Miami Dolphins’ Mike Pouncey: Jordan Cameron can’t be referring to me

[DKphin]

There is love in the Dolphins’ locker room after all.

Dolphins center Mike Pouncey sounded surprised to hear that former teammate Jordan Cameron was quoted as saying he didn’t think many NFL players actually “love” the game. Cameron, a tight end, recently retired at age 28 after his fourth concussion in six seasons, the final two of which were in Miami.

“I don’t think a lot of these guys love football, to be honest,” Cameron told ESPN in a revealing interview. “A lot of them don’t. You play for other reasons, and every guy has their own reason. They know why, and as long as your why is really important, you keep playing without really loving football.”
Pouncey said he knows why he keeps playing — because he does love football.

“He couldn’t be talking about me,” Pouncey said after finishing his round at the Jason Taylor Foundation’s annual golf benefit at Weston Hills Country Club.
“I wouldn’t be able to speak for him but personally, myself, I love football, so that’s why I play it,” said Pouncey, offering perspective from a guy who has endured more than his share of injuries, too.

Although it never occurred to Pouncey to take a poll around the locker room, he said he’d like to think most of his current teammates love the game, too.

http://dailydolphin.blog.palmbeachp...uncey-jordan-cameron-cant-be-referring-to-me/

 

[VBCheeseGrater]

 

[Kdawg954]

I mean what else is he supposed to say?

 

[uk_dolfan]

The likes of Jordan Cameron, Jonathan Martin etc are fairly easy to spot. I suspect we signed one this offseason

 

[Kdawg954]

The likes of Jordan Cameron, Jonathan Martin etc are fairly easy to spot. I suspect we signed one this offseason

Seriously? Cameron suffered 4 concussions . . . I wouldn't use that as a comparison to Jonathan Martin.

 

[uk_dolfan]

Seriously? Cameron suffered 4 concussions . . . I wouldn't use that as a comparison to Jonathan Martin.

Why not? Both are examples of players who saw playing in the NFL as little more than a way to get paid. Cameron only played football because he wasn't good enough at basketball.

 

[artdnj]

Cameron should just keep his mouth shut. He made a nice living in a brutal game, he should retire because he doesn't love the game anymore...no need to say there are mothers that feel that way. Any job has the same sentiments from workers at any given period, just shut up Cam.

 

[Kdawg954]

Why not? Both are examples of players who saw playing in the NFL as little more than a way to get paid. Cameron only played football because he wasn't good enough at basketball.

Ask yourself this . . . If these guys had a choice to be a "warehouse" worker and make millions or be a NFL player and make millions . . . you really think you wouldn't have a majority of those guys choose the warehouse work over football? I have no doubts some would choose NFL player but the NFL is a payday for the majority of them.

There is a reason why the top underclassmen leave college a year early and it has less to do with their "love" of the game and more to do about the payday they can make.

And comparing Jonathan Martin to anybody, not just Cameron, is just a disgrace. He's in a league of his own. You can disagree with Cameron but don't throw him in with the likes of Martin.

 

[uk_dolfan]

Ask yourself this . . . If these guys had a choice to be a "warehouse" worker and make millions or be a NFL player and make millions . . . you really think you wouldn't have a majority of those guys choose the warehouse work over football? I have no doubts some would choose NFL player but the NFL is a payday for the majority of them.

There is a reason why the top underclassmen leave college a year early and it has less to do with their "love" of the game and more to do about the payday they can make.

And comparing Jonathan Martin to anybody, not just Cameron, is just a disgrace. He's in a league of his own. You can disagree with Cameron but don't throw him in with the likes of Martin.

I am guessing that you have never worked in a warehouse.

 

[CANDolphan]

I am guessing that you have never worked in a warehouse.

and I'm guessing you've never worked as an NFL player.

Jordan's opinion is pretty on point but that's not a huge deal. I know several professional athletes (ranging from football to kiteboarding) and it's pretty universal that at some point you treat it like a job. You still love it, but it's a job. For a lot of people the pros outweigh the cons but for others it's the opposite.

My nfl friend told me many guys are playing until they hit their retirement goals, just like we would at a corporate job.

I cant stand how ignorant most fans are. We're not tough enough to play this game. They are. We can't tell them what to feel or how to feel, anything like that is arrogance and is rightfully laughed at by well adjusted people

 

[uk_dolfan]

and I'm guessing you've never worked as an NFL player.

Jordan's opinion is pretty on point but that's not a huge deal. I know several professional athletes (ranging from football to kiteboarding) and it's pretty universal that at some point you treat it like a job. You still love it, but it's a job. For a lot of people the pros outweigh the cons but for others it's the opposite.

My nfl friend told me many guys are playing until they hit their retirement goals, just like we would at a corporate job.

I cant stand how ignorant most fans are. We're not tough enough to play this game. They are. We can't tell them what to feel or how to feel, anything like that is arrogance and is rightfully laughed at by well adjusted people

Nope but I have done a ****ty normal job. Retire at 30, huge potential revenue outside of your main workplace basic salary, hero worship if you do your job right, many months off per years. Kdawg will never convince me that "a majority" of NFL players would rather take a warehouse job for the same money. It is a ludicrous suggestion. Imagine the lifestyle change from playing WR for Miami to working in an amazon warehouse 8-6 five days a week virtually every week of the year. One or two might do it, but a majority? No way

 

[Kdawg954]

I am guessing that you have never worked in a warehouse.

http://www.ironmountain.com/Services/Records-Management-And-Storage.aspx

Did it for 9 years fresh out of high school. Worked my way up from the bottom to management. Miss the camaraderie with that group of guys I grew up with . . . similar to the camaraderie that NFL players talk about they miss in the lockerroom when they retire.

Doesn't mean I "loved" the job . . . certainly would of stuck it out had the paycheck been that of an NFL players but thankful that I don't have to deal with the increased risks of CTE and aches and pains that many of those guys have to go thru in their post football lives.

 

[oasis]

Most jobs in this world, as glamorous or fulfilling or important as they may have once seemed to a younger person, or as rich as they make someone, just become jobs at a certain point. Some of us are better at convincing ourselves otherwise, but a job is a job and most people do it to put food on the table once the allure of that job - the passion, the "calling," the purpose - has worn off. This also becomes remarkably clearer for many people when their identity changes from "doing really important or cool thing X" to "father" or "mother."

 

[traptses]

If you believe that every player loves football, and that nobody is playing it because they're good at it and it's making money for their family, you're delusional. I think that's not just a NFL thing, in fact I think it's in every profession. Many people aren't fans of their jobs, but they do what's best for themselves and their families

 

[uk_dolfan]

http://www.ironmountain.com/Services/Records-Management-And-Storage.aspx

Did it for 9 years fresh out of high school. Worked my way up from the bottom to management. Miss the camaraderie with that group of guys I grew up with . . . similar to the camaraderie that NFL players talk about they miss in the lockerroom when they retire.

Doesn't mean I "loved" the job . . . certainly would of stuck it out had the paycheck been that of an NFL players but thankful that I don't have to deal with the increased risks of CTE and aches and pains that many of those guys have to go thru in their post football lives.

That's genuinely cool congrats... so lets say the money is the same. Would you say that your job in the warehouse was comparable to the lifestyle of an NFL player? Did you get 5/6 months off per year? Are you a minor local celebrity (with opportunities to become a superstar if you perform well) Did you have opportunities for work in the media after leaving the warehouse? Did a company pay you bonus money to wear certain shoes or endorse products? Would you say that local kids in your community looked up to you and wanted to walk in your shoes? All of this comes with being an NFL player. The pay is good, and very often so is the lifestyle.

I simply do not believe that "a majority" would give this up for a 9-5 job with a few days off per year even if the money was the same.

I have absolutely no doubt that there is a % of NFL players who dont love the sport and just play for a pay check, but I also think there is still a hell of lot who love the game, love being a professional sportsmen and give it everything. There is another group who love being in the NFL because of the fame that comes with it - but the warehouse comparison doesn't work for these guys either