This isn’t the first time, nor is it the last time, that I’ve written about hyperbole. Maybe it’s time I just accept the fact that this is how we as fans see things now. I would like to believe that isn’t true and instead the majority of us will continue to be practical when it comes to evaluating players. Already in these first few days of Pittsburgh Steelers’ Training Camp in Latrobe, several rookies have already been anointed “Hall of Famers.” That’s where I want to begin.
No one can claim they understand exactly how social media works but we all know ways to manipulate it. So when fans start talking about Pittsburgh Steelers’ rookie wideout George Pickens as a “Hall of Famer,” that’s manipulation at its finest. The young man is big time talented. If you watched his college career or studied him during the draft prep then you know this. But becoming a great, let alone HoF player is so much more than just making catches or running with the ball. Pickens hasn’t competed a full week of practice in the NFL and he hasn’t even put on shoulder pads. Yet fans are so in awe based on “football in pajamas” that they’ve somehow ordered Pickens a gold jacket. Heck even his teammate Chase Claypool said yesterday that Pickens will be the “best rookie receiver in the league this year.” I hope he is! Isn’t that why you draft players?
It’s one thing to put such a feeling out on Twitter or Facebook for fans to consume but what about when Pickens himself sees these posts? Or what about Kenny Pickett or Calvin Austin III? Even if these young men have the maturity to understand that these are just fans exhibiting hyperbole, why bother stating such things? Most of you know that when Pickens or Pickett or Austin make a mistake it will be these exact same people ripping them to shreds. On social media no less…
Is it so hard to just say you were really impressed by a player? Maybe it was a play or two. Perhaps it was the entire session. But did anyone really, truly come away with such ridiculous notions as to say, “this guy is a Hall of Famer?” I guess maybe the goal is that 20 years from now this person can go back and look at their post and say, “I told you so!” when said player enters the Hall of Fame. I’ve got news for you. Every single guy on the fields of St. Vincent College is an excellent athlete. They don’t make it this far without being one.
Perhaps what we can do is give these players time to actually, you know, play in a game or two? Then maybe we can ramp up the hyperbole.
Feature Image courtesy post-gazette.com
