junior Seau drove his car over a cliff on a beach, I thought of one thing: he needs to come back to football. Seau must be on so many painkillers and probably hates his family that he just wants a ring and will do anything for it. Most definitely the reason he came to New England. I fear for the life of Junior Seau.
The “Just Retire and Don’t Ruin Your Legacy” guy: Michael Jordan
I know that the title in this could be something to relate to all of these guys, but Jordan is the only one on this list that is still considered to be the great of his time. Kobe is slowly approaching Jordan like status and will most likely pass him if he keeps playing up to his game.
The “You’ve Got to be Shitting Me” guy: Johnny Unitas
Yeah, Johnny Unitas, the guy who is considered the king of the gridiron played for the San Deigo Chargers. He looks like he should be selling hair cream in this picture, but he is also on this list.
Now, I could go on for a long time. I could mention Nomar, but he was traded. I should mention Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, and maybe a couple of more players from the NBA who left small markets/traded to win big while getting paid. Baseball players hardly ever stay in the same city. The first big free agent from the 1974 era was Catfish Hunter who left the Oakland A’s to play for the Yankees for a little over $2M. Baseball never looked back after 1974. Most players are considered legendary if they stay with the team they grew with and never considered. Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are going to end in pinstripes. I never really considered this such a task, but maybe the days of the athlete that plays on one team and stays on one team are long gone.
The reason I ask this question because there are a couple of athletes that are always going to be on a plaque or behind a frame in a Boston sports bar. The best players; that influenced those teams and left their mark without looking for more from another team, one more year to try and win a championship or whatever they thought would be out there. Of course I’m talking about:
The Great White Hope:
Teddy Ballgame:
So if Tom Brady is as good a QB as anyone that ever walked onto the field? Where does he end his career? Most signs point to someplace not in New England. Let’s hope Al Davis doesn’t stay alive for Brady’s contract to end.
*I researched Bobby Orr and didn’t realize he ended his career with the Blackhawks. Still the best hockey player, if not, certainly the best defenseman, by a long shot.
No comments:
Post a Comment