Tor Constantino is fired up at the incredible lack of leadership by one NFL coach—just when the League needs true leaders most
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For the record, I’m a big NFL fan and have been shaking my head the past few months regarding the League’s woeful mishandling of off-the-field issues and lack of leadership regarding domestic violence.
You would think demonstrating leadership, professionalism and class on the field would be a top priority across every NFL franchise—especially at the coaching level.
While that may apply for the vast majority of the NFL coaching staffs across the country, it doesn’t seem to apply to the colossal colostomy bag that is Buffalo Bills Defensive Coordinator, Jim Schwartz.
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As background, Schwartz was the head coach of the perennially disappointing Detroit Lions for five seasons where he managed to secure a record of 29-51.
Now I’m no mathematician but I can calculate that Schwartz lost almost twice as many games as he won during that tenure, which resulted in his firing from the Lions in 2013.
While that may apply for the vast majority of the NFL coaching staffs across the country, it doesn’t seem to apply to the colossal colostomy bag that is Buffalo Bills Defensive Coordinator, Jim Schwartz.
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Many hapless teams have problems recruiting and retaining talent—but that wasn’t the problem in Detroit while Schwartz was head coach.
During Schwartz’s incompetent incumbency, the Lions became known for a stingy defense and big-play offense capabilities featuring some of the best players in professional football (e.g. WR, Calvin Johnson; QB, Matt Stafford; DT, Ndamukong Suh; RB, Reggie Bush; DT, Nick Fairly; S, Glover Quin…etc.).
Detroit’s problem wasn’t a lack of talent—it was lack of discipline.
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Instilling players with discipline, professionalism, respect and class squarely falls on the shoulders of the coaching staff, with the ultimate responsibility resting on the shoulders of the head coach.
Obviously Schwartz couldn’t carry that mantle on his shoulders while he misled the Lions, which is one of the reasons he was fired by Detroit and subsequently hired by Buffalo.
Ironically, after the Bills’ tenuous victory over Detroit last Sunday, Schwartz inscrutably asked two Buffalo players to literally carry him off the field on their shoulders—to thumb his nose at the team that fired him.
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Ironically, after the Bills’ tenuous victory over Detroit last Sunday, Schwartz inscrutably asked two Buffalo players to literally carry him off the field on their shoulders—to thumb his nose at the team that fired him.
What kind of insecure, immature, imbecilic moron ASKS to be carried off the field as if he was some kind of heroic icon from the Peloponnesian War?
I guess that kind of classless act shouldn’t be a surprise coming from a guy like Schwartz, but it clarifies that Schwartz cares only about one thing—Jim Schwartz.
His ill-conceived shoulder-carrying sham showed complete disregard to the ideals of leadership, the spirit of competition, his current team and coaching colleagues, his former team and the entire city of Detroit.
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Those two Buffalo players must have staggered beneath the weight of Schwartz’s prodigious ego on their shoulders.
Schwartz’s boorish behavior makes Charlie Sheen seem thoughtful and erudite by comparison.
Those two Buffalo players must have staggered beneath the weight of Schwartz’s prodigious ego on their shoulders.
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I almost wish Ndamukong had cold-cocked his former coach right off their shoulders for concocting the stunt, perhaps forcing Schwartz to be carried off the field on the medic cart instead. No such luck.
While writing this post, I happened to look up the term “Loser” at Dictionary.com and Schwartz’s shoulder-riding shenanigans was listed under entry number four as the following example:
“Buffalo Bills Defensive Coordinator, Jim Schwartz, is a quintessential loser and the paradoxical embodiment of losing by winning.”
(GMP Editor’s Note: that last bit may have been a blatant lie but Tor did email the Dictionary.com editors to consider adding the above sentence to their Loser listing – fingers crossed!)
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It’ll be interesting to see how Buffalo fairs this Sunday against the visiting New England Patriots who seem to have gotten their winning act back on track, after their drubbing of the top-notch Bengals last Sunday night.
I’m genuinely curious to see if Patriots coach, Bill Belichick exchanges any words with Schwartz after the game because Belichick first hired Schwartz to the NFL to do research for the Cleveland Browns.
Here’s how I envision Sunday’s post-game exchange will go between the two coaches.
Schwartz: “Coach Belichick, Coach Belichick – it’s an honor to lose to you, especially since I owe my career to you! To celebrate our loss, I asked the water boy to give me a piggyback ride off the field. Hope you don’t mind?”
Belichick: “You’re dead to me…” (followed by indistinguishable mumbles)
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Regardless, I truly feel sorry for the Bills, its fans and the city of Buffalo, NY. I grew up in that part of the state and have always had a soft spot in my heart for that franchise.
They deserve better than to have such an offensive individual as their defensive coordinator.
Question: What NFL coach do you love to hate?
—Photo The Macomb Daily/Flickr