Hmm well that is absurd. Seemed like Thomas was reluctant to even play for Seattle last year. I'm sure there was still quite the animosity over the holdout and it boiled over in that moment. Hard for a player not to hold a grudge.
I think that's BS. Did he say that right after or just now? Carroll may be a total dick but he really does seem to care about his players on a personal level. Plus what coach isn't concerned when one of his best players goes down like that even if he hates the player?
That's not what he said. As the article states: "He gave the middle finger in the direction of Seattle's sideline because he didn't think Carroll was being genuine when he showed concern on the field after the injury." Giving a current coach the middle finger on the field like that seems a lot more drastic than merely staring down a former HC who was a total joke the entire time he was in Cleveland who is now on a division rival.That's correct respect is earned. I don't agree with the way ET handled it but he does get some leeway based on the respect he earned over the years. Baker hasn't earned the respect of anyone yet and likely won't unless his perceived pompous attitude changes.
Not to mention ET just had his leg snapped. He didn't know if he would ever play again and was pissed because he hadn't been given a contract.
Damn can't believe I'm defending a former Hawk player
I get that part of it. If he just flatout disliked Pete at that point because if the contract situation, so be it, but that's just not what he said. Also, what the hell does Pete have to do with offering Thomas a contract? He's not the GM. He even admits that Pete was trying to get him a new contract. Seems to be way more disrespectful than what Baker did, but that's just IMO.
This was his most recent comment: "I think my time just ran out," Thomas said. "Pete and the front office didn't value me like they used to, and I just talked to Coach Carroll, and he was saying how he was trying to get me in the plans of getting a new contract. But I got hurt the next week. I think I hurt myself too by my actions getting carted off the field."
Another big thing. I don't care if you're a rookie or a veteran, that's a really shitty comment to make. Seattle was good to him over his time there. I'll say right now that if Baker went to the HC of another team and said something like that, I'd be more than happy to see Cleveland ship him out. Pair that with the middle finger he gave to Pete, and that just comes off as being way more disrespectful and childish. Yet Baker is the one that's painted as an ego problem. That's what I'm talking about.
I agree. Any grudge held against Carroll was ill-placed. And to say he has no regrets further validates your sentiments of it being way more disrespectful.
Especially when Pete came to his defense after he did it! The fact that Earl can't man up and say it was the wrong thing to do and offer some sort of apology says a lot more about him than Baker staring down a former HC who was anything but an ally or leader during his time in Cleveland.
There is a higher level of scrutiny that comes with being a #1 overall pick. But you're absolutely correct.
From the outside, it seemed like a dick move by both of them
And that's where I think the hypocrisy comes in. A man is a man, and his character is his character. It doesn't matter what position he plays or what draft slot he had.
Meh. If our QB is going to be a dick to a guy like Hue Jackson, I'm completely fine with that. It's a lot different than flipping off your current head coach who was lobbying for you to get a new contract.
Preach! National media likes to play up controversy no matter what, but there was a lot more clicks to be found when that controversy surrounds a #1 overall pick.
And this is why the media can pretty much collectively eat shit. I think I mentioned it in another thread, the majority of media members are absolute clowns anymore. They're more concerned with stirring up "controversy" than actually bringing pertinent information to fans.
I'd say he moved on just fine. It isn't like he sat there and got in a yelling match with him. He stared him down, and then proceeded to kick the shit out of his new team. Loved it.
I don't think so. When it comes to performance, yeah, but not things like this. Baker's problem is the attitude problem he had in College. You get a chance to wipe the slate clean when you come to the NFL and everyone will forget about what happened in College and write it off as being immature. But, when it starts to show up again in the NFL people will go right back to those old incidents and start to see a pattern. I don't think he is a bad kid (and he is still what, 24?). I think he is immature and probably has a little of that I can do whatever I want attitude that a lot of coddled start athletes get. But, he needs to change it or he is going to be labeled for his career fairly or unfairly.
