Lendale White rumbles over hapless Lions

Lendale White doesn’t fear a microphone or hesitate to voice is displeasures. But of course, we already knew that, from his days at USC. As any other poster boy for disgruntled players would be, White was vocal in last weekend’s post-game interview that followed a 34-13 loss to the Jets, a game that gave the once perfect Titans their only blemish on the season. He was frustrated in carrying the ball just 3 times in 4 quarters of play, and alerted listeners and his coaching staff of his feelings. By midweek, most wondered if White had allowed his mouth to stuff him into Jeff Fisher’s doghouse, since it’s never a good idea to air dissensions between player’s and a coaching staff. Instead, Fisher said the topic had been discussed and there were no ill feelings between himself and White. And if anyone had speculations that Fisher’s statements were an attempt to cover up an incident possibly boiling in the Tennessee locker room, that was all squashed on Thursday, as both White and the Titans went back to the formula for success, drubbing the Lions 47-10.

Against the Lions, White ran for 106 yards on 23 carries, with a long of 25. He also contributed 2 touchdowns to tie Atlanta’s Michael Turner’s league leading 13. White had been the league leader in the category, until the lack of opportunities last weekend shut him out. Rookie Chris Johnson added another 125 yards on the ground against the hapless and helpless Lions, giving evidence of the franchise in Detroit being the NFL’s biggest turkey on Thanksgiving, and likely the worst team I’ve witnessed on a professional field. How bad are the Detroit Lions? Even Vince Young completed a 57 yard pass in this game, entering in relief of Kerry Collins.

Last week, Woody Paige of ESPN's "Around the horn" called White "another Denver loud mouth". He also said his mouth is the reason he fell in the NFL draft. I'd have to disagree with the latter. It was a question of work ethics that caused the slide. If it was about being a loud mouth, players like Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, and Chad Johnson wouldn't be worth much in a free agent market, and obviously they are. Lendale White may not be in the best shape, but there's no denying his production on the football field, something the teams picking before the Titans failed to foresee.

DOH-mer Of The Week- Safety Valve?

Remember when you were a kid, playing football in the street with your neighbors? Sometimes you played with a flag, at other times it was touch, and if you wanted to prove to your friends that you had balls, you played tackle ball right there on the asphalt. You either moved the ball with a “downs” system or you imitated the NFL, actually walking off the 10 yards needed. You had penalties. You had sideline boundaries, kick offs, punts, etc. But there’s one thing we never had in street ball, and that was a safety.

Recording a safety was nearly impossible, because the end zone was endless. We marked the beginning of the end zone, as to determine a score, but the back of the end zone went on for infinite yards or in this case “blocks”. Backed up against your own end zone was never problematic, because our quarterbacks could scamper freely to escape danger, before ever making their toss.

Someone should have informed Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky of the differences between playing in the street and playing in a billion dollar dome. One obvious difference is the paycheck, as you are rewarded for your skills and football knowledge. The other obvious difference, the end zone is limited in length.

On Sunday, against the Minnesota Vikings, Orlovsky’s mind returned to the streets, though his body played in the dome. With his Lions pinned against their own end zone, Orlovsky took the snap and tried to avoid the rushing Jared Allen by running to his right and up the block to little Johnny’s house, hoping to buy time for receivers to get open. And of course, as the video shows, Allen is erratically signaling to the refs that Johnny doesn’t live there anymore.

Orlovsky can’t be credited for the complete failure of the Lions, who are now 0-6, but he’s managed to create a video highlight to sum up the Lions’ misery. When you’re a back up quarterback, thrust into the starting role for a winless team, you don’t necessarily have to win games, but you surely need to win over the few fans remaining.

The cowardly Lions earned a badge of courage for firing the man behind the curtain, after proving for years he was no wizard at all. Dorothy still wears No. 11, clicking his heels and reciting, “I wish I was home”. And now they’ve benched the Tin Man, allowing the Scarecrow to run the huddle. This DOH-mer could easily be a team effort, but I can’t look pass the bonehead error of Orvlovsky, so he’ll take it alone…Well…and Toto too.

Campbell and the Army’s football fumble

A teary eyed Caleb Campbell was forced to pack his bags and leave the Lions training camp. He was to report immediately to active military service. The announcement came just two days after the talented linebacker had agreed to contract terms with Detroit. And although I feel the U.S Army made a fair and righteous decision, the entire handling of the situation was poor.

This was an example of military intelligence, but no common sense. As I spotlighted in a May blog entry, the proper decision (based on fairness) was obvious from the beginning. But there was a fumble, and with each day that passed, there was no doubt that the end to the growing controversy would end without winners. It didn’t have to be this way, but it appeared that the Army was more willing to pin their hopes of righting this ship on a West Point linebacker failing in the NFL. Campbell had yet to fail. And suddenly, months too late, the plug was pulled.

The Army’s policy on soldiers and professional athletics was well in place before the 2007 season ever ended. It was in place, when NFL scouts sent an invitation for Campbell to attend the scouting combine in Indianapolis. It was in place, when the Detroit Lions selected Campbell in April’s 7th round. It was in place, as they allowed him to attend OTA’s, and as contract negotiations began. There was plenty of time to act, but the Army refused. Instead, they allowed a young man to take steps towards his dream, only to pull the rug from beneath him.

It isn’t that Campbell was trying to avoid his military service. He’s not a deserter, so don't confuse him with one. If the Army gave the call to combat in April, he would have grabbed his weapon and knowledge and hit the battlefield. This is about the Army telling him he didn’t have to serve immediately, and providing another option. This is about the Army allowing him to attend the combine, prepare for a professional football draft, and sending him off to represent the military as a Detroit Lion. The Army’s approval sent him reaching for goals and setting sights on dreams, only to shorten his arms, shatter the images, and leave everything just short of completion.

And even with the emotional roller coaster Campbell has been on, the Army still doesn’t have it right. As Profootballtalk reports, Campbell will return to West Point to be a Linebackers coach for the Army football team. How does that address the issue of fairness? Yes, he’s now honoring his active service duty, but it’s still not the hostilities some of his classmates will face. The message of “the better the player, the safer the haven” still exists. Doesn’t it? The Army supposedly got the monkey off their backs, but all they did was move a soldier from one American football field to another, and with the only reason being that he’s an exceptional athletic talent in comparison to other cadets.

You can try to disguise it anyway you want, but the Army still didn’t get it right, and the Caleb Campbell controversy ends with losers on all sides......That's if it even ended, at all.

Live For The Game Or Die For Your Country

Another weekend has passed since NFL franchises made their 2008 draft selections. Those rookies have now joined their new teams and will work vigorously to obtain a roster spot. It was a draft filled with big name talent, but there’s a much smaller name that seems to have embedded itself in my thoughts. That name is Caleb Campbell, an Army cadet chosen in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions.

Everyone is aware of the personal sacrifice made by Pat Tillman, who willingly gave up a career in the NFL to fight for his country. Not since World War II had we seen professional athletes display that type of dedication to a cause bigger than the games they played, until Tillman shocked friends, family, and a majority of America with his announcement. Tillman eventually lost his life in Afghanistan, and a nation grieved for him.

In the case of Campbell, we get a complete reversal. Here is a young man who signed on to make the defense of America’s freedoms his priority, with anything else being secondary. Government money prepared him to be an officer on the battlefield, and nothing more than a hobbyist on the football field. But as Campbell's college football career came to an end, the U.S Army altered those priorities.

Before Roger Staubach could sling a single pass downfield for the Dallas Cowboys, he had to first fulfill his commitment to the United States Navy, including a tour in Vietnam. Before David Robinson could wear a San Antonio jersey, this Navy Midshipman had to serve two years of service, after being drafted by the Spurs, before he was permitted to appear on the hardwood. Times have changed, with rules changing with it, and it all leads to a question of fairness.

Under the new Military policy, any athlete drafted by a professional team can report immediately, and their service is pushed back. If that individual makes the roster, and remains in the league for two years, their service is waived completely. In theory, Campbell won’t only represent the Detroit Lions, he also becomes the Army Public Relations man and recruiting officer. The Army feels he’s more beneficial in a recruiting role than in a leadership role on foreign soil. The end result is that many of his graduating class, and former teammates will find themselves in active duty. Some will participate in the hostilities of Iraq and Afghanistan, and some will make the ultimate sacrifice with their lives. Is Caleb Campbell being rewarded for being great on the football field? Are his teammates being punished, because they were not?

And how much more pressure does it place on a coaching staff, when they are already faced with the big decisions of who should make a roster? There’s a big difference between cutting a player and sending him off to a smaller league or the American workforce. But that decision looms even greater, when a roster cut possibly condemns a young man to the atrocities of war. And what of the grieving parents, who hear time after time that their children assumed the risk, when they signed on the bottom line? The message seems to be that if their children were better athletes, they’d still be alive today. And in the midst of the controversy, itself, there is Caleb Campbell, victimized by the pressures of both sides of the argument.

I personally oppose the war in Iraq, while giving full support to the troops. I can only wish they were all better athletes. Do I think the new Military ruling is fair? I’m not sure. It bothers me that sport marks the separation between a soldier and his classmates. But at the same time, we get these great stories of our military saving Iraqi lives, so why is it a bad thing when we save one of our own?

But in all, Caleb Campbell has a military education, and an NFL contract. Everytime his name is mentioned or images are shown, the controversy will swirl. As a military man, he was given the choice to live for a game or possibly die for his country. Tillman chose his country. Campbell chose the game. I can't tell you which is right or question any loyalties, but I can tell you that for the first time ever, the popular phrase, "being thrown to the lions", has new meaning.