Retired player: 'A lot of guys don't really love this game'

[Prime Time]

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18895640/former-te-jordan-cameron-lot-guys-really-love-game

Former TE Jordan Cameron: 'A lot of guys don't really love this game'
Pat McManamon/ESPN Staff Writer

Bleacher Report

The scouting season for free agency and the draft is a time when players are asked a common question: Do you love football?

Former Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins tight end Jordan Cameron, who recently announced that he will retire after he incurred four concussions in six seasons, called that "a great question."

"I don't think a lot of these guys love football, to be honest," Cameron told ESPN. "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.

"Because really, who loves to get hit in 10-degree weather by a 280-pound person? Really, no one likes that. 'Do you love football?' I couldn't stand when people asked me that."

Cameron, who went to the Pro Bowl in 2013, wasn't saying that because of his concussions, though he admitted the constant thought of them changed the way he played. Cameron said he played more timidly because he thought about his concussions.

"You're playing physical and you're playing an intense, violent game," Cameron said. "You have to gear yourself up for that, but it's hard to gear yourself up if you're thinking about getting hit or what the implications might be."

Cameron said he appreciates what football gave him, and there were facets of it he enjoyed, especially the competition. He also had special thoughts for many of his teammates, with whom he still has a bond.

"Some of the best people I have ever met have been football players," Cameron said. "Every single guy talks about the locker room and how that's the thing they will miss. It's so true. Some of the most down-to-earth, intelligent human beings are in there."

But though he loved his teammates, he can't look back and say he loved the game.

"Do you really love football?" he said. "A lot of guys don't really love it. There's a few guys that love it. Ray Lewis loves football. Peyton Manning. They love it. But a lot of guys don't really love this game, and there are players that will read this who will understand exactly what I'm talking about."

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...on-a-lot-of-us-in-the-nfl-dont-love-football/

Former Browns and Dolphins tight end Jordan Cameron retired from the NFL at age 28 last week after suffering the fourth concussion of his career last season. He doesn’t sound like he’ll miss it.

Cameron said that contrary to what some fans might think, he and his fellow NFL players didn’t necessarily love the game.

Now that Cameron has made around $20 million in the NFL, he’s pleased to get out and move on with his life, perhaps finding something that he does love to do.

 

[Dieter the Brock]

You guys remember the Spaniard? after Commodus made him a gladiator he was indeed one of the best we've ever seen. But i doubt he liked his work much.

But we were enterained none the less

But seriously, football players are like normal people, whodda thunk it. Football is a brutal profession

Good luck to Jordon Cameron in his retirement

 

[Legatron4]

I love football. If I had the size and athleticism I would play. He might not like getting hit. But to some guys it's a rush. Because when you finally break that first tackle and gain extra yards, you realize why you love it.

It's not for everyone for sure. But the great ones always loved the game.

 

[Prime Time]

But the great ones always loved the game.

Brett Favre comes to mind.

 

[Psycho_X]

Yeah I don't think anyone thought everyone who played the game loved it for what it is. I'd say there's 4 different tiers of players. The majority of players being some where between tier 2 and 3.

1) Loves the game... money is secondary/bonus.

2) Enjoys the game but could take or leave it.... money motivates them to keep playing long term.

3) In it strictly for the payday but is humble enough to give his teammates and fans 100% still.

4) In it strictly for money and doesn't give a shit about anything else or what people think of him. Usually coasted through the sport with insane god given talent that doesn't require 100% commitment.

 

[Merlin]

I have to think some of those guys who don't love it look back at their career later and wish they would have invested more into it. That kind of thing is probably pretty common, he's just telling it true. But later on when they start working (as most have to) it will give them perspective that they were allowed to make money playing a game, which is pretty cool.

Yeah if I had the talent and my knees were solid I'd play until they pushed me out. The NFL has a lot of drawbacks, but it's still a good gig IMO.

 

[Corbin]

You guys remember the Spaniard? after Commodus made him a gladiator he was indeed one of the best we've ever seen. But i doubt he liked his work much.

But we were enterained none the less

But seriously, football players are like normal people, whodda thunk it. Football is a brutal profession

Good luck to Jordon Cameron in his retirement

" Death smiles at every man, the only thing a man can do is smile back"

View: https://youtu.be/FI1ylg4GKv8


*Breaking News* Professional sports players play for the money!

Lol

 

[Mackeyser]

Yeah I don't think anyone thought everyone who played the game loved it for what it is. I'd say there's 4 different tiers of players. The majority of players being some where between tier 2 and 3.

1) Loves the game... money is secondary/bonus.

2) Enjoys the game but could take or leave it.... money motivates them to keep playing long term.

3) In it strictly for the payday but is humble enough to give his teammates and fans 100% still.

4) In it strictly for money and doesn't give a crap about anything else or what people think of him. Usually coasted through the sport with insane god given talent that doesn't require 100% commitment.

Those Tier 4 guys are infuriating.

 

[DaveFan'51]

Brett Favre comes to mind.

This makes the Fearsome-Foursome come to mind! They all loved the game, and said, late in Life, they would do it all over again, in a Heart Beat!!
I say " You should Love your chosen Career, otherwise it's not worth doing, find a New one!":shades:

 

[LACHAMP46]

"Do you really love football?" he said. "A lot of guys don't really love it. There's a few guys that love it. Ray Lewis loves football. Peyton Manning. They love it. But a lot of guys don't really love this game, and there are players that will read this who will understand exactly what I'm talking about."

B4 I google him...I believe Jordan was a kid on my nephew's travel ball team. Basketball. He was also a pretty good baseball player. But if this is the guy, he was a basketball player first. 4 concussions....He probably hates football....I hope someone can check and see if he's the same kid. So I believe he's speaking directly about himself.
Not surprised....and if he doesn't love the game, he shouldn't question others motives without putting a name on it....

 

[fearsomefour]

You mean work turns into work?
Every job can wear on you and wear you out. Add in the fact of injuries, pain and having to rewin your job every year. I get it.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Hmm. That's disappointing to hear, but I suspect he isn't too far off.

Let's face it, not everyone born with the god given talent to play sports was also born with the competitive fire to compete to be the best.

Two completely different "skills".

The greats have both; Brady, Manning, Faulk, Warner, Bruce, etc.

 

[Ram65]

Yeah I don't think anyone thought everyone who played the game loved it for what it is. I'd say there's 4 different tiers of players. The majority of players being some where between tier 2 and 3.

1) Loves the game... money is secondary/bonus.

2) Enjoys the game but could take or leave it.... money motivates them to keep playing long term.

3) In it strictly for the payday but is humble enough to give his teammates and fans 100% still.

4) In it strictly for money and doesn't give a crap about anything else or what people think of him. Usually coasted through the sport with insane god given talent that doesn't require 100% commitment.

That would make a great player poll.

I think most would vote 1 and 3.

Kevin Green
Jack Youngblood
Marshall Faulk
Kurt Warner

These guys come to mind as they really love the game.

 

[CanadaRam]

Unfortunately, I think that this is more common than we as fans hope to admit. I think the old Rams would lure players knowing/hoping for no more than 16 games to be able to earn $ longer (play more years). I hope that the new Rams are different. This I believe that the Pats do this better than all others right now. It is why I think that the Rams need a make over on the team.

 

[Mojo Ram]

But the great ones always loved the game.

Yep.

 

[Prime Time]

B4 I google him...I believe Jordan was a kid on my nephew's travel ball team. Basketball. He was also a pretty good baseball player. But if this is the guy, he was a basketball player first. 4 concussions....He probably hates football....I hope someone can check and see if he's the same kid. So I believe he's speaking directly about himself.
Not surprised....and if he doesn't love the game, he shouldn't question others motives without putting a name on it....

In case you haven't googled this yet...

He also starred in basketball and volleyball at Newbury Park High. After high school, Cameron decided to play basketball at Brigham Young University rather than football.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_Cameron

 

[Mikey Ram]

Maybe I missed something here, I don't really get it...Is it not possible to be great at something without professing a love for it ??? If a player is driven by money, I couldn't possibly care less about his love for the game...I care only how much he puts into it...

 

[wmc540]

It's pretty easy to spot the players that feel this way.

 

[tempests]

Maybe I missed something here, I don't really get it...Is it not possible to be great at something without professing a love for it ??? If a player is driven by money, I couldn't possibly care less about his love for the game...I care only how much he puts into it...

I think a pay check only goes so far. Motivation enough for guys like Albert Haynesworth, but only for a while.

Alex Barron is a great example.

He(Barron)’s got the skill to play. He does not have the heart to play football. He does not like anything about the game except getting paid,

- Billy Devaney.

^ Of course that was not news to Ram fans.

Then you take a guy like Aaron Donald. At Pitt his work habits and film study became legendary. I share this excerpt from a pre draft article from the Chicago Tribune.

*********************************

"Pittsburgh's football headquarters, a facility the Panthers share with the Steelers, overlooks the Monongahela River from the southern bank east of downtown. That's where you could find Aaron Donald after games last season.

His sanctuary was the defensive tackles' meeting room. It's through the right front door and up the stairs, down the hallway on the right, beyond the wall listing Pitt's all-time All-Americans. Donald brushes his hand against the wall each time he walks past.

That room is where film study became his obsession.

Inoke Breckterfield, Pitt's defensive tackles coach, witnessed it up close. He arrived to work Sept. 3, the morning after Pitt lost its season opener to eventual national champion Florida State 41-13 in a home game that ended about 11:30 p.m. He saw notes scribbled on the dry erase board, questions Donald had in his search for feedback.

"He was in there until 2 o'clock in the morning watching film," Breckterfield said. "And every game after that, every time, he wouldn't go home. He'd sit there and wait for the film to be uploaded, and away he went."

Donald refined the routine as a senior. He would turn off the lights, leave the door cracked, settle into the big leather chair in front of the projection screen, grab the remote control and watch each play two or three times by himself before reviewing them again with coaches and teammates the day after the game.

"I've got to see everything I did good, did wrong before anybody else sees it," he said. "Otherwise I won't be able to sleep. I'm tossing and turning just thinking about it."

Sometimes Donald wouldn't bother to drive the 10 minutes across the river and up the hill back to his apartment. He would arrange the meeting room chairs to form a bed and sleep for a few hours.

"Then he'd wake up and watch some more film before practice even started," Panthers receiver Ed Tinker, one of Donald's closest friends, said with a laugh."

************************************

His fire, competiveness, his obsessive perfectionist nature, desire to make his parents proud, it all comes from within. And that's where greatness lies, IMO.