When I was younger (a lot younger) I was a top college soccer player. I had an opportunity to go to England and Sweden to train with some top professional soccer teams, some of the best in the world. I left college, where there was a great sense of connection and common purpose with my teammates, to an environment completely foreign and hostile. In England, kids quit school at 16 to try to make it as a pro athlete. These players either become celebrities making top money or they are wash out and end up "on the dole". They are not very welcoming to new players, I promise you. When I arrived a played pretty well, but very quickly lost my confidence in what is a relatively hostile environment and my game fell apart.
Imagine being Jacobi Myers, an undrafted free agent trying to be make the Patriots. No even considered good enough to be drafted. Trying to make the best team in the world. I recognize that every player on the Patriots "talks a good game" to the press, but do you honestly think that some 4 year veteran whose trying to make the team is going to be welcoming? That player is either going to make a million dollars next year or be on the street. How would you behave?
Myers comes in to training camp and plays pretty darn well. Looks like a pro. He might not even realize it, but the biggest factor in his success will likely be his ability to maintain his confidence in an environment where it's threatened every day. Now, factor in that the greatest player in NFL history treats him like an idiot day after day, play after play. Are you surprised when he loses his confidence? Are you surprised that rookies never seem to be successful in the Pats passing offense (never mind free agent veterans)? Is it all because of the complexity of the offense?
I imagine some of you will say that the Pats want players who can play under pressure and that if I'm correct it just shows that he's not mentally strong enough. Most of you who feel that way probably haven't been in that situation and may not understand how it works. Players often grow their confidence and into the ability; not everyone is born with it. For lots of players it needs to be fostered. Did Brady do that?
I'm hopeful that Myers will be a helpful young component for Stidham and the team going forward. We'll see, but I wouldn't give up on him yet.
