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Originally Posted by Manusky91
I would have to say that Darrell Green tutored and made a difference in Champ Bailey's career. Also, if even for a little while, Chris Carter mentored Randy Moss.
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Made a difference? How? In what way? You're saying that Darrell Green was able to contribute something to Champ Bailey that the coaches didn't? Where did Darrell Green learn that?
Chris Carter has certainly not been modest in his attempt to convince everyone that he made a difference in Moss' attitude and affected the way he carried himself on and off the field. What we see from Randy Moss from time to time to this day leaves it a matter of debate as to how successful Carter really was.
I suppose we'll have to define our premise when we say that players can learn from each other. Players at all stages of their career are gathering new things, and are always learning. Each of us learns something new everyday, no matter how old we are or what our experiences have already given us. In that aspect, no one can deny that rookies are learning many things from many different sources. But what I'm addressing is the tiresome cliche that fans love to toss around: "He's a leader who can teach the younger guys – and maybe they'll be able to emulate him and learn to play just like he did!" As if it is some magical, mystical ability that only people like Seau, or Darrell Green can impart on a younger player – something that the coaches may have missed. It’s a pipe dream – one that only the fans could conjure up.
In terms of the basic techniques, the fundamentals, I maintain it's the coaches that have taught every player how to play the game. It's exactly the same knowledge that was taught to guys like Darrell Green and Junior Seau. Only their special talents enabled them to rise above the rest. They won’t be able to teach guys how to run faster, or get to the ball carrier quicker.
Brett Favre said it himself when everyone kept asking him if he's going to be a "mentor" to Aaron Rogers. At one point he finally said it, and he was right -- that's the job of the coaches, not the players.