Now I know what NFL receivers feel like. Guys like Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens aren’t necessarily jerks or morons – well, okay maybe some are, it’s all a matter of opinion. However, a receiver wanting the ball is certainly not a new concept.
I have recently had an experience that may allow me to shed some personal light on this issue. This past Thursday marked my flag football team’s third game of our short season. We came into the contest with a 1-1 record and knew we had to win this next game in order to keep the playoff dream alive.
Now, the previous week we had won a close game and I had made some big catches on a key march down the field, including a long first down reception to keep the drive alive. My “Wes Welker like” performance in the win had me feeling like I had proven my worth to the team and had presented myself as a reliable option.
However, going down to haul in a big reception the week before ended up not mattering much in this Thursday’s game. The game was deadlocked with five minutes remaining and I was in at wideout for what would be our final offensive drive. We drove nearly the length of the field, save one first down, with some nice, short passes.
Finally, we reached that inevitable fourth down with only a few yards to go for the first. Luckily for us, we were able to draw the defense offsides with a two count, giving us back third down. Unfortunately, we once again faced fourth down after another third down stop. Our quarterback snapped the ball and the receivers were off to the races. I was able to successfully beat my man downfield, leaving me wide open heading towards the end zone. Plus, our QB began to roll out, and the man who was covering me began to rush towards the line, leaving me a little more open. So there I was, running towards the endzone, looking back at our quarterback and screaming his name.
What happened next? I think you can infer the end result from what was said earlier, but I’ll tell you the sad story nonetheless. Despite my efforts, our quarterback rifled a bullet pass to a receiver who was just beyond the first down line. The pass was above the receiver’s head and as a result he couldn’t hold on to it. So, as I watched the other team drive down the field, methodically winding down the clock, how do you think I felt? Yes, you guessed it, I was mad. That angry feeling didn’t just rush out of me as soon as the game ended either. I was steaming long after the failed fourth down conversion.
Is wanting the ball selfish? It can be, but in most cases the desire to make a difference is not at all selfish. I consider myself a team player, and would have been perfectly fine had we won the game. I am a very competitive person who hates to lose. Not getting the ball after a big game the previous week disturbs me a little, but what really gets me is the fact that I had a chance to win the game, but never got the ball to be able to cash in on that chance. I don’t know whether or not our QB heard me or saw me open downfield, but the story could have been much different for us as a team had he thrown the ball further.
Wide receivers want the ball because they want to make a difference and they want to win. Receivers such as Chad Johnson, who recently told reporters that he wants to put up bigger numbers and gain a bigger share in the offense, only want to do so because they are also competitive and value winning. They feel that they have the same ability as anyone else on the team and want to be involved. I never had anything against those receivers and certainly don’t now after my little experience. Wanting the ball is perfectly normal and natural for all those who catch footballs in our world today. Although I don’t agree with those who only want to catch passes for their own selfish interests, some receivers really want to help their team win games. I’ve gained a little more sympathy for pro receivers in that respect.
