Morale? Distractions? Do they Exist?

[KendrickPanther]

Beason has been a leader in our locker room seven seasons now. Does a trade like this impact the Panthers as they prepare for the Cardinals?

 

In 2012 the Panthers played a 1-10 Chiefs team that had just suffered a tragedy. Jovan Belcher murdered his girlfriend before murdering himself in front of the Chiefs stadium with members of the coaching staff present. The Chiefs, led by Brady Quinn went on to beat a hot Carolina Panthers team for their second and final win of the season. The media, fans, and players talked about how the Chiefs came together in the wake of tragedy to win one for? Jovan? Does this make sense?

 

In 2011 the Oakland raiders were reeling from the death of long time and beloved owner Al Davis. The day after Al's passing the Raiders defeated a far superior Houston Texans team in dramatic fashion. Everyone present said they did it for Al and it was an emotional feel in the locker room.

 

There are many more examples of teams winning or losing from distractions or coming together after tragedy. Do you guys buy into this stuff? I've always felt like it's only a distraction if you lose. Likewise, it's only overcoming adversity if you win. My point is the games are decided on the field. The media jumps to the conclusion that these outside influences have affected the game but perhaps they don't. Perhaps the Chiefs had a good game plan or the Texans overlooked the Raiders. Perhaps it's somewhere in the middle. What say you huddle?

[TheRed]

Not really following you here. Those are tragedies, we traded a player. I don't think you can compare this to the death of a teammate or owner. This worked well for both parties, the players understand it's a business. We'll be fine.

[TruCatzFan]

We'll find out Sunday at 4 won't we?

[frash.exe]

how many playoff wins in those 7 seasons?

[teeray]

This isn't a tragedy.

The team may be bummed all the way until.practice starts and then won't even think about Beast

[JawnyBlaze]

I don't think this situation is nearly at the scale as the two examples you listed, but in regards to the point yea I absolutely think morale and distractions play a huge role (in addition to other effects such as officials refusing to call penalties on teams that suffered a tragedy ala Chiefs last year).  I think some players will be bummed Beason's gone, but I don't think it will affect them enough to impact their performance.

[Dex]

How is this related at all?

[CLTPanther]

You obviously have never suffered a big loss.. trading a player is not a tragedy and is in no way related to grief

[Jmac]

As I posted previously,no more excuses for poor performance.These are highly paid professionals who have a job to do. This is a business and faces come and go all the time from team to team. If they want to piss and moan because Beason is moving on then they all better man up. If they can't get their crap together because of a trade then they better find another career.

[AceBoogie]

There is no doubt that its a distraction. Beason wasn't just another player in that locker room. All of a sudden you look up and one of your brothers are gone it affects you. No he isn't dead but there is still an impact.

"Yea I know it's part of the business but going to miss my dog..." Steve Smith on Instagram.

By making that trade you take the team's mind off of the game. Now everybody is thinking about Beason leaving. It matters. No it isn't the same as a death, but I've had people close to me die and I've had close friends move away. To think the team is just brushing it off is stupid.

[Carolina Cajun]

From a distraction standpoint, the trade actually helps us because any old blood still left on our defense might be wanting him to still be starting/playing more snaps, and it's better that he is not on the team than causing any kind of distraction when he just isn't playing at that level anymore.  I consider it like the The The Golden Calf of Bristol effect, it's better to not even have the player on your team regardless of possibility of improvement and such, than keep him and have problems in the locker room and/or stands in Tebows case.

[The Huddler]

Imo, if you are a paid professional and are being paid millions to do a job, you better do that fugging job whether or not your buddy is next to you

I gaurentee you fellas this..if players cant handle their buddies leaving and they dont fall in with the system, their ass is gone too! For the better!!

[KendrickPanther]

Some of you got it. Some of you didn't. This thread is about two things: The Jon Beason trade and the way our media takes non football events (tragedy,distraction) and tries to blame them for victories and losses. The severity of the non football event is irrelevant. The examples I gave were huge and profound because they were memorable and easy for all of us to understand. If I had brought up Demeco Ryans being traded to the Eagles many of you wouldn't understand what that was like for the Texans and some of you wouldn't know who Demeco Ryans is. To me they are all the same because they are completely mental at best, voodoo at worst. Al Davis, Javon Belcher, and Jon Beason did not play in their respective games yet some will tell you they influenced the games.

 

For me I will cringe if we lose to the Cardinals and someone comes on the TV and says "that trade was a distraction".

[CharlottePanther]

If anything, it shouod be a motivator. It should tell the players anyone is expendable and if you dont play like you are suppose to, you will be next on the trading block. Yes its sad he is gone but for god sakes, these are grown professionals making millions. NFL players need to man up, say what you will about the NBA but atleast NBA players know trades are the name of the game and act like grown millionaire professionals.

Look at the Trent Richardson trade, Browns have won two straight since that trade and imo that was just as bad if not worse in the locker room as the Beason trade