Leadership

[SCall13]

So, this is an argument in another post. Some people say it takes more than half a season to show LEADERSHIP skills. I say, leadership skills are apparent immediately. This is what I posted in another thread:

It only takes ONE game to show leadership skills. As a matter of fact, you don't have to be in a game to show leadership skills. How does anyone think Bellichek saw leadership in Brady. He knew it was there. When he put Brady in for Bledsoe when Bledsoe got hurt, you could see Brady's leadership right away. It didn't take a season, or half a season.
When Montana first started, his leadership skills were there and obvious. When Marino came in, his leadership skills were obvious.
Skills as a leader are not learned or developed. You either have it or you don't. It is a stigma of confidence you carry and the people around you can sense it. Feeley doesn't have it. It's pretty obvious to me. People throw all sorts of blame for his stats and performances and give plenty of excuses and reasons. But I just don't think Feeley has the leadership skills needed to drive a champion. He IS just another "manager" of the offense.
Hack away all you Feeley supporters. It's my opinion and I stick by it.

Now people, let's not get STATS and Leadership mixed up here. I was called ignorant by one poster because of MY OPINION. But any educated person would KNOW that leadership skills are not even related directly to stats. For example: Drew Bledsoe has impressive career stats but is not a good leader by any means. Tom Brady doesn't put up EYE-Popping stats, but is one helluva leader. People believe in him because of the stigma he carries. He believes in himself and makes others around him believe more in themselves. That's how Marino and Montana were. Their confidence and leadership elevated the play of everyone around them. Favre is another example.
I do not see this quality is Feeley. He doesn't have the leadership to make his teammates to believe in him or to make them play at a higher level. Like I say, this is just MY opinion. But I feel pretty strongly about it.
Again, leadership is not an AQUIRED skill. You just have it or you don't. This is true at any level of any sport. You know who your leaders are. You know which are not.

 

[rafael]

I think it depends. Some people are obvious leaders, others won't show their leadership until they're in that hardship situation. AJ is not an obvious leader. He earned some respect for playing through pain, but he didn't do any leading. In football terms, the leader is the guy that the team believes will make the play to save the them when the chips are down. AJ made that one play in the NE game which helps his case for leadership, but it was in a game where he played badly. The only reason he had fewer ints was b/c the other team dropped some. The most you can say is he showed a flash of leadership, but IMO he defiantely has not established himself as a leader.

 

[touborg]

I think Feeley showed great leadership and determination the game he got hurt and kept on playing. He took a few shots and then he limped through the rest of the game with pains. That should be an example to the entire team.

 

[SCall13]

I think it depends. Some people are obvious leaders, others won't show their leadership until they're in that hardship situation. AJ is not an obvious leader. He earned some respect for playing through pain, but he didn't do any leading. In football terms, the leader is the guy that the team believes will make the play to save the them when the chips are down. AJ made that one play in the NE game which helps his case for leadership, but it was in a game where he played badly. The only reason he had fewer ints was b/c the other team dropped some. The most you can say is he showed a flash of leadership, but IMO he defiantely has not established himself as a leader.

You're right. He has not. And like i said in the other post: It's only my opinion, but leadership is a personality trait -not a learned skill. You are either a leader or you are not. That's pretty basic, but that is the way I see it.

 

[Justasportsfan]

I think Drew is more of a leader than Brady. Thing is Brady has more brains and skills than Drew.

 

[SCall13]

I think Feeley showed great leadership and determination the game he got hurt and kept on playing. He took a few shots and then he limped through the rest of the game with pains. That should be an example to the entire team.

Feeley showed the team some toughness. But that isn't really leadership. Every player on that team has played through pain, but they aren't all leaders. That really proves nothing in the context of leadership.

 

[touborg]

Feeley showed the team some toughness. But that isn't really leadership. Every player on that team has played through pain, but they aren't all leaders. That really proves nothing in the context of leadership.

Of course it does. He showed himself as a leader and a rolemodel, and subsequently some of the players publically praised him for it.

 

[marino2duper73]

Quarterbacking is pushing the wheelbarrel across a tightrope. Leadership is jumping IN the wheelbarrel and saying " Come on guys, let's go ".

 

[SCall13]

I think Drew is more of a leader than Brady. Thing is Brady has more brains and skills than Drew.

I'm not a fan of Brady. But I have always liked Beldsoe because he is one of the more down to earth guys in the league. But I think Brady is leaps and bounds above Bledsoe in terms of leadership. And Bledsoe has played twice as long. And even with more years under his belt, he still hasn't aquired the leadership skills necassary to be a champion - to take his team to the next level. Even when he was under Parcells. That supports my theory that Leadership is a trait - not a skill.

 

[SCall13]

Of course it does. He showed himself as a leader and a rolemodel, and subsequently some of the players publically praised him for it.

I do agree that it earned him some respect.

 

[zuper_man]

I agree. I stated in another post that this team is lacking a true leader on offense. Feely has not shown he is a leader. Even though he played through pain he was making a scene. How many times did we see on Sports Center highlights Feely jumping around in pain? Brett Favre has played through injuries his entire career but you never see him act like that. I know different people have different pain thresholds but acting like that doesn't make me feel any more confident about him leading this team.

 

[Justasportsfan]

I'm not a fan of Brady. But I have always liked Beldsoe because he is one of the more down to earth guys in the league. But I think Brady is leaps and bounds above Bledsoe in terms of leadership. And Bledsoe has played twice as long. And even with more years under his belt, he still hasn't aquired the leadership skills necassary to be a champion - to take his team to the next level. Even when he was under Parcells. That supports my theory that Leadership is a trait - not a skill.

the only reason drew get's the respect he get's is because of the way he handles himself. No way Brady was any more of a leader than Drew was when they first won the sb. It was Brady's play and decision making on the field that makes them successful. Players respect Drew but not his abilities.

 

[marino2duper73]

I'm not a fan of Brady. But I have always liked Beldsoe because he is one of the more down to earth guys in the league. But I think Brady is leaps and bounds above Bledsoe in terms of leadership. And Bledsoe has played twice as long. And even with more years under his belt, he still hasn't aquired the leadership skills necassary to be a champion - to take his team to the next level. Even when he was under Parcells. That supports my theory that Leadership is a trait - not a skill.

Here's the skinny on why brady is far above Blood-cell....

Brady plays around his team.
Blood-cell expected his team to play around him.

Same in Buffalo. You have McGahee, and Bledsoe is throwing 40+ times ? Dumb.

 

[Justasportsfan]

Same in Buffalo. You have McGahee, and Bledsoe is throwing 40+ times ? Dumb.

where'd you get those nos.?

 

[rafael]

Of course it does. He showed himself as a leader and a rolemodel, and subsequently some of the players publically praised him for it.

But leadership is more than that. Playing through pain will earn you respect. There are many (well maybe not many) people who I respect, but would never follow. To be a leader you need followers. I don't see where anybody on this team acts like "we will follow AJ anywhere, b/c we know that when the going gets tough he will do what's nec. to lead us to a win."

Frankly, a lot of it comes down to the look in your eye. Many posters have complained that AJ looked like a deer in the headlights. That is not a leadership trait. Others tried to defend by saying that the line was at fault etc. But that's when leadership is most needed. If the players saw/feel the same thing then AJ will never be the leader here.