Brandon Browner spent the first three years of his career as a member of the Seattle Seahawks’’ secondary, formally known as the “Legion of Boom”. Browner was serving a suspension during last year’s Super Bowl and did not play in the game. A year later, he now finds himself playing his former team and has some suggestive tactics he encourages his teammates to use.
Browner did an interview with ESPN’s Josina Anderson in which he discussed his former teammates (Earl Thomas & Richard Sherman) who are currently battling injuries and the approach he suggests his teammates take. “At the end of the day, this is about the Super Bowl” said Browner (“Patriots should go after injured Seahawks”, 2015, para. 3). “I’m gonna tell my teammates, ‘Go hit that elbow. Go hit that shoulder. Most definitely. Try to break it if you can.’ You’re gonna be my best friend after the game, but I know you want the Super Bowl just as bad as I do.”
What may come as a surprise to most, is that the Seahawks are perfectly fine with Browner’s words of advice. In fact they're actually very understanding of it. Wide receiver Doug Baldwin explained how he felt along with why the fans should too ("Seattle Seahawks players not upset", 2015, para. 6),
“I mean, I’d expect nothing less. This is the Super Bowl. What do you expect?” said Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin. “I understand the fans want it to be classy said publically and everybody be publically correct, but that’s the truth of the matter. We want this game just as much as they do and they want this game just as much as we do. I expect nothing less from Brandon Browner. We’ll go after them in an aggressive fashion just as much as they’re going to go after us.” Baldwin is not alone with those same feelings.
A crucial part of football is exploiting the weaknesses of the opponent. In college football, a classic example is an experienced cornerback getting injured and a younger, less experienced backup replaces him. The majority of the time, the opposing team will start throwing passes in his direction to see if he's able to keep up. In this instance, the weakness is injury. Many suggest that the Patriots should start the game by running an outside toss play towards Sherman's side of the filed to test his elbow. The Patriots may not be intentionally trying to cause any specific harm to Sherman, but the game is extremely violent and if he isn't 100% healthy, they will know right from the start. The Seahwaks seem to have no issue with it and neither do I. People don't seem to understand that football is held in a high regard because it is a violent sport played by some of the toughest athletes in the world. If you're going to trot out onto the field with a busted shoulder or elbow, you better be ready to bring it be cause the opponent know you are weaker and they WILL try to make you tap out.
Do you believe that it's right for the Patriots to go forward with this mentality? Is it wrong for the Patriots to go after injured members of the Seahawks? What's your reaction to the Seahwaks' players having no real problems with it? Do you think it sends the wrong message to younger players? Do you acknowledge that this is a major part of the sport?
References
A few Seahawks’ reactions to the comments made by
Brandon Browner about injuring Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas. (2015, January).
Seahawks Blog retrieved from http://blogs.seattletimes.com/seahawks/2015/01/26/a-few-seahawks-reactions-to-the-comments-made-by-brandon-browner-about-injuring-richard-sherman-and-earl-thomas/
Brandon Browner Conversation. (2015, January). ESPN retrieved from http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=12230456
For the most part, Seattle Seahawks players not
upset with Brandon Browner’s comments. (2015, January). Providence Journal retrieved from http://www.providencejournal.com/sports/patriots/content/20150126-for-the-most-part-seattle-seahawks-players-not-upset-with-brandon-browners-comments.ece
By Eric Vendemia
Since I’ve never played football and I don’t completely understand the mentality of the game, these opinions may not be something everyone agrees with; but it’s somewhat disappointing to see how severe and malicious peoples thoughts and intentions are. I understand the aspect of competition and the will/drive to win the game, especially the Super Bowl, but I think the mentality of the game has become so violent that it has lost respect and thought for people’s well being and physical longevity. Targeting someone who is already inured and susceptible to further injury just to win a game.. crazy thought to me. At what point did the sport and the acceptance of statements like this change? Is this something we would want to reinforce in the mind of the younger generation of not only football players, but also all athletes? Good post Eric.
ReplyDeleteMarissa
I understand why football players are willing to have the mentality to go after injured players and try to exploit the weaknesses of the other team. Football is a physical sport and if someone is already previously injured that is a fast an easy way to try to get a leg up against the other team. An example I think of is in the movie We Are Marshall the other team kept running players to the defenders side with the bad shoulder. He was timid to make the tackle with that shoulder. I understand why football players do it but it isn't something I necessarily agree with like Marissa said. Targeting and possibly leading them to further injury can send the wrong message. I think that is a main difference between a contact sport and a sport like volleyball and softball. When serving for volleyball you try to hit spots usually towards the weakest passer. In softball we get scouting reports to determine an opposing players batting tendencies as well as strengths and weaknesses to help us give us the best chance to win. The competition aspect shines so bright especially the higher the level and people do what they believe will give them the best chance to win. I am not saying I agree with playing dirty because I do not but it is an interesting topic and how it changes from sport to sport.
ReplyDeleteCourtney Cox
Reading this article I can say I agree with what has been said. If you ever go back and look at football in the 50’s or 60’s you will see a different style of play. Guys were out there trying to destroy their opponent. Hits that are punishable by huge fines were just big hits in those days. I like the article because I think you almost have to be this way to win. As coaches you are looking for a weakness in your opponent. As a player you’re the ones who will exploit it. I wouldn’t go out to hurt another player but if you have pads on and you decide football is the sport you want to play. You’re sort of asking to be hit. Some may agree but I’m a huge fan of football and other sports as well. If I were a boxer who wanted to box at the highest level you’re taking a chance of being knocked out. No different in the NFL you’re playing against men, fathers, sons who at the end of the day are taking care of a family or themselves through this and the way to keep a job is making sure your weakness is not available for your opponent to know.
ReplyDeleteVincent Marshall
Eric,
ReplyDeleteI must admit that until the end of last night's game, I wasn't sure who Brandon Browner was. But I was familiar with what he said about injuring his former team mates. Like Marissa and Courtney, I find it difficult to think that players would purposely try to hurt their opponents. On the other hand, how is it any different from scouting an opponent to find their weaknesses? If I know someone cannot hit a backhand, I am not going to refrain from hitting to their backhand just because it might make them feel badly. The question is this: what is the ethical thing to do as a player? This is what we need to talk more about in class on Wednesday.
Thanks for bringing this topic to our attention, Eric.
Dr. Spencer
I think there is a fine line with this situation that players have to be careful in discussing. Is it right to go after an injured player? Absolutely. In any competition, you are trying to exploit a person's weakness. If a player is injured, and you can gain an advantage by attacking them, I feel that you have to do that. Where this gets a little dicey is when players come out and talk about purposely injuring a player. I think that players have to be careful with this because if you state that as your motive, then you go out and accomplish that, you are jeopardizing people's careers and the safety of the game.
ReplyDeleteDerek Shay
After I read this post, I could not totally understand why the Patriots should go after injured members of the Seahawks. I agree with what Courtney said that football is a physical sport and it is easy for players to use their leg or elbow against opposite side after they get injured, especially when you see your teammates get hurt. Furthermore, I think sometimes when players hurt the other team it is not on purpose. Because football is drastic, it is unavoidable for players to play a wonderful game without touching each other. So when both sides get intense, injury happens easily. In addition, I could understand football players trying to seize chance to attack the weakness of the other side.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I could not agree with intentional injuries, especially when a team or a player has already made this strategy before the match starts. I think it will cause negative impacts on sports. The opposite player may get an injury, like concussion or fracture, and the purpose of the match will be changed. It will send a wrong message to younger players. I believe this issue will not be a major part of sports forever, but this topic is truly interesting.
--- Veeco Zheng
I believe that Brandon Browner said what every NFL player thinks and talks about behind closed doors. You know your opponent every week, you know if they are battling an injury. That is a competitive advantage that you can have. The NFL forces teams to announce what the specific injury is. If NFL teams do not do so then they are in-line to get punished. In the NHL you will only see teams announce if a player has a “upper body” or “lower body” injury. This is so other teams do not take advantage of said injury. I do not agree with Browner saying that his teammates should “try to break it if you can.” This sounds like something that he said in the heat of the moment.
ReplyDeleteBrandon Browner is saying what 98% of what most guys in the NFL talk about between them before a game. It's not that their going out intentionally to harm someone. But if the opportunity presents itself to give your team a playing advantage to win, most players would try to exploit that advantage. I don't necessarily agree with the mentality but I understand it. When you are out there playing, it is a jungle out there and either you are the hunter or hunted. It's very fast, physical, and aggressive to say the least. What Brandon Browner said is nothing new and universally understood by the majority of players that are playing in the NFL today.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Derek. As a former player that played on the defensive side of the ball I can openly admit that my mentality was very aggressive and careless when it came to opposing teams. In my mind, I did not have personal relationships with them and therefore I had no remorse for whether or not they were hurt after I hit them because that was simply the physical nature of the game. However, I did not aim to hurt anyone and did not wish pain or injuries upon people. I could never imagine targeting someone to cause harm to them but I can imagine targeting someone as far as saying for example, "His ankle is hurt, run a slant his way" in order to expose your opponents weakness. As a defensive player, our job is to deliver contact which may result in injuries and I have no issue with that as it pertains to the nature of the game as long as it is not intentional as far as targeting someones knee because they just had surgery, etc. So yes, I think it is wrong to have that kind of mentality of intentionally targeting someones injury. Although it's nothing new, it has been going on for years but it's just not something that players are usually open about as they were in this particular instance. I do think that it sends the wrong message to young players but unfortunately it is the nature of the sport because it has become a cultural attitude that is usually unspoken. To me the integrity of the game should always be upheld but there will always be players that stoop too low and as a player you just have to be above that but be aware.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Robinson
Doug Baldwin is correct in saying that large segments of the public want football players to exude a “classy” mentality that mirrors conventional norms of sportsmanship. But from brash, outspoken personalities to expectations of using violence as a means of on-field successful, very little about football falls in line with the conventional norms of sportsmanship. As a consequence, I personally take no issue with Browner's advice or the reaction of his former teammates to that advice.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, for a win-at-all-costs mindset that includes the expectation of extreme on-field physicality to be acceptable, football players must be able to flip off the proverbial switch once they leave the gridiron. The prevalence of domestic violence cases throughout the league leaves room for debate as to whether or not some players are able to “flip the switch.”
It has been interesting to see how coaches and players try to win at all costs in different sports. Growing up with playing basketball all my life I was taught that if your opponent shows any weakness you attack them and exploit them. I believe that if you are worried about getting re-injured or trying to play through an injury when you really should probably taking it easy then that’s your decision and unfortunately if you do get hurt there will obviously be consequences that come with making that decision. With that being said basketball is played a lot differently than football but to a certain extent.
ReplyDeleteHitting and tackling are big parts of the game and there is no way to avoid that. In rival games and championship games especially players do hit and tackle harder just because that particular game means so much to them. If I were a coach I’d tell my players to not let up or go easy on someone just because they are hurt. Coaches are trying to WIN games because that’s their job! No one is telling anyone to purposely get into a fight with the weaker player. If you can eliminate can a key opponent and get them out of the game or go at that individual because you know it will help your team succeed, I agree completely with doing that.
Jasmine Matthews
I have never played organized football, so the idea of going out and targeting an injured player is foreign to me. But, I can understand the strategy. The NFL understands that the game they produce can be compared to war. Two sides go to battle in an attempt to come out victorious. It makes sense to me to target a weakness of your opponent. I think NFL players understand and own this logic. When Baldwin said he is ok with the Patriots’ strategy, that let me know that this mentality is acceptable in not just the NFL, but in football. I think this sends the wrong message to our youth. There are many children looking up to these players, and to hear them publicly say they are going to target injured a player is not a good look. It’s even worse because the predator is attacking his former teammate. This mentality leads to incidents like the one in New Orleans. Good Post Eric
ReplyDelete