Delanie Walker has played in the NFL since 2006 and has seen a major change regarding the culture of players.
Walker’s Tennessee Titans are 1-2 and have lost two in a row. The veteran says that back in the day, there would have been a much different response among the players to losing two in a row compared to the way it is now.
“When I came in the league in 2006, the atmosphere was a lot different,” Walker said Wednesday “If we were 1-2, it would be pissed off guys walking around here, calling guys out, team meetings without the coaches. But today’s football? It’s a lot different. A lot of these guys can’t take that. A lot of these guys don’t like to be called out. They want to fight or they want to be traded. That’s pretty much where we are going with this game, as you can see the rule changes — everything is just different.”
It’s hard not to interpret Walker comments as him meaning to say the NFL has become soft, which is a complaint a famous veteran agrees with.
Walker’s comments also seem to ring particularly true when it comes to Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey got into a confrontation with head coach Doug Marrone and a day later wanted the Jacksonville Jaguars to trade him.
Overcoming adversity and persevering through difficult conditions are critical to building character, especially in sports. Walker recognizes that, which is probably why he’s lasted 14 years in the league.
Here’s video of his comments:
Is @delaniewalker82 calling guys out after the @Titans 1-2 start? Not in today’s NFL. pic.twitter.com/AwOEW7uRTR
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) September 25, 2019
