Loyalty is a false equivalence in the NFL
We’ll read stories about players that take less money to remain with their original teams. We’ll also read stories of teams that have decided to hang on to veterans who have proven valuable in the past. But these stories are few and far between. More often than not, pro football itself is a cold business.
Just look at the New England Patriots as a prime example. Instead of re-signing Jamie Collins and Chandler Jones to long-term deals, they allowed other teams to do just that while receiving draft pick compensation in return. This is what has allowed New England to remain a consistent contender over the past two decades — being cutthroat to an extent.
On the other side of the ledger, we have seen veterans move on from their original teams to sign with division rivals. Brett Favre would be a prime recent example of this, but it’s most definitely not just limited to him. Could Adrian Peterson follow suit by signing with the Green Bay Packers? That’s surely something to keep an eye on.
What fans (and some in the media) fail to realize is that these NFL players are people too. They’re not solely names on jerseys and salary cap figures. They have significant others and children. They have lives.
So when one of your favorite players decides to take cash and play somewhere else, maybe recognize this before putting him in your doghouse for the rest of eternity. It’s important. It gives a face to those we root for on a weekly basis during the season. And if NFL teams aren’t expected to be loyal, why should the players? Just some food for thought as free agency opens.