Character Vs. Talent

[Guest]

It seems that in every thread, the discussion always comes down to Character Vs. Talent. Some favor guys like Tebow because of his intangibles, others would take a Brandon Marshall or a TO, etc, despite their character issues.

What is your philosophy of how a team should be? High character individuals? Or big time playmakers with character concerns and egos?

[thickandthin]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

if you can win games with ego maniacs then I really say who cares... that's all the nfl is about winning games.

[The Optimistic Lamb]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

if you can win games with ego maniacs then I really say who cares... that's all the nfl is about winning games.

One could argue egotistical maniacs disrupt team cohesion, kill team spirit, and are more likely to self distruct when the chips are down. Doesnt seem like that is benificial to winning games.

[AvengerRam_old]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

Its not an either/or proposition.

You need to have talented players. There's no debate there. The ideal player is someone like Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce or Aeneas Williams - guys with great talent and character traits.

When you look at guys like T.O. and Brandon Marshall, you have to weigh the good with the bad. In T.O.'s case, its never been an issue of off-the-field conduct. Rather, he is perhaps the worst teammate in the NFL (ask Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo, etc.). In Marshall's case, its a combination of off-the-field issues (which, these days, often lead to suspensions) and practice/on the field... well... let's just call them tantrums.

I wouldn't consider T.O. at all. Not even for the league minimum. He's a cancer, and at his age, he's not remotely worth the trouble.

Marshall is a more intriguing situation. He's young and in his prime, so he woud be an asset. The question is... is he a guy you can rely on and build around. I have my doubts (NOTE: Living in the Orlando area, I am probably exposed to more news about Marshall than most).

[BIG-BLUE]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

How about having a high character with talent, I have no need for some of the idiotic & immature personality of some of the divas that call themselves "playas". Remember it's football, a team sport not an individual stage to showcase ones own asinine antics.

[chancelandusa]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

WELL SAID BIG-BLUE

I dont believe that means you cant bring in a guy with minor issues
who is willing to buy in with the teams goals

definitley need some talent but character wins out

[Bralidore(RAMMODE)]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

im not and either or type of guy myself. Too many variables to consider. What's the extent of the guy's character issues? Can he overcome it? Can a strong core group of leaders shape him up? Is he a whiner? Guy's like a young TO I don't want on my team (although I think those days are behind him and he's mellowed out). Guys who complain about every loss out loud and don't want to work are also guys i dont want on my team. If you are a firery guy that speaks his mind but knows when to chill then I can take a gamble on you if you have the talent to back it up.

Brandon Marshall I could take a gamble on for the right price.

[Goldenfleece]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

Yeah, I think you have to take it case by case. Just as an example, Pisa Tinoisamoa had some brushes with the law before he joined the Rams, but he was a model citizen once he joined the organization. Likewise, Ray Lewis had a bad rep early in his career but became a team leader with a reputation for keeping the guys in line. One of the big questions is how a guy reacts when he gets into trouble. Does he keep doing the things that got him in trouble in the first place? If it is one thing, one time, I'm not too worried. If it's a pattern of reckless or destructive behavior, then I probably want to stay away.

[fearsome foursome]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

I have to say that, of the two, I would chose character since I have a hard time rooting for jerks. I would pull for a great team guy with average talent ahead of of a talented prima donna anyday.

[thickandthin]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

Well there are always those rare guys like Steven who is an AMAZING talent and has AMAZING character. He is probly the only reason I'm still rooting for the Rams.

[RamsSB99]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

Its not an either/or proposition.

You need to have talented players. There's no debate there. The ideal player is someone like Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce or Aeneas Williams - guys with great talent and character traits.

When you look at guys like T.O. and Brandon Marshall, you have to weigh the good with the bad. In T.O.'s case, its never been an issue of off-the-field conduct. Rather, he is perhaps the worst teammate in the NFL (ask Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo, etc.). In Marshall's case, its a combination of off-the-field issues (which, these days, often lead to suspensions) and practice/on the field... well... let's just call them tantrums.

I wouldn't consider T.O. at all. Not even for the league minimum. He's a cancer, and at his age, he's not remotely worth the trouble.

Marshall is a more intriguing situation. He's young and in his prime, so he woud be an asset. The question is... is he a guy you can rely on and build around. I have my doubts (NOTE: Living in the Orlando area, I am probably exposed to more news about Marshall than most).

This is a more fair assessment then most. I agree you would prefer both but if you had to choose one you have to have talent instead of just a high character guy. I know many high character guys some are mechanics, accounts, pastors, etc. but I would rather the Rams take someone that is one of the best on the football field instead of just a high character guy if I had to choose between the two. I agree I would not like to have TO because of how he is with his teammates but Marshall I would be interested in. I get tired of lazy posters trying to compare him to TO. He may have some extreme concerns for some but he is not TO. I don't recall Marshall causing as many problems as TO has with his teammates. Marshall is a top WR in the league. If you can get John Doe in the second round and where told he would play as a top WR over his first four years while missing no more then one game a year I think you have to do it and take a chance on the talent instead of some nice guy. Marshall has only missed one game per year over his career. He has the talent and I have not heard of him being near as bad a teammate as TO.

[RamsSB99]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

Seriously I don't know how anyone could vote for character over talent if its an either or. If its an either or and you are a true football fan then you would have to go for the talent IMO. We had a fairly high character team last year and we won 1 game. In an either or scenario like this which would you rather have your team you root for be a team that wins 1 game all year or a team that goes 14-2 goes to the playoffs and is extremly talented but has character issues. Talent wins games character is no good without talent.

[chancelandusa]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

well ramsSB99

I have to disagree with logic like
anything goes just score points,
step on your family & friends heads & fingers
as your going up the ladder as long as your
fast at it

I believe the year we won the superbowl we
had a high character team for the most part

the colts are a high character team they did well last season,
we will be there soon enough I say keep doing it the way were
doing it the right way IMO

CHARACTER IS ALWAYS GOOD
talent is just that

[Goldenfleece]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

The trouble with these either/or scenarios is that these situations are always on a spectrum. If you go to the extremes, the guys with no talent for football aren't even playing in the league, and the guys with zero character are the ones pleading with the commissioner to get back in. You can't field a good team without having enough of both.

[RamsSB99]

Re: Character Vs. Talent

well ramsSB99

I have to disagree with logic like
anything goes just score points,

I never said anything goes just score points where did you see me say that. Have you been on here lobbying for us to get rid of Little since he killed someone?

I believe the year we won the superbowl we
had a high character team for the most part

For the most part but we never have had all high character individuals. Every team has a few low character individuals. What I said is you have to have some talent before character if you have no talent for football then you can't play football.

the colts are a high character team they did well last season,
we will be there soon enough I say keep doing it the way were
doing it the right way IMO

Yeah we went from 2 wins to 1 win we are really moving right along.

Don't get me wrong I prefer high character guys but if you can get a guy that is one of the best in the league at his position and is young then why wouldn't you at least consider taking a chance on him over someone with less talent but possibly higher character. You need to way the benefits of what makes the team better and its not always the same answer.

CHARACTER IS ALWAYS GOOD
talent is just that

Character is good but if there is no talent then you suck!!!!

We had several high character players on our team last year. So now that we got rid of Leonard Little who has worse character then even Brandon Marshall we should be one of the highest character teams in the league. Little killed someone and still didn't learn from his mistake where you on here pleading for us to get rid of him since he killed someone. Since we will have such good character after getting rid of Little lets not change a thing. We now have very good character and thats all that you care about. So lets just keep this high character team together and go 1-15 again next year sound good?

You are getting lost in what I stand for I stand for what improves this team the most. I never said I want all low character guys I prefer high character guys of course but not if they have no talent. I would prefer a guy like Brandon Marshall over guys that don't have his talent if I think he gives us the best chance to win. If there was a guy that was just as talented as Marshall but higher character I would choose him. But it comes down to who I think will help this team the most talent and character both considered. But if you have no talent you could be that 5'4 barber with great character that can't play football.