Sheldon Richardson Speaks Out

[jetfandreamer]

No, we define it the same way.

"mandatory" -- you HAVE to be there
"voluntary" -- you WANT to be there

I guess some of us would like our best player(s) to fit in the second category . . .

Voluntary is you "want to be there..but there is something more pressing at this so early juncture in the season

I did see a pic on some site with him and a neice or whatever in a graduation uniform..maybe that wasn't that day..but whatever..it doe not matter at this point.....

 

[jetfandreamer]

I can just see an idiotic thread from some morons this season....if Sheldon is out of position on a play

"Sheldons missed OTA comes back to haunt him " or

"Sheldons lack of drive costs Jets "

or how about

"Sheldon is a selfish me player "

like Chuck Brown used to say..."GOOD GRIEF"

 

[OCCH]

Voluntary is you "want to be there..but there is something more pressing at this so early juncture in the season

I did see a pic on some site with him and a neice or whatever in a graduation uniform..maybe that wasn't that day..but whatever..it doe not matter at this point.....

Wow -- can't say I've ever heard that definition before.

Do you have a link to this "more pressing need"?

And if not, do you disagree that having a new coach/system would by default place more importance on attendance?

 

[JohnnyBaseball1]

Maybe Sheldon will have a bad season, and we will possibly look back at this and say he should have been here. But for me he's earned the right to at least have the bad season before I criticize how he prepares.

 

[hobson54]

we've never agreed more.

Some people would say he knows how to play DT, so he doesnt need to be there. Nick made an awesome analogy earlier to attending a job seminar, where you dont get paid for yoru time to improve at your job.

Richardson knows how to do his job, like a carpenter, and he may the best carpenter in the world, but he hasn't seen the blue print for his next project and doesn't particularly seem interest in coming in and working through the blue print for his next project. He just wants to get their a few days before and learn it.

Its okay to be disappointed with a player when this happens. He's so good it wont matter.

But it sure would be nice for him to get a head start and help Williams get up to speed.

I guess the word voluntary means we're not allowed to feel that way. Sorry, Hobson.

no, i'd prefer him to be there also.

but i won't kill a guy for not being at all of the voluntary workouts, because, by definition, they are voluntary.

i'm sure all coaches and all fans (myself included) want 100% attendance at these voluntary workouts. but the players have collectively bargained rights, which include the right to not go to voluntary workouts. richardson has been to some workouts, so he's not even a complete no-show. but it's his right to not go to voluntary workouts

 

[Superman55]

Maybe Sheldon will have a bad season, and we will possibly look back at this and say he should have been here. But for me he's earned the right to at least have the bad season before I criticize how he prepares.

If Sheldon has a bad season, I doubt it will be because he missed a 2 hour OTA. Even Bowles said these practices are only so useful. I just think additional reps in the system would be helpful and the quicker Williams gets up to speed, the better, and Richardson, Wilkerson, Mangold, and Colon are 4 guys who can really help him out, IMO. I'd like him to get as much time with those guys as possible

 

[jetfandreamer]

no, i'd prefer him to be there also.

but i won't kill a guy for not being at all of the voluntary workouts, because, by definition, they are voluntary.

i'm sure all coaches and all fans (myself included) want 100% attendance at these voluntary workouts. but the players have collectively bargained rights, which include the right to not go to voluntary workouts. richardson has been to some workouts, so he's not even a complete no-show. but it's his right to not go to voluntary workouts

I would love him to be there..but not going to kill him since he isnt....

 

[Superman55]

Phins announce today that Suh will be at this week's oTAs. He has only made 1 so far, which is consistent with the his OTA activity with Detroit (rarely attended).

 

[SackExchange]

Anyone who has played football at the collegiate level, and even by-and-large at the high school level, knows that voluntary workouts are...well, you are expected to attend. If you have a great excuse, fine. I don't recall seeing that Richardson offered any such excuse.

The CBA says you don't have to be there. Now, in some cases, like HS and college, the response to you choosing not to participate in voluntary workouts is the coach volunteering to choose to keep you off the field. It is a lot tougher to do when you're talking about one of your best players. You can't, and won't, bench him for blowing off these workouts.

But in doing so, you're creating a hierarchy. Better players can get away with more than lesser players can. It's not good for team chemistry, and it certainly sets Richardson as one of the guys who should not be used as a leader by example to younger DL like Leonard Williams.

Mo's situation is far more understandable than Richardson's absence.

 

[Superman55]

Anyone who has played football at the collegiate level, and even by-and-large at the high school level, knows that voluntary workouts are...well, you are expected to attend. If you have a great excuse, fine. I don't recall seeing that Richardson offered any such excuse.

The CBA says you don't have to be there. Now, in some cases, like HS and college, the response to you choosing not to participate in voluntary workouts is the coach volunteering to choose to keep you off the field. It is a lot tougher to do when you're talking about one of your best players. You can't, and won't, bench him for blowing off these workouts.

But in doing so, you're creating a hierarchy. Better players can get away with more than lesser players can. It's not good for team chemistry, and it certainly sets Richardson as one of the guys who should not be used as a leader by example to younger DL like Leonard Williams.

Mo's situation is far more understandable than Richardson's absence.

Wilkerson's situation is closer to Weddle's situation with the Chargers that is ongoing. Richardson's situation is more like Suh and the phins. I say all that to say, we're not the only one with key players not at OTAs and missing OTA practices doesn't amount to much outside of your points above - leadership, accountability, and helping get young players up to speed. All of which are bad examples set by Richardson, but likely doesn't impact Ws and Ls. This type of behavior, again, makes it harder to pay him to $14-16 mill per season and reward a guy who doesnt reward the team outside of his play on the field. If we paid Richardson $120 mill, like he will likely get in his next deal, I will be disappointed he doesnt set better examples for younger players...but he may change between now and then. Lets hope so.

 

[SackExchange]

Wilkerson's situation is closer to Weddle's situation with the Chargers that is ongoing. Richardson's situation is more like Suh and the phins. I say all that to say, we're not the only one with key players not at OTAs and missing OTA practices doesn't amount to much outside of your points above - leadership, accountability, and helping get young players up to speed. All of which are bad examples set by Richardson, but likely doesn't impact Ws and Ls. This type of behavior, again, makes it harder to pay him to $14-16 mill per season and reward a guy who doesnt reward the team outside of his play on the field. If we paid Richardson $120 mill, like he will likely get in his next deal, I will be disappointed he doesnt set better examples for younger players...but he may change between now and then. Lets hope so.

It's a very businesslike approach, and I don't mean that in a good way. I mean it more in a Darrelle Revis way.

To me, this says that Richardson views his responsibilities solely as what is mandated by the contract. It is a business, and he is the guy who watches the clock to make sure he doesn't spend an extra 30 seconds at his desk at the end of the day.

It likely doesn't impact wins and losses, but it is disappointing.

 

[Superman55]

It's a very businesslike approach, and I don't mean that in a good way. I mean it more in a Darrelle Revis way.

To me, this says that Richardson views his responsibilities solely as what is mandated by the contract. It is a business, and he is the guy who watches the clock to make sure he doesn't spend an extra 30 seconds at his desk at the end of the day.

It likely doesn't impact wins and losses, but it is disappointing.

agreed. and this doesnt need to be a topic that is more than that...disappointing.

 

[SackExchange]

agreed. and this doesnt need to be a topic that is more than that...disappointing.

Oh, agreed. That's all there is to it.

I think any of us, given the opportunity to play at that level, would be at the team facility all the time. But once you've made it, it does become more of a job for you.