A new reason players are being taken off their boards

[Bob In PA]

and the other side of the argument from a former NYG scout and head of Bears scouting

https://x.com/ggabefootball/status/1915419420387668471

Rich: Like I was saying, the "love of football" angle is nothing new. lol

[kartanoman]

Just to give you perspective of what was going on in my mind before offering my two posts here, I had just finished up writing in the "Rob Carpenter" thread about him and those who "Never got to smell the Roses;" a theme the New York Post used to write about the players and coaches who fought the good fight along the Giants' journey to Super Bowl XXI but didn't make it to the top of the Everest of the sport. I specifically cited the three players the Giants had who were "heart and soul, give all they had, love of the game and their team" players whose careers and, in two players died, due to cancer. Each of them had to fight their tails off just to make the team. With each passing season, they would have to prove themselves worthy time and time again, until cancer ultimately derailed their hopes and dreams. I was talking about Doug Kotar and Dan Lloyd, who played for the Giants in the 1970s until about 1980. The other, an inspiring story of hope turned tragedy, John Tuggle, "The Irrelevant Giant." We talk about the Rocky Balboa character in Rocky and Rocky II. But John Tuggle was far more than that. He was the undoubtable will destined to conquer all obstacles in his way. He played football and gave everything he had for the love of the game and because that was the person he truly was. From the moment Parcells told him, "Son, you can play on my team anytime," to his final days, determined to live his life to its fullest jet-skiing and being with his friends, before the cancer finally took over his ability to fight and, in the end, his undoubtable will, as he passed at the age of 25. So moved was his team that they paid for all his expenses in 1986 and, during that season, every helmet donned the number 38 in lower left on its backside, to remember their fallen teammate, and friend.

Every talented, young athlete should understand how blessed they are to have the opportunity to do what they can do with such grace and ease, while others, far less talented, rely on other things, such as hard work, effort, determination and heart. They should look at those who are the "irrelevant" players to understand why they go to all that trouble to only be able to get a small piece compared to the gifted.

It is why, even to this day, the NFL Championship trophy is named after the man who would have smiled and been proud to coach a John Tuggle, or a Phil McConkey. That man, even today, represents the ideals of what the NFL is supposed to be about.

That man is Vincent Thomas Lombardi.

Peace!