What Does it Feel Like to Be Cut From an NFL Team?
Princeton graduate and Washington Redskins offensive lineman Ross Tucker’s six year NFL career came to an end last week when he was cut by the team and subsequently discovered a career-ending injury. In Peter King’s MMQB column over at CNNSI, Tucker delivers a touching first-hand account of his experience. Here’s a short excerpt where Tucker recounts walking into Redskins owner Dan Snyder’s office after he learned he would be cut:
I asked Mr. Snyder’s assistant if I could thank the Redskins owner for the opportunities he had given me. In his office, I choked up a bit as I said, “Thank you so much for giving an undrafted free agent rookie from Princeton an opportunity in 2001. You really changed my life.” It’s true — the Redskins gave me my first and my last chance at my dream. In an attempt to lighten the mood I told Mr. Snyder I still had one claim to fame. “I am pretty sure that I am the only 28-year-old Princeton grad that has been fired five times already.” He laughed.
Tucker’s column supplies wonderful insights look into a part of athletic life that fans do not often see.
It looks like Princeton breeds a higher class of person, if not athlete.
Tucker’s is a very different response from the anger most athletes (and non-athletes) feel about their losing their jobs. For most people, what they won through competition they often feel they ought to be able to keep through entitlement. This is a story in part because of Tucker’s unfortunately unusual response.
Comment by M. Hodak — September 12, 2007 @ 6:06 am