A Study In NFL Contrasts: Edgerrin vs. Dillon

[showcase]

First, we have proof that there is good in some of the star players in the NFL...

It was first-and-goal at the San Diego 3-yard line. Manning called the play, a shovel pass to James out of the shotgun formation with James and fullback James Mungro aligned in a split-back set. The Colts had run the play only four times in practice.

No matter. Edgerrin James called an audible.

" 'Nah, James, go and make some history,' " James told Mungro as they approached the line of scrimmage. " 'This one is yours.' "

James and Mungro swapped places. James lined up on the left, Mungro on the right. Manning's pass went to Mungro, who took it to the end zone for Manning's record-tying 48th touchdown. No. 49 came later in the Colts' 34-31 overtime victory, on a pass to Brandon Stokley.

From the Indianapolis Star.[/i]

...however, he's a nice little insight piece that kind of makes you wonder why we sometimes come to like these players...

The revisionist paint job on Corey Dillon is getting a little thick. If the New England Patriots return to the Super Bowl in 16 days, Dillon will be part halfback, part Dalai Lama. The notion that CD cured all of his personality ills by leaving the Cincinnati hellhole for the paradise of a Boston exurb is getting maximum run. It's a good story.

All this time, we here in Loserville thought CD was a pouty locker-room wrecker just because, well, just because that's who he was. Some babies are born with hair. Corey Dillon was born with anger.

As a Bengal, Dillon rode permanent shotgun on the last train to Jerkville. It was, we thought, a personality trait.

Boy, were we dumb.

Actually, Corey was just a frustrated young man who needed only the sunshine of winning to bloom and re-emerge as the Prince of New England. Corey Dillon, prince. Who knew?

Dillon's not the player who threw his shoulder pads into the stands after the last game of Cincinnati's 2003 season, who declared "it's all about me," who said he'd rather flip burgers than play for the Bengals.

(That last sentiment came in the midst of a contract negotiation, by the way, not because of Chronic Losing Fatigue. Just to be, you know, accurate.)

Dillon's not that guy. He's Mr. Touchdown. He's Mr. Team.

He's not the guy who a few years ago winged his Ohio driver's license at a clerk at a drive-through convenience store because the kid had the nerve to ask him for identification. "Don't you know who I am?" Dillon asked.

The clerk didn't. Evidently, none of us did.

From the Cincinatti Enquirer.[/i]

Kind of makes you wish it was Indy taking on the Steelers this weekend.

[Cambridge]

Bullcrap...don't buy the whitewash either side. The Indy team always gets the benefit of the doubt.

Dillon earned his respect on the field and has been a solid teammate and competitor. He is this year's Harrison. The surly veteran who just wants to play for a winner.

Indy is a bunch of whiners with stats and no rings. Learn to play the game it was intended to be played, not the pretty pads off, red jersey version that requires a dome and only involves half the team...

The better TEAM won the game and will win this weekend.

Here's the Pat's third SB

[showcase]

Never ceases to amaze me how defensive people can become. More to the point, I think you missed the point: it was a contrast between Edgerrin James's personality and Cory Dillon's, not an argument that Indy deserved some moral victory because one of the 43 players active for that contest made one altrustic gesture at a particular juncture during the season.

But let's face it: Dillon's a bit of a dick, plain and simple. He's done what he's done, and being part of a winning team doesn't absolve him of his prior sins. Playing football the way it's meant to be played means supporting the team as a whole, not tossing your pads into the stands, stating boldly that ""It's all about me,'" or getting upset because you've got competition at your position. And turning the corner because you're on a better team is laughable. The true test of character comes when things aren't rosy.

Besides, I don't really care one way or another who looses to the McNabb (the kid from my neighborhood) and his Iggles in the Super Bowl.

[Cambridge]

I only took umbrage with the "kinda makes you wish..." part of your statement.

[Cambridge]

But if you want to get into it, how many yards did the Edge run for in the Razor?

The answer, less than Kevin Faulk.

Moral victories are worthless...I know that first hand as a Red Sox fan.

[showcase]

But if you want to get into it, how many yards did the Edge run for in the Razor?

The answer, less than Kevin Faulk.

I would care, if I weren't a Bears fan.

[Joe Hoya]

showcase said:

Besides, I don't really care one way or another who loses to the McNabb (the kid from my neighborhood) and his Iggles in the Super Bowl.

From your...fingers...to the football gods' ears

[TBird41]

showcase said:

But let's face it: Dillon's a bit of a dick, plain and simple. He's done what he's done, and being part of a winning team doesn't absolve him of his prior sins. Playing football the way it's meant to be played means supporting the team as a whole, not tossing your pads into the stands, stating boldly that ""It's all about me,'" or getting upset because you've got competition at your position. And turning the corner because you're on a better team is laughable. The true test of character comes when things aren't rosy.

Hmmmm...this reminds me of someone else besides Dillon. Can anyone else say T.O.? I mean, if it looks like a rat...

[showcase]

I completely and totally agree. If either T.O. or Moss were to try to reinvent themselves in one year's time, I'd be calling BS there too. Dillon's "restraint" or "composure" in not acting out this year in the way he had in Cinci is hardly indicative of him becoming a new man, particularly because he's on a team that was in a position to challenge for the Super Bowl itself (as opposed to just a wildcard playoff spot).

I mean, when did our expectations drop so low that just being a decent human being and teammate for one year was a laudable development? If the media is going to do "personality stories" about how much better Dillon is behaving this year, I'd much prefer to hear about characters or deeds like Edgerrin's. The seemingly miraculous ability of a notorious malcontent to exercise a modicum of restraint in helping his team challenge for a title is so much less compelling than the Edgerrin's story.

[Hank Scorpio]

The "surly veteran who wants to play for a winner"? You are such a homer it's insane. If that guy played for any other team in the NFL you'd be calling him the classic example of what is wrong with sports today. But he plays for the Pats, and as such, in the eyes of every New England fan out there, he is the embodiment of "T-E-A-M."

I'd rather have Edge than Dillon any day of the week. Before this past season, when Dillon became that "surly veteran who found his home with a winner", every Pats fan would too.

And this isn't anti-NE bile, I root for the Pats because they remind me of the 1996-2000 Yankees - a bunch of steady players that just get it done. They are, to me, a team in every sense of the word [except for Ty Law]. That said, when Roger Clemens came over from Toronto to the Yankees, I, for one, didn't act like an angel got its wings because Roger Clemens, that surly ol vet, was finally going to play for a winner. He was still the prick that came in high and tight on everyone. He was just doing it in Pinstripes so it was a little more palatable.

I can't wait to see that surly ol vet Randy Johnson play for a winner...

CambridgeHoya said:

Bullcrap...don't buy the whitewash either side. The Indy team always gets the benefit of the doubt.

Dillon earned his respect on the field and has been a solid teammate and competitor. He is this year's Harrison. The surly veteran who just wants to play for a winner.

Indy is a bunch of whiners with stats and no rings. Learn to play the game it was intended to be played, not the pretty pads off, red jersey version that requires a dome and only involves half the team...

The better TEAM won the game and will win this weekend.

Here's the Pat's third SB

[Cambridge]

I never said that Dillon got his wings...and I would welcome a comparison between Dillon and Roger. I repeat, I just had a problem with the "kind of wish" statement. I also think your Yankees-Pats analysis is pretty much dead-on, as much as it pains me to admit it. Same type of "game plan" as far as francises go. Let's hope that Kraft doesn't change up the game plan like Georgey did...because it was an unbeatable formula in baseball...and it seems to be working rather well in the NFL.