🏈 Thoughts on Donta Hightower

[252BAMA]

The entire team should go. They are a team, they should act like it and show some respect to the office, regardless of who the president is.

If Hig

Yeah except I'm pretty sure that's illegal...

Perhaps so, but it sure would get the message across that the guy who signs your check expects you to attend.

 

[kbama15]

All these people need to quit acting like a bunch of children. I mean dang! Trump is your President whether you like it or not! don't really care how many times you have been there, its called respect! You go because it's the right thing to do!!!

 

[JoshB]

All these people need to quit acting like a bunch of children. I mean dang! Trump is your President whether you like it or not! don't really care how many times you have been there, its called respect! You go because it's the right thing to do!!!

So I assume you felt that way about Brady refusing to go when Obama was in office...

If Hig


Perhaps so, but it sure would get the message across that the guy who signs your check expects you to attend.

It doesn't matter what he "expects." It isn't required and it CANT be required. It would literally be illegal to not give them their game checks if they dont show up to an activity that isn't required nor necessary. It's completely voluntary for a reason. This fake outrage has gotten out of hand. No one cared when players skipped out under Obama or Bush or Clinton or any other president nor should they have because it doesnt matter.

 

[planomateo]

All these people need to quit acting like a bunch of children. I mean dang! Trump is your President whether you like it or not! don't really care how many times you have been there, its called respect! You go because it's the right thing to do!!!

Guess I missed the part where Dont'a said he was protesting the POTUS...now a few other Patriots have essentially said they aren't going because it's Trump. Don't get the two confused.

 

[JoshB]

Guess I missed the part where Dont'a said he was protesting the POTUS...now a few other Patriots have essentially said they aren't going because it's Trump. Don't get the two confused.

But thats not even really the point here tho, or at least it shouldnt be IMO. It doesnt matter their reason, no one should care if they are or aren't going. I mean none of us even think about it until the day it happens and we see all the pictures on social media. And then the next day no one cares again. The only people it SHOULD mean something to, is the players and if it doesnt then they dont have to go. It's their choice and we will all move on with our lives.

 

[252BAMA]

So I assume you felt that way about Brady refusing to go when Obama was in office...



It doesn't matter what he "expects." It isn't required and it CANT be required. It would literally be illegal to not give them their game checks if they dont show up to an activity that isn't required nor necessary. It's completely voluntary for a reason. This fake outrage has gotten out of hand. No one cared when players skipped out under Obama or Bush or Clinton or any other president nor should they have because it doesnt matter.

I'm not outraged, fake or otherwise. I could care less what any of them do. But if I was Robert Kraft, I would be seriously pissed. You would probably call it outrage.

 

[planomateo]

But thats not even really the point here tho, or at least it shouldnt be IMO. It doesnt matter their reason, no one should care if they are or aren't going. I mean none of us even think about it until the day it happens and we see all the pictures on social media. And then the next day no one cares again. The only people it SHOULD mean something to, is the players and if it doesnt then they dont have to go. It's their choice and we will all move on with our lives.

It does matter. People look up to these athletes, they are role models. They can show their ass by not going or go and perhaps change their opinions on someone they've never met. But yeah, that's not the point .

My opinion, the whole team should go, Dont'a has a chance to lead by example...but we live in America and people have their right to go or not to go. We also have that right to care if they go or don't go, regardless of how it impacts each of us.

Maybe Dont'a knows that it's just a quick photo opp for the POTUS, his staff, and the team. I would imagine the POTUS is a busy person, how much time does he actually spend with the team when they are on one of these boondoggles? Maybe it's just a flat out waste of time? Maybe some people see the value in making some of these connections so they can leverage them later in their professional career.

And Blount doesn't feel welcome in the White House so he isn't going? Is that something he's actually experienced before or is he going by what's on social media (like you pointed out above)? I mean, why even go to an away game...not like he's gonna feel welcomed in that house either .

 

[kbama15]

Guess I missed the part where Dont'a said he was protesting the POTUS...now a few other Patriots have essentially said they aren't going because it's Trump. Don't get the two confused.

Wasn't meaning he was protesting the POTUS. I guess I'm just old school. where you go whether you like it or not. show respect, grin and bear it! and then move on. JMHO. Roll Tide!

 

[planomateo]

Wasn't meaning he was protesting the POTUS. I guess I'm just old school. where you go whether you like it or not. show respect, grin and bear it! and then move on. JMHO. Roll Tide!

Ah! Definitely agree with you on the respect thing.

 

[UAgrad93]

I was always taught that you respect the position, POTUS, principal, HC, etc. It didn't matter if you hated the guy as a person, just respect the position.

I already stated how I felt about Dont'a not going, he says he has already been and doesn't care to go again, no political statement. A few of the others want to make it political, but that is their choice. I doubt Robert Kraft would hold back a check should a guy decline to go. What would CNS do if several of the players said they didn't want to go?

Back to the respect the position thing. I loved my HC in football in HS. Hated the OC/QB coach!!! I still did what the man said though. This same guy was the HC in basketball as well. Damn! I really loved basketball, because I played for that guy for 3 years. When it was all said and done though, I expressed my feelings and never turned back! It wasn't until I started coaching, that I came up on my old Basketball coach. I told him that I respected what he stood for, why he pushed so hard, BUT, I hated your damn guts in school for everyday that I played for you!! He just smiled.

 

[JoshB]

I'm not outraged, fake or otherwise. I could care less what any of them do. But if I was Robert Kraft, I would be seriously pissed. You would probably call it outrage.

If you were Robert Kraft you would care alot more about whether you break the law by holding back a player's check...And you obviously DO care or you wouldnt say you would be willing to break the law to assure the players go if it were your team...

It does matter. People look up to these athletes, they are role models. They can show their ass by not going or go and perhaps change their opinions on someone they've never met. But yeah, that's not the point .

My opinion, the whole team should go, Dont'a has a chance to lead by example...but we live in America and people have their right to go or not to go. We also have that right to care if they go or don't go, regardless of how it impacts each of us.

Maybe Dont'a knows that it's just a quick photo opp for the POTUS, his staff, and the team. I would imagine the POTUS is a busy person, how much time does he actually spend with the team when they are on one of these boondoggles? Maybe it's just a flat out waste of time? Maybe some people see the value in making some of these connections so they can leverage them later in their professional career.

And Blount doesn't feel welcome in the White House so he isn't going? Is that something he's actually experienced before or is he going by what's on social media (like you pointed out above)? I mean, why even go to an away game...not like he's gonna feel welcomed in that house either .

You or anyone else can be outraged about it but it is massively hypocritical to be outraged that they aren't going now but no one cared when Brady and others didnt go under Obama and the other presidents. That was my point.

 

[planomateo]

You or anyone else can be outraged about it but it is massively hypocritical to be outraged that they aren't going now but no one cared when Brady and others didnt go under Obama and the other presidents. That was my point.

Someone here said they were outraged by this? Hmm, I must have missed that. I honestly don't care what they do, but they have to realize if they are going to make a stand, they have to deal with the consequences of making that stand.

Brady said he didn't last time because it conflicted with something he already had scheduled and the POTUS visit was short notice. That's vastly different than saying up front you're not going, because you've been before or because you have a difference of opinions or you don't feel safe.

 

[ericd]

So I assume you felt that way about Brady refusing to go when Obama was in office...



It doesn't matter what he "expects." It isn't required and it CANT be required. It would literally be illegal to not give them their game checks if they dont show up to an activity that isn't required nor necessary. It's completely voluntary for a reason. This fake outrage has gotten out of hand. No one cared when players skipped out under Obama or Bush or Clinton or any other president nor should they have because it doesnt matter.

I'm not outraged at all, I just believe in teamwork and pride as a team. If the team is going, they should all go. Not because they are made to do it, but because it is the right thing to do.

I never commented on it before, because I never come across a medium that discussed it.

It's not about who the president is, it is about the team being one unit. It wouldn't matter to me if it were Obama, Trump or even Hillary's crazy ***

* However, this is just one other reason why I don't care for professional sports. Too many individuals who selfishly couldn't care less about their teammates.

 

[JoshB]

I'm not outraged at all, I just believe in teamwork and pride as a team. If the team is going, they should all go. Not because they are made to do it, but because it is the right thing to do.

I never commented on it before, because I never come across a medium that discussed it.

It's not about who the president is, it is about the team being one unit.

* However, this is just one other reason why I don't care for professional sports. Too many individuals who selfishly couldn't care less about their teammates.

Whether or not one goes to a stupid meeting at the white house has absolutely nothing to do with "teamwork" or being a unit or a team on the football field. NOTHING.

Someone here said they were outraged by this? Hmm, I must have missed that. I honestly don't care what they do, but they have to realize if they are going to make a stand, they have to deal with the consequences of making that stand.

Brady said he didn't last time because it conflicted with something he already had scheduled and the POTUS visit was short notice. That's vastly different than saying up front you're not going, because you've been before or because you have a difference of opinions or you don't feel safe.

Yes, several people have... how can you seriously say they are not when there are certain people, even on this very page, saying that the people that dont go shouldn't even be paid for the Super Bowl.

The POTUS visit is not short notice and I dont know if Brady's excuse (given well after the fact) is true or not. Regardless he didnt go, no one cared and no one asked why at the time (because no one cared). And no its not vastly different. He didnt go regardless of what the reason was because he had the right to do so.. Just like every player in the history of this tradition and just like the players now. Anytime in the past a player has decided not to go - whether it was Michael Jordan or Larry Bird or Tom Brady or anyone else - it doesnt make them any less of a "good teammate" or any other BS that people are throwing out there now.

 

[ericd]

Whether or not one goes to a stupid meeting at the white house has absolutely nothing to do with "teamwork" or being a unit or a team on the football field. NOTHING.



Yes, several people have... how can you seriously say they are not when there are certain people, even on this very page, saying that the people that dont go shouldn't even be paid for the Super Bowl.

The POTUS visit is not short notice and I dont know if Brady's excuse (given well after the fact) is true or not. Regardless he didnt go, no one cared and no one asked why at the time (because no one cared). And no its not vastly different. He didnt go regardless of what the reason was because he had the right to do so.. Just like every player in the history of this tradition and just like the players now. Anytime in the past a player has decided not to go - whether it was Michael Jordan or Larry Bird or Tom Brady or anyone else - it doesnt make them any less of a "good teammate" or any other BS that people are throwing out there now.

In my profession teamwork matters. In sports, doing things as a single unit matters. It creates a bond and a common purpose. It ain't always about "you". The team is more important.
You do things as a unit, It is important for team chemistry.

If you don't agree, that's fine, but that doesn't make you right. It just means we disagree.

 

[ericd]

I'm not saying they should be punished or fined or made to go. I just think they should.

 

[JoshB]

In my profession teamwork matters. In sports, doing things as a single unit matters. It creates a bond and a common purpose. It ain't always about "you". The team is more important.
You do things as a unit, It is important for team chemistry.

If you don't agree, that's fine, but that doesn't make you right. It just means we disagree.

And I guarantee you if you went one-by-one on that entire team every single one of them would say "it doesnt matter" if you asked them will this affect their "team chemistry." They just won a freaking Super Bowl together - wiping it out a 25-point deficit in the process - I'm pretty sure a White House trip isnt going to improve that... Even Brady himself said it doesnt matter.

 

[ericd]

And I guarantee you if you went one-by-one on that entire team every single one of them would say "it doesnt matter" if you asked them will this affect their "team chemistry." They just won a freaking Super Bowl together - wiping it out a 25-point deficit in the process - I'm pretty sure a White House trip isnt going to improve that... Even Brady himself said it doesnt matter.

I'm sure they wouldn't all feel that way in private, but whatever...that's pro sports.

I don't like it, but then again, I'm just a hick fireman from Alabama.

 

[EasyTider]

I wonder if gift bags wouldn't clear all of this up.

 

[planomateo]

Yes, several people have... how can you seriously say they are not when there are certain people, even on this very page, saying that the people that dont go shouldn't even be paid for the Super Bowl.

The POTUS visit is not short notice and I dont know if Brady's excuse (given well after the fact) is true or not. Regardless he didnt go, no one cared and no one asked why at the time (because no one cared). And no its not vastly different. He didnt go regardless of what the reason was because he had the right to do so.. Just like every player in the history of this tradition and just like the players now. Anytime in the past a player has decided not to go - whether it was Michael Jordan or Larry Bird or Tom Brady or anyone else - it doesnt make them any less of a "good teammate" or any other BS that people are throwing out there now.

It is vastly different, 3-4 (Blount, Bennett, and McCourty) have openly said immediately after the super bowl they aren't going for a very specific reason. The other (Brady) didn't go because his schedule didn't allow for it.

I'm beginning to think you are outraged that Brady didn't go see Obama? Is that what this is all about?