Do you care about the 49ers players "Character"?

Originally posted by 16to87:

All I care about is on field production. "Just win baby" > than "Winning with Class"

Al, is that you?

Not really, as long as it doesn't cost the team (ie. 15 yards for unnecessary roughness, etc) or anything illegal.

Originally posted by BigBug415:

Originally posted by mayo49:
I want my players to be classy and decent.

Jed, is that you?

Any person in the public eye, who is a role model, who people (rightly or wrongly) try to emulate, who make ridiculous salaries off the common working person, should all be held to a higher standard of character, especially when we send 18 and 19 year olds overseas to die for those celebrities' right to do what they do.

So who do you like in the afternoon game?

Well, I like the 49ers because they're pure of heart.

I think it's a complicated issue.

Obviously, if we had our druthers, we'd only sign golden boy players with a sparkling history. I mean, that's just common sense, right? Clearly we'd rather have high-character guys than deadbeats.

At some point though, having the holier-than-thou attitude means sacrificing talent. It's like saying, "hey, instead of signing this really talented, high-risk, high-reward guy, we're instead going to sign this decent, what-you-see-is-what-you-get player".

It's easy to paint a narrative of, "well, what good does a low-character player do for you if he eventually gets suspended or causes locker room disruptions?" Yes, that sometimes happens. However, sometimes a high-risk player cleans up his act, pans out, and ends up being wildly productive. In cases like that, it's worth it. If you never take a change on players like that, you'll never reap the benefits.

I look at some of the best organizations in football, and the recurring trend I see is that they take chances on questionable characters. They're confident their system and infrastructure will steer the players back on the right path. Sometimes it work, sometimes it doesn't. For example:

Seattle took a risk on Marshawn Lynch. He's now one of the most prolific backs in the NFL (huge win). They also took a chance on Percy Harvin, and that failed miserably.

New England took a chance on Randy Moss. He broke the single-season touchdown record for a receiver, and the Patriots went 16-0; he then become disgruntled again (overall, I'd definitely consider him a win). They also used a 4th-round pick on Aaron Hernandez. Before the murder, he was a tremendous tight end. All things considered, I think the production they got out of him was worth the risk.

So... yes, character matters. But so does bringing in elite talent. I think an organization needs to have its cake and eat it too, which requires having strong leadership in place to foster a healthy environment in which players can succeed.

YES! When they start acting like they're above the law & their arrogance get's away with murder (Ray Lewis), rape (Big Ben) & drugs (All NFL players), then it's time to clean house! I/We want to win just as much as everyone else but when will this madness stop?

As long as they are not killing or hurting people I could care less what they do off the field. Hell they can smoke crack and be an alcoholic and I wont give a crap as long as they win.

Originally posted by English:
Yes but, when it impacts on their playing it becomes an issue. Like if they get suspended by the NFL or arrested.

This. Also, add when they quit on the team and retire early.

Yes.

Players acting like they are above the law reflect the organization and leadership directly.

Originally posted by PhillyNiner:
I am pretty well on the record about this....I cant and wont root for a team that employs rapists, murderers, child beaters, dog killers or anyone who hurts the defenseless. Smoke all the weed you want, get a DUI etc..that I can totally live with they can be chalked up to making a dumb mistake or in the case of weed a victimless crime. Heck even if you get busted for PED's your not actually hurting anyone. But I have a line in the sand and if we employ anyone who gets convicted of violence against someone who cant protect themselves...I will seriously reconsider my fan hood.

Very well said!

We all wish they were like Patrick Willis, but it doesn't work that way.

Originally posted by jreff22:
So who do you like in the afternoon game?

Well, I like the 49ers because they're pure of heart.

Good one.

I remember Hall of Famer Ray Nitschke being asked what job would he have had if he didn't play football. His answer was simple, "I'd be in jail". These players live on the edge, the painkillers and booze put them in bad circumstances.

Philly, I agree with your sentiments to a point. Smoking weed, DUI, PEDs does necessarily hurt someone...and that is the team and your team mates. Not in the doing of it, but when you get caught. Because then you get suspended and are of no use to the team or team mates...That is how that behavior hurts your teammates. In addition to the things that hurt other people, you have to add things that hurt your team like weed, DUI and PEDs when you get caught.

Charles Haley, Lawrence Taylor, were not angels. (the list is long). But they didn't get suspended for inappropriate behavior (oops, LT may have been), and that is where the line is drawn. Do no harm to others nor to your teammates. That is the bottom line. If you can hold your nose over bad behavior, but it isn't harmful to others or team, then, and only then, is it ok.

My personal preference is choir boys, say Andrew Luck types, or Jerry Rice types, but that just isn't realistic.