Ed Bouchette: Barron Batch Not Ready to Practice

That wasn't a universal opinion. I still like Memo and his contribution to the team.

My opinion of Batch's playing and spot on the roster and his expressed opinions/statements are two different things. If he's the best man for the job and a douche, then fine, but I'd rather he not be a douche. Case in point Jeff "The Tool" Reed.

Speaking for myself, I'll always have some level of excitement for young low tier player. I was/am still looking forward to see what abilities he brings this year still. But, I just like the elements that Rainey supposedly possesses and his chance at making the squad a little more. I like what I have heard Rainy say since his drafting too.

I can be critical of what these guys put out there for the public to read on web sites or twitter. It isn't like I overheard a private conversation. If someone doesn't want me to have an opinion about what they write for others to read then they are a fool. I don't have a problem with your opinion of mine.

Is it wrong to HOPE that all players have an attitude like Ward when he would show up to camp every year with his number taped to his helmet like he was a new draftee because he said a spot on the roster is NEVER guaranteed!

People with twitter and personal websites MIGHT have a over inflated idea that people care what they have to say. Just sayin....

 

Hines did do that every year...but he never showed up for the first OTA's after the draft.


HACK

 

It's nothing new that most of the players in the league have to prove themselves every season. Not attending this camp isn't going to make or break his chances to make the team. If I were in his position, I wouldn't attend anything that wasn't necessary coming off that injury.

 

dude the two scenarios are light years apart.

Ward wasn't a guy who got hurt in his first preseason and never played a down that year and was boastfully boasting that "he isn't a rookie" in the following year. Ward didn't miss a bunch of team activities due to a lock out either or a shortened pre-season because of the new rules.

If Batch played last year I wouldn't have an issue with what he said. There is a new offensive coach, with new verbiage, new plays and playbook and team activities that he didn't have the benefit of. There is also a good new prospect that could bump him because of his lack of a secure spot.

I don't know about you, but this is a rare opportunity with a huge pay day at stake that can be gone very quick. especially with Rainey possibly knocking on the door. I wouldn't be taking this stuff lightly.

I'm 40 and have made lots of mistakes in life, missed opportunities. With the benefit of life experience, I think this guy should have 1) tried to go to the camp just to get re-familiarized and a sense of the competition and 2) not tweet about his "experience". That was why I brought up the Ward thing after his clear establishment.

 

How can you be sure of that statement? Adams asked for one meeting to show his commitment and he got drafted because of it. Extra effort pays off...

Really? I had previously said, even if he didn't participate in drills he wasn't comfortable with, I think there was much to be gained. Mental reps, familiarity with a new OC and possible team mates, see what he missed last year, show of commitment and understanding of RB competition to name a few. Maybe I'm crazy and thinking outside of the box, but I don't think so.

His tweets lead me to read between the lines of what he was saying and connect a few dots. Arrogance works for some and is lip service in others. I prefer the humble approach and others enjoy the flashy show. To each his own.

Whatever... We will all see how it plays out.

 

You are remember old WARD not showing up....Im saying young Ward didn't either. When the Steelers drafted Hines in 98...he was there....When the Steelers drafted Troy Edwards #1 in 99, Hines was not there to protect his spot...When they drafted Burress in 2000 Hines was not there.....yet he showed up at camp ready to go and fight for his roster spot.

People forget that Ward was not WARD from day 1

HACK

 

Ok, I'm not going to repeat and compare the differences (another time) in Wards normal rookie and sophomore campaigns and beyond to what this kid missed out on.

 

Yes...due to the strike...Batch missed out on stuff last year....and due to injury..he did miss the season last year....but he was there for camp...he did have film study, and playbook work, and contact drills...He is not a rookie anymore by NFL standards...he has been paid for one entire year...his contract says he is in year two...and he was around the team the entire season sitting in meetings and learning and watching.

If there was a twitter around back then you might have heard all kinds of things from Ward....heck just a few months ago people were ripping Pouncey for his self righteous twittering

and for the record...you are the one who brought up the Ward comparisons wanting others to be like Ward...I just pointed out Hines did not come to rookie orientation after his rookie year either...and that was with two first round WR's being drafted to knock him off the roster


Its all good....as you said...we all just get to sit back and see how it unfolds.

HACK

 

Him not showing up doesn't make me think any less of him. I just know if I was a late round draft pick, I'd be at every meeting, every camp, every practice, etc. that I possibly could. I'd be at everything to show the coaches that I'm not just a late round draft pick, but I'm a guy ready to step in and play. I would do everything I could to get myself noticed by the coaches, because most late round draft picks don't have much of a career.

 

Exactly Shaner... If he had some games um
Nder his belt this wouldn't even register on my radar. It seems Bouchet thinks maybe he should have givin it a shot too.

This guys spot is not guaranteed and a mentality or hunger to secure it is what i'd like to see.

I know, technically speaking he's not a rookie any more, but in my mind that's exactly what he is. I brought up Ward soley because o his act of taping his number kept him humble and working for his money. "l'm not a rookie anymore" has very different undertone and says something very different to me. The opposite I would have hoped for...

 

Exactly Shaner... If he had some games um
Nder his belt this wouldn't even register on my radar. It seems Bouchet thinks maybe he should have givin it a shot too.

This guys spot is not guaranteed and a mentality or hunger to secure it is what i'd like to see.

I know, technically speaking he's not a rookie any more, but in my mind that's exactly what he is. I brought up Ward soley because o his act of taping his number kept him humble and working for his money. "l'm not a rookie anymore" has very different undertone and says something very different to me. The opposite I would have hoped for...

 

Its possible he was not even invited.....

Saunders, Clark and Lewis were kicked out of the building for trying to workout on the weekend...a no no under the new CBA

I was reading a few articles on these OTA's....and several used the wording of "rookies and select 1 year players"

Not all one year players....SELECT one year players......might not even have been his choice.


HACK

 

Yeah, I mentioned that in one of my other posts, but I would have to assume he would have been one of the invitees considering his situation. But, what do I know...

 

My thinking was that if he was invited and actually turned it down, then there would be more of a curfuffle in the press about it. So far this "controversy" seems limited to people asking him about it on Twitter. I may just be reading the wrong papers, of course (plus he isn't even 3rd string at the moment, so it's not like Wallace sitting out or something).

 

i just read that too hack. you were all over it though. i don't know why all the hatin on this kid. it went from love to hate and he has never been on the field since his surgery. they know what they are doin in the burgh, they will let their players know when they need to be there. it's not like the kid was playing hookie. the not a hard worker sentiment too bugs me. the kid has rehabed a knee injury and will be ready to go come OTA's. he doesn't look like he's just been sittin around with casey and max eatin cheese puffs and playin Madden.jeeezz.

 

Perhaps, but it also may be the works he choose.."I'm not required" and "I don't have to be there". That comes across as a sense of entitlement and that he's somehow earned a spot over the guys who were drafted this year. If he wasn't invited, I would think he would have/should have stated it that way. Look at the Myron Rolle thread...the guy was drafted in 2010 but he knows he needs to earn his way onto the team, so he's here putting in the hard work.

 

"i don't know why all the hatin on this kid." Hating no... skeptical is more like it.

"not a hard worker sentiment" - I personally never said that or think it. Just an over estimated sense of self is all.

 

^THIS!

I completely get what others are saying about him not showing up after having major surgery. But the guy sometimes comes off the wrong way. And it's totally his fault for coming off that way. He has a bit of arrogance about him. I would have no problem with him not showing up if he had a better excuse (such as the one Ed tried to give him by saying he wasn't quite ready yet). But to say he doesn't have to show up because he's not a rookie makes him look like an ass tbh. Sure it's a fact, but it's the arrogant way he puts it. Maybe i'm reading into it the wrong way or too much, but he could have answered peoples inquiries about it a lot better than he did.

It would have showed a lot to us fans and more importantly to the organization that he's 100% all in if he had attended. Even if only to do mental reps and show his presents. If he was not allowed to attend then he should have made that clear. Instead he made it clear that he felt he was above attending. That's the impression he left me. And i'm totally pulling for the guy too so....

 

i read the CBA doesn't allow it. maybe that's what he meant by him not being a rookie, nor is he a first year player. he couldn't attend because of the contract with the players union. he's not allowed to workout on weekends at the facility. they have him listed as a year 2 player. so, buchette messed up even printing anything about him being able to be there if he wanted to. it's also why clark, lewis and saunders were kicked out of the facility last weekend. i don't think the kid meant anything cocky about it.

 

And it is hard to really read people from their internet posts, so I can live with that. But maybe it's the way he comes off with some of his other replies on twitter that have some reacting poorly to his remark about not being a rookie being the reason he didn't attend?

Either way i'm still rooting for him

 

.... Play 5 downs show us what you have and we'll see if he needed the extra time training or not