B Lloyd Discusses His Benching
(By Jonathan Newton - TWP)
Brandon Lloyd was on the Junkies yesterday for an extended, fairly frank discussion of his benching, and why things don't appear to be working out. There is a massive split in media land about young Mr. Lloyd, a split which I'd argue nicely lines up along the lines of dying media vs. the media's online rebirth. Those who value the entertainment value of sports above the Xs and Ox (i.e., me) can't help but root for Lloyd. Those who believe football is war do not; they also mock me for rooting for Lloyd. (Cue: next week's locker room media fight).
The Junkies are evidently like me; once talking to him and realizing how smart and funny and down-to-earth he is, they were totally on his side. The beat writers are more concerned with the fact that they all have as many touchdown receptions with the Redskins as B-Lloyd, and thus are sort of over the funny and down-to-earth bit. Regardless, the podcast is available here, and here are some highlights:
The most important thing came right at the beginning, when Lloyd was asked why James Thrash is now starting ahead of him.
"The reason why is because during the Miami Dolphins game, the guy intercepted the ball and I was loafing afterwards; it's true, yeah," he said.
He said he was told he was being demoted in a meeting with Joe Gibbs. Later, he was asked whether Gibbs gave him any indication that he'd be able to work his way back into the lineup.
"And that was the question," Lloyd said, "and, you know, the response is just to work hard. It's pretty vague."
He was asked about his reputation as a distraction/malcontent/bad seed: "It's overblown," he said. "I think the difference between me and a lot of other players is, a lot of players will say that playing football is fun, it's not a job. I really approach it like that so I'm gonna have my fun. Yeah, the timing might be bad, yeah I might be being myself after a loss--last season, after several losses in a row. I'm gonna continue to be myself, and I think that just gets misinterpreted as I don't care."
And he was asked whether coaches thus see him as someone who doesn't care.
"I'm not trying to put words in their mouth, but that would be the only way I can get that," he said. "But I haven't heard any coaches say I'm a distraction in the locker room. That's just an assumption the media makes."
He was asked about his expectations entering last year:
"You know, I learned early when I came in as a rookie not to put very much expectations on football so I wouldn't be let down and I wouldn't be overwhelmed," he said. "That's why I always told myself not to have expectations, but coming here I just went along with what I was told, and I was told I would come here and emerge as the No. 2 receiver....and be the receiver we all know I can be, catch touchdowns and have fun."
Why didn't that happen last year?
"Because we wanted to run the ball," he said.
So how has he dealt with this new reality?
"You know, I don't read the newspapers and I don't listen to radio, I don't watch these guys on television. How I handle it is like I said, I continue to be myself. I think that this whole process matured me a lot in the NFL, in the sense of how to handle myself, and not necessarily have so much fun. I mean, I know what I can do. I have the utmost confidence in what I can do, and whatever is gonna happen to me at the end of this season has already been decided, I'm sure of it. All I can do is worry about this season and how I can help this team, That the only thing I can focus me, that's the only thing that's getting me by."
He didn't want to answer exactly how he feels about McCardell and Caldwell; the Junks speculated that he didn't want to get in anyone's doghouse.
"I'm already in the doghouse," he said with a laugh. "But the point is, I'm focusing on this season, and that's it."
So is he beating himself up?
"Bro, I can't do that," he said, "because I know I'm a lot more talented than that, and my teammates know it."
Ah yes, his teammates. He told the Junks that his teammates were responsible for his catch on Sunday, that several of them called up to Al Saunders in the box and asked for Lloyd to be given a chance.
"I wasn't gonna be in," he said. "They told me they went and got on the phone upstairs and told Al to put me in. It felt good to know that my teammates were there. I knew they had my back, because they always talk to me and try to keep me encouraged and keep me positive, and then to hear that on the sidelines...."
There was some other stuff about the defense and Halo and rapping and whether the Area 51 safeties unload on the receivers during practice. ("Oh heck no," Lloyd said, "Sean Taylor told me when I got here, 'I'm not gonna hit you,' [and] I'm like, 'good.' Seriously, there's no way those guys could hit us in practice, we wouldn't make it."
And finally, there was B-Lloyd's parting message to the world, which no matter the difference in particulars, definitely had traces of LaVar:
"I just want to let the D.C. fans know that my head's not out of it," he said. "I'm completely focused, and I think we've got an awesome thing going."
By Dan Steinberg |
October 9, 2007; 11:59 AM ET
| Category:
Redskins
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Posted by: Alex | October 9, 2007 12:21 PM
From everything I've seen written about him that wasn't penned by a dinosaur from the dead-tree, he does seem like a genuinely nice guy. However, someone of his talent should be stepping it up in practice, and catching anything within 3 yards of him in games. That's the only way he'll earn back a starting spot.
Posted by: AlecW81 | October 9, 2007 12:22 PM
Hurry up and post the Oddsmakers' Top 25. I'm losing time at work refreshing this blog.
Posted by: Anon | October 9, 2007 12:27 PM
It's all about being opportunistic, and given the holes at the WR corps now, Lloyd should be diving all over the practice field and running till his lungs burst. Nothing would make fans and the coaching staff happier than having him out there making plays.
Posted by: JP | October 9, 2007 12:30 PM
Long live the best radio show in the nation, The Junkies, Spread the Word!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 9, 2007 12:37 PM
I'm surprised the Skins haven't hired Gary Clark to mentor him yet.
Posted by: ScottVanPeltStyle.com | October 9, 2007 1:00 PM
"I mean, I know what I can do. I have the utmost confidence in what I can do, and whatever is gonna happen to me at the end of this season has already been decided, I'm sure of it. All I can do is worry about this season and how I can help this team, That the only thing I can focus me, that's the only thing that's getting me by."
Here is the crux of the issue. bLloyd needs to start worrying about what other people believe he can do. Like maybe the one responsible for giving him the opportunity to "catch touchdowns and have fun" -- Mr. Jason Campbell. He has dropped at least 3TD passes in the last season and a half. One of those, he even blamed JC for (Minnesota 2006).
F that. Stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about other people. It's what a member of a team does.
Steinz, you know how I know bLloyd sucks?
You had to look back to last season's picture archives to find a stock shot matching the terms "Lloyd, Brandon" and "exciting catch."
I got a message for bLloyd: bGood or bGone.
Posted by: Bucktown Skins Fan | October 9, 2007 1:06 PM
He sounds like a perennial backup receiver, and that is sad.
Posted by: Reading Lloyd's comments | October 9, 2007 1:07 PM
The Junkies...that's like sports talk for retards, isn't it?
Posted by: prophet | October 9, 2007 1:13 PM
Rather tough to say you should be playing over somebody else when the team is winning...
Posted by: Caps Nut | October 9, 2007 1:26 PM
He even admitted to loafing after the interception against Miami.......he let the defender catch it. That pretty much says it all.
Posted by: awp | October 9, 2007 1:39 PM
"You know, I learned early when I came in as a rookie not to put very much expectations on football so I wouldn't be let down and I wouldn't be overwhelmed."
Brandon Lloyd Theory: when you have no goals, you can not underachieve
Posted by: onside kick | October 9, 2007 2:11 PM
Brandon Lloyd Theory: when you have no goals, you can not underachieve
Posted by: onside kick | October 9, 2007 02:11 PM
--------
That's how we roll at the U of I.
Posted by: Ron Turner | October 9, 2007 2:26 PM
I was a Blloyd hater, but I actually kind of liked the guy after the interview. I think he overvalues his skills and the Skins overvalued him, but as a person he doesn't sound as bad as I thought him to be.
I'm going to root for BLloyd from now on.
Posted by: Ted | October 9, 2007 3:17 PM
it's not a question of liking him as a person or not. I don't think I've ever read anything that says he's a bad person. but everything I've read about him (including his own words) and everything I've seen from him on the field makes him appear like someone who doesn't have the work ethic to succeed as a pro athlete. I don't know if you can break that opinion down along generational or career lines.
Look, to bring in a baseball example, a lot of people joke about manny ramirez "being manny." and he is a character, and he is a defensive liability. but he works his tail off when it comes to hitting, and that shows. if lloyd wants to be a rapper, great, be a rapper. but realize that you're not going to see much of the field if you don't also work your tail off to get on it.
Posted by: OD | October 9, 2007 5:51 PM
The Junkies...that's like sports talk for retards, isn't it?
Posted by: prophet | October 9, 2007 01:13 PM
------------------------------------------
Actually it's sports talk for people who realize there's more to life than sports.
Posted by: KJ | October 10, 2007 10:22 AM
Yeah, like internet poker and "strange."
Those guys have totally lost touch with their audience.
Posted by: WaPoLiveFan16 | October 10, 2007 1:23 PM
"Actually it's sports talk for people who realize there's more to life than sports." - KJ
Junkies radio...Radio for 30 and 40 year old guys who want to feel like they're the cool kids in high school.
"Dude, she was ma-nee!!!"
"No way, she was hurrrr-ting"
Posted by: Junkies are a Joke | October 10, 2007 2:00 PM
Berg,
If I want entertainment of the clown variety I go to the circus.
There is alot of grey area between "war" and the "entertainment value" of football. Blloyd can give back all his bonus money and all his salary and go join the circus if that's his calling. He's paid to play football and he's not getting it done by any measure. Taking the Cheech and Chong defense of "Hey everybody just relax man" shouldn't fly for a blogger for the WaPo either.
or as Herm Edwards once said,
"HELLO!!! You play to win the game!!!"
Posted by: Skinz | October 11, 2007 12:31 PM
I'm 29, I am an assistant coach on a high school team that throws the ball 50 times a game. I, too, think that the old way of thinking about football has to go. Unfortunately, Blloyd is a complete joke in the new era as much as the old one. The two biggest problems being that he 1.) can't play and 2.) whines.
Posted by: ygen skins fan | October 11, 2007 1:56 PM
I think the guy needs to be given an opportunity to play at the start of a game to see what he does since you are paying him alot of money. Play him to see what his value could be on the open market after the season. Given the chance has turned the average player into a star because you gave him a legit chance. Start him in a (3) receiver set along with Santana and Randle El and throw to him often to build up his confidence. This guy can flat out play receiver for anybody and be a star, so why let him go to make big plays for someone else when he can do it here...Sit him down and say, "Here's your chance", starting in a game to see what you can give us... It should work! He has $25 millions reasons to respond immediately.
Posted by: Brent | October 11, 2007 3:18 PM
Steinberg. It's about production. You are an idiot child of the me generation. You would rather see a guy do a dance after a 5 yard out than truly produce.
Posted by: Ken | October 11, 2007 6:06 PM
'At least he's a nice guy'...that's such a loser mentality...considering his salary contributes to the continual shafting that Snyder gives the fans, his lackadaisical attitude only serves to further disrespect all those who have to pay to watch his sorry play...I can't wait til this idiot is gone...
Posted by: waiting since 92 | October 11, 2007 9:05 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
I for one think it is something by the media to push the whole free agents coming to dc and messing up. Its a popular subject for years now. Honestly if he plays hard and keeps trying they'll end up giving him a shot again.